"I got two phone calls this morning, and I didn't answer either one because I thought it was some spam call," so said Paul Romer, one of two winners of this year's Nobel Prize in economics. The Nobel Prize in Literature 1953 was awarded to Sir Winston Churchill - celebrated orator and world leader who was fond of alcoholic refreshments and Scotch whisky was a feature of his daily drinking regime.
He once had this to say about whisky:
"If you mean whisky, the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yes, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean that evil drink that topples men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fibre of my being."
However, if by whisky you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the elixir of life, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean good cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink that enables man to magnify his joy, and to forget life's great tragedies and heartbreaks and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars each year, that provides tender care of our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully aged and infirm, to build the finest highways, hospitals, universities and community colleges in this nation, then my friend, I am absolutely, unequivocally in favour of it."
Words need not be weapons. More people have been injured by the tongue than any other weapon in human history.
Today, with the internet and rise of social media, so much of what we put out into the world lives on forever and can be seen and heard by the masses.
Our resume, clothes, accessories and haircut can make us look like a polished, successful executive. But when we open our mouths, we reveal a host of cues about our brainpower, people skills, poise and energy level and passion - all factors that contribute to leadership presence.
Most recruiters say what you say is the single most important factor in judging your worthiness for a position. Maybe you're one of the fortunate few who have been told you have superb communication skills.
But if you're like most leaders, or leaders wannabe: Communicate with clarity by using simple English. Make your messages clear and to the point, devoid of complexity and jargon. If you find yourself using complex language and unnecessary details for the purpose of masking your perceived insecurities, stop yourself short...and when you stop doing it, you may be surprised at how much better the response will be.
So much good can come from language when it's used properly. The greatest literature, the greatest songs, the greatest speeches: they all have the power to uplift, motivate, heal, encourage and entertain. There is a sacredness to language that is eroded when we express ourselves with words meant to take revenge on people, or hurt people or hate on people.
If we're mindful of what, when and why we say the things we do, then our words become a blessing to whoever is listening.
He once had this to say about whisky:
"If you mean whisky, the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yes, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean that evil drink that topples men and women from the pinnacles of righteous and gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, shame, despair, helplessness and hopelessness, then, my friend, I am opposed to it with every fibre of my being."
However, if by whisky you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the elixir of life, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean good cheer, the stimulating sip that puts a little spring in the step of an elderly gentleman on a frosty morning; if you mean that drink that enables man to magnify his joy, and to forget life's great tragedies and heartbreaks and sorrow; if you mean that drink the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars each year, that provides tender care of our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitifully aged and infirm, to build the finest highways, hospitals, universities and community colleges in this nation, then my friend, I am absolutely, unequivocally in favour of it."
“This is my position and, as always, I refuse to compromise on matters of principle.”
I am a sales leader. I make my living using words. I know that words matter.Words need not be weapons. More people have been injured by the tongue than any other weapon in human history.
Today, with the internet and rise of social media, so much of what we put out into the world lives on forever and can be seen and heard by the masses.
Our resume, clothes, accessories and haircut can make us look like a polished, successful executive. But when we open our mouths, we reveal a host of cues about our brainpower, people skills, poise and energy level and passion - all factors that contribute to leadership presence.
Most recruiters say what you say is the single most important factor in judging your worthiness for a position. Maybe you're one of the fortunate few who have been told you have superb communication skills.
But if you're like most leaders, or leaders wannabe: Communicate with clarity by using simple English. Make your messages clear and to the point, devoid of complexity and jargon. If you find yourself using complex language and unnecessary details for the purpose of masking your perceived insecurities, stop yourself short...and when you stop doing it, you may be surprised at how much better the response will be.
So much good can come from language when it's used properly. The greatest literature, the greatest songs, the greatest speeches: they all have the power to uplift, motivate, heal, encourage and entertain. There is a sacredness to language that is eroded when we express ourselves with words meant to take revenge on people, or hurt people or hate on people.
If we're mindful of what, when and why we say the things we do, then our words become a blessing to whoever is listening.
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