Talking

You Don’t Have To Be An Extrovert, But…

Garth Beyer

Every now and then I question whether I know more than my dad or not. It seems that I tell him new things, correct him, and remind him of what he said a week earlier quite often. This makes it difficult to pay attention and listen to him when he talks to me about a topic (as if he knows more than me).

And yet, I do listen and pay attention for one reason: I may be 20, but I’m not young enough to know everything. (HT Oscar Wilde)

Aside from a handful of small lessons I’ve learned from my dad over the last week, I want to share the largest one, and it’s this: talk.

Talk to whoever is around you, talk to who you are dealing with, talk to who you’re buying from, talk to who you’re sitting by. Hell, talk to yourself. Get in the habit of talking.

I’ve decided to quit using the word negotiation or any spinoff of it. Just as fine print is dying, so are negotiations. Sure, one can make a sale by going back and forth, but it’s the most unpleasant, unfulfilling, and frustrating interaction in the sales world. Naturally, I want to say my dad is a great negotiator, but he’s not. He’s a great talker.

Just this morning he got my motorcycle insurance lowered by nearly $200. I asked how and he responded, “I talked a lot.”

I am sure this guy has saved more money talking than others have scamming, saving, or negotiating.

 

Stay Positive & A Lesson Worth Passing On

Garth E. Beyer

 

Why So Many People Talk About Making A Change But Never Follow Through

Garth Beyer

In simple quick terms, it’s because they only talk about following through with the change.

Now that you’re more curious…

In more thorough terms,

we’re naturally inclined to use our imagination and that definitely works to our advantage. However, too often we jump the gun and focus more on what we are going to do rather than the simple – and much more fun – process of exploring our options.

We talk about the diets we will start. We talk about the idea of moving in with someone new. We talk about quitting our job. We talk about taking a spontaneous trip. We talk and never do.

I’m not suggesting that we don’t talk about what we are going to do (there are many benefits to it), it’s more along the lines of suggesting talking about what we are going to do.

Talking as in a two-way street. To talk about the change you’re going to make, it’s one way.

Deciding you are going to make a change in your life is truly great and usually the tipping point kind of attitude people need to turn their life around or redirect it in the way they want. However, if we explored the options we have; if we discussed with others what making the change will entail; if we imagined a hundred different scenarios regarding the change we want to make, but also the changes we could otherwise make, then we will be much more likely to follow through.

When we think in concrete terms, “I’m going to do this,” our brain subconsciously works to give us reasons not to. As a result, the change we said we were going to make, we don’t.

To follow through with a change you want to make, start talking about it.

 

Stay Positive & You’re Imagination Is Pretty Good At Making What It Thinks Into Reality

Garth E. Beyer