6 Steps To Your Best Life-Changing Coversations:

6 Steps To Your Best Life-Changing Conversations

        There  are more distractions in our lives than ever in history.  Some people brag about their capacity to multi-task as if they are going to win some sort of prize in a competition.  No such luck!

        When it comes to having an honest conversation with someone, anyone, maybe even yourself, this first step is crucial to having a life-changing conversation.  Don’t overlook it, or you could get maimed in the varying intersections of your life.

The FIRST Step:

STOP

Seriously.  Stop.

        Consider what the dictionary states about STOP.  That’s not possible right now, unless you stop reading this blog post and take the time to go here and ponder this life-giving word:  STOP

       All by itself it’s an odd looking word.  It’s one of the more important four letter words in your life and mine.

                                          S   T   O   P

        It’s made up of three consonants and a vowel that can save your life, add depth to your relationships, enhance your next conversation, and help you catch your breath in your mad dash through your life.  To not stop, in all the right places and experiences in each day of your life, will not get you to where you want and need to be.

        In my privileged work of currently mentoring developing leaders on four continents, some in person, some via Skype, some via phone, the best gift I can offer any of these truly remarkable souls is to choose to STOP what I’m doing and choose to fully focus on the conversation that is about to begin with them.  This I do whether they can see me, or not.

        If you and I are going to have conversations that changes lives.  This first step is crucial.

        I cannot invest in these good people if I am simultanelusly investing my attention somewhere else in texting, twittering, emailing, cruising the web, etc.  Frankly, that goes for conversations beginning with my wonderful wife and daughter, my good friends, my talented co-workers, my courageous clients, even my casual conversations when working out, buying new tires or picking up some groceries.

        Enough said.

        You are a smart, alive, breathing, hope-filled person.  It is time for me to stop.

        I know you get the drift here.  The people in your own life are waiting for you to stop at all the right times and in all the right places.  Therefore it is time for you to practice this first step to your best life-changing conversations.

        Keep track of where you didn’t stop and should have.  Don’t beat yourself up when you realize you blew through a conversational intersection.  It takes time to create a new habit, which experts tell us takes 30 days of diligent practice.

        Celebrate quietly within your own soul when you have been both creative and brave enough to stop.  I trust the fact that you actually do know when you should stop and when you need to keep going.  This first step, however, is the best way to begin, and even conclude your next life-changing conversation.

Step Two--Coming Within Three Days:

6 Steps To Your Best Life-Changing Conversations

Most days I have some "stare time" at the backside of this stop sign.  That's our home here in Colorado where we have our offices above our garage.  Judy's is on the left and mine is on the right.  I observe some people do stop at this intersection.  Some don't.  Those on motorcycles almost never do.  Even when I am in Skyping or phone conversations, this necessary symbol reminds me to stop.  May the stop signs in your own life remind you of the same.

Comments

[Chuck Roberts]

This challenges me to follow through with something I've already been feeling convicted about. I need to put my iPhone up somewhere in the evening, at least until my daughter is in bed. Honestly, I need to be able to hear it as someone on my staff occasionally needs to consult with me. If I have it in my pocket, though, I am constantly compelled to keep checking the news or Facebook or some other thing that I can truly live without, things that can never come close to people in importance.

[Jacob]

I love this...frankly...and it's a big challenge for me and many other upcoming leaders that I know...may the Lord help us....