Here is another excerpt from my latest book, Simple Realities (The pathway to happiness and success), which is now available at Amazon.com and on Kindle.
I was playing goal in a charity hockey game, the proceeds of which were going to help a young man who had sustained a brain injury such that he would never play organized hockey again. But on this special night he was dressed in his hockey gear and was going to take a penalty shot on me. The referee told me that the player had been instructed to “go left.” Of course, I was to let him score, so when he skated in on my goal, I “went right.” Only when I realized that I had made a great stop on the “penalty shot” did we all realize that his “left” was my “right.”
If something can be misunderstood it will be misunderstood.
One specific is worth ten generalities.
The best way to make a point memorable is to say it as it’s never been said before.
All communication is a form of selling; and when a salesperson doesn’t sell something it’s not the customer’s fault.
Lightning is more impressive than thunder.
Don’t change your style because the situation changes, be yourself whether giving a speech, engaged in a conversation, or being interviewed by the media.
People don’t want to hear about the labour pains, they want to see the baby.
To avoid misunderstandings you sometimes have to say the same thing in different ways to different people.
Trying to communicate without thinking is like shooting without aiming.
Effective communication doesn’t ensure success, but ineffective communication ensures failure.
Sometimes what you say isn’t as important as how you say it. A teacher walked into a raucous classroom, slapped her hand on her desk and shouted, “I want pandemonium!” The students immediately quieted down.