Off the Introspective Cuff

Connecting

One of the keys to being able to ramble out a good, solid off-the-cuff or spontaneous speech is introspection – and lots of it. The purpose behind this introspection isn’t to indulge in endless navel-gazing.  That’s what Facebook and Instagram are for.  This self-reflection is to develop an acute awareness of your values, your personal drivers,…

Precious time

Getting the message across

Time is important. We all know this.  We lead busy lives. Our days fly by. Time is valuable. Time is precious. Time is money. We bill hourly and count down minutes. The premium on time is what makes it so powerful.  Time is a gift. It is respect. It is consideration. You need to give…

So little space

Getting the message across

We live in a hyper-connected, info-flooded world.  This is no secret. We have limited space in our brains to take in all the information and connections available to us.  This is also no secret. Limited brain space affects the speaker (or writer) as much as the audience.  The onus is on the receiver to decide…

Short term revenue

Arguing

During today’s indulgence in YouTube-hosted business advice, I received an excellent bit of wisdom from the ever-charming Marie Forleo.  She stated that we should not be afraid to sacrifice “short term revenue for long term gains.” This advice resonates when it comes to communicating with other people.  So often, we are focused on the short-term…

The Joy of Euphemisms

Getting the message across, Tactics

Layered meaning makes conversation so much more interesting.  While plain-speak is generally the best way to conduct most business – after all, one’s goal should never be to stymie your clients or colleagues – there are opportunities where you can have some fun in a conversation and imply the Things that Cannot Be Said Aloud.  Euphemisms and…

Monday’s lesson is short and sweet

Business behaviour

Today’s post is much shorter than usual. When engaging in business, in communication, or in anything else, please remember the following: Shortcuts rarely are.   Terrible grammar aside, the above is very, very true.  Shortcuts rarely save you time.  They rarely save you money.  They rarely spare you any work. In fact, saving any of…