Power/people

I do a lot of lecturing. And since I seldom talk to people more than once, I get to tell the same things many times; and, moreover, I get to see people's reactions to these things over and over again.

I never tire of the reactions to this one.

We all have our problems. Things that need to be done, stuff that has to happen, jigs that needs to be jugged. Whoever we are, whatever we do, there's always something that could be done a little smoother. There's always that one personal roadblock that we can't overcome alone.

This is a good thing.

You see, somewhere in this room (imagine that you're sitting in an audience of people you barely know) there is someone who has exactly what you need to overcome this problem, roadblock or whatever it is that ails you. It could be a thing, a skill or something else, but someone in your immediate  physical proximity has that something. Someone here can help you out, whatever it is that needs to be helped with.

And somewhere in this room, there is someone who needs exactly what you have. Doesn't matter who you are, what you know or where you're from - you are the right person for the job. You.

This is an intelligence test. And it is up to you to pass it. Right here, right now.

After I say that, I shut up. And reactions start to happen. At the best of times, they stop paying any attention to me whatsoever, and get down to business of getting things done. Real things, things that matter.

I get things done by shutting up.

It is a testament to the power of words, if there ever was one. -