"It has to be the 'right' one"

Hello  


 

I was sitting down to write this message to you when
I noticed (horror of horrors) my nails needed trimming.

It must…

Have been some busy, busy period for me not to have
noticed before as I’m a stickler for having clean and
appropriately trimmed finger nails.

It was something my father drummed into me – much
like making sure the backs of my shoes were polished –
as that was the part anyone would see if they walked
behind you.

Any way…

As I was in Spain for Easter I didn’t have with me my
usual clippers and had to make do with another pair.

They just weren’t – ‘sharp enough’ to do the job properly.

Blunt scissors, blunt nippers, blunt knives are some of
the most dangerous things around. I’ve seen a knife slip
from the skin of a soft tomato. I’ve seen blunt scissors
twist around a plastic shrinkwrap. Now I’ve seen the effect
of blunt nippers on my own nails.

Nasty things are blunt things!

And so…

When you and I want the job done right! We must make
certain we have the right ‘tools’ and that they’re sharp
enough for the task in hand.

I’m thinking of the major tool we use most of every day
for nigh on every task too.

I’m thinking of the one so individual we can
recognize it from across a crowded room or even a
larger empty space.

I’m thinking of the one we use to create every success
we enjoy – social, commercial – personal.

Do you know…

Which one I’m thinking about?

Sure you do – it’s your voice.

The major tool you use every day

The one so individual

The one creating every success

And so I was…

Wondering just how often you and I take the time to
sharpen this essential tool. Not as often as I should
was my whispered self-reply. Yours too?

So just how do we sharpen it – I asked myself.

The answer drifted past me as soon as the thought
was thought – ‘awareness’ was the answer.

Yes – by being more aware than ever before of the
words, the nuances, the phrasing, the tonality, the
‘everything’ of our speech we sharpen our recognition of
what we’re saying and by so doing sharpen the saw of
understanding, we hone the tongue of persuasion.

I am more aware now and will continue to be so.

You too?

Go on then!

PPS: comments, thoughts, ideas, puzzles or laughter to: peter@tgimondays.com

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