Words -- Just Words

Several years ago, while on a long flight, I was seated next to a flight attendant who had broken her leg in an accident. Eventually, we started talking, and I found her language to be shocking. It seemed so inappropriate; she was a vivacious, personable young woman. Frankly, filthy language offends me, so I commented on her choice of words. She, in turn, expressed amazement that I was offended and said they were "just words." I responded, "You're right. And I'm sure this is the way you talk in front of your parents." She responded, "Absolutely not!" So I commented, "Well, why not? They're 'just words.'"

The truth is that our language does betray us. Our words are a direct reflection of our thoughts, and anyone who is incapable of expressing himself without the use of profanity is becoming handicapped to an incredible degree.

It has been my observation that improper language bars individuals from certain jobs, organizations and social situations. In my lifetime, I have never heard of an employer instructing a personnel manager to hire an individual because of his filthy, vulgar language. I've never heard of a young girl going home and telling her parents that they must meet her date for the evening, pointing out that he has the "filthiest language" she has ever heard or that he tells the dirtiest jokes you can imagine. I frequently advise wannabe speakers to be very careful of their language, warning them that they never will get engagements because of vulgar, racist or sexist language but that inappropriate language will frequently crop them from consideration.

What all of this really means is that vulgar, violent, improper language or coarse, racist, sexist jokes will limit opportunities in the choice of a mate, the selection of a job, the building of a career and the establishment of friendships.

The message is clear: Learn the language rules. Practice them in your everyday life, and I will see you at the top, Zig Ziglar said!

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Grow/Swell

As a rookie salesman, I had a very difficult time getting started. However, once the ball started rolling, I enjoyed a spectacular four-year run of success. This led to a career change and a new job in New York City. It was exciting and rewarding but required that I leave home each morning before my two little girls were awake, and most of the time, when I returned at night, they were asleep already. I could not handle that style of parenting, so in just three months' time, we moved back to Columbia, S.C.

I got into a promotional-type business and temporarily enjoyed some success, which quickly evaporated. At that point, I stopped growing and started swelling, which led to 15 additional job and career changes within the following five years. I became a super-critic, a know-it-all and a very difficult person to work with. One of the companies I briefly worked for was an insurance company that had been in business for many years. This astonished me because they were obviously way behind the times, and I had some absolutely brilliant ideas that would revolutionize their business and expand their market share. They rejected these very significant ideas. I left in a huff, wondering how they ever would survive -- which, incidentally, they did.

After five frustrating years, I finally had a reality check and realized that the success I enjoyed earlier had come because I had committed myself completely to improving what I did instead of assuming I knew it all. I made a strong commitment to the new company I represented and worked hard and enthusiastically while continually acquiring new information from those who had beaten many paths before I came along. Interestingly enough, results were excellent and progress was steady, and just two years later, I was on a career path that has been most rewarding and satisfying.

I hope the message is clear. Keep growing. Don't start swelling. Listen to those who have had successful experiences.

by Zig Ziglar