20 Years Later I'd Say the Same Thing

You have heard from authors, coaches, and consultants that in order to grow professionally we need to stay flexible, change our opinions, and embrace new strategies. While I agree with that concept generally, recently I realized that now I would say exactly what I said in 1997 when I listed the key factors in communication.

I'll explain now.

THE BOOKMARK
When I launched my company, Championship Communication, twenty years ago I designed a bookmark that presented what I called

"10 Keys to Compelling Communication"

My purpose: To give people who attended my keynote speeches and seminars--or became one of my coaching/consulting clients--a concise summary of what I considered the major actions that would help them get their message across persuasively.

THE RECENT REMINDER
I distributed 5,000 of those bookmarks. When the supply ended, I didn't order more. Really, I hadn't thought about those bookmarks lately until I got this message from Alan, a newsletter subscriber with a superlative record of business achievements in the greater Atlanta area:

"I am still using your TEN KEYS TO COMPELLING COMMUNICATION book mark in all the books I read. It is great. I thank you for it."

MY REACTION
Instantly, I thought: "If this top-tier leader continues to value my bookmark, then the tips I gave must still be valid, relevant, and helpful."

Reading them again, I sensed that despite all the changes in the way we communicate during the last two decades (public use of the Internet was in its infancy in 1997), I'd say the same thing again for my bookmark designed as a guideline for clients and prospects.

So here they are for you. . . .

10 KEYS TO COMPELLING COMMUNICATION
Listen intentlyr
People will call you a great conversationalist

Write simplyr
Big words impress us only in the dictionary

Tell storiesr
All our lives we love "once upon a time"

Ask questionsr
Questions show you're vitally interested in others

Record yourselfr
Video checkups bring amazing changes

Send notesr
Handwritten notes make you unforgettable

Remember names
ecalling a name opens a heart and a mind

Stay briefr
Short talks establish long friendships

Be open
"I may be mistaken" removes barriers

Introduce yourselfr
Eage
ess to communicate will captivate

NEXT STEP
I'm going to publish the bookmark again. Just jumped onto my "to-do" list!