Do not exceed God’s posted “Speech Limit”
January 14, 2009 by William Robbins
Filed under Recent Posts, insights, training
James 1:19
My dear brothers, take not of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important that theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen.
When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?
That was the commentary from my Life Application Study Bible. Completely biblical principle for living a good Godly life. Wow! If this is not a classic Truth that just flows into our networking business, I really don’t know what is.
This really hit home for me just as recently as this weekend. I was on a marriage retreat with Bethany and another 70 or so couple’s from our church. We started meeting new friends, they ask what we do, and there it goes. The faucet turns on and out comes our business opportunity.
I mean well. I really believe this can help them. I’m just so excited and I know better. In the heat of the moment however, if you are not intentional about how you communicate with people, you turn into a walking commercial.
How do we make sure we don’t do this?
We get intentional. We get proactive. Ask questions, first! Get in the habit of asking questions. Practice on coworkers, friends, and your spouse. Take a sincere interest in other people and they will sincerely want to know about you.
Proverbs 18:13 – He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame
About the Author: William Robbins is the founder of MLMFellowship, and the owner of iWantMoreWealth.com with his wife Bethany. Learn more about William and Bethany.
It reminds me of Jim Collins (of “Good to Great” and “Built To Last”) when his mentor said to him, “It dawns on me that you spend a lot of time trying to be interesting. Why don’t you spend more time being interested?” (or something like that).
That rings some doorbells! Like mine.
I’ve reflected on this and notice that we could employ a 4:1 ratio to this. We have two eyes, two ears and one mouth on purpose. I’ve had to learn this in my spiritual relationship with Christ, my life, my marriage and my business. I’m still practicing to get it to this ratio. I find it amazing when we follow what works!
Wow Norma that is a great ratio to keep in mind. I tend to be at a 4:1 ratio but in the wrong way. You are so right in that we need to practice and be intentional. I just put a post it on my wall with a big 4:1, thanks!
Wow isn’t that the truth. I think this is an area that I need to grow in dramatically and can be applied to all area’s of our lives. Sometimes it’s like let me tell you all about myself and then we pause and say so what do you think about me?
Great words to live by.