Wise Words

Ellen, Mom, Dad and I saw the Eddie Murphy movie "A Thousand Words".  Not a great flick, but the story line was intriguing.  What would you do if you only had 1000 words left in your life? - choose your words wisely! 

Since we speak on average 16000 words per day (see Diarrhea Mouth),  as the movie depicts - it is a very difficult task to limit your words.  The "Word Tree" in the movie lost a leaf for each word spoken or written (Eddie tried to communicate with a pen and tablet to avoid the limitation).  The most interesting social impact was the power of silence.  Most people feel uncomfortable with prolonged silence - almost to the point of guilt.  Consequently they were always explaining their sins or feeling the pressure (self inflicted) of what they thought the silence meant. 

It shows the power of listening and letting other people talk.  Too often as other people talk, we are not listening - just waiting for the proper break in silence to begin our own soliloquy.  Not listening means not understanding. Not understanding means not connecting.  Not connecting means no relationship.  No relationship means ......

How conincidental that the book on tape I was listening to returning from the 12 hour drive from Kansas was "Words that Work:  It's not what you say, it's what people hear" by Frank Luntz.  Luntz give 10 powerful techniques for chosing your words wisely:

(1) Simplicity: Use Small Words  (see Cloudy and Foggy)
(2) Brevity: Use short sentences  (see You Lose)
(3) Credibility is as Important as Philosophy
(4) Consistency: Say what you mean and mean what you say
(5) Novelty: Offer something new
(6) Sound and Texture Matters  (see Intonation of Text)
(7) Speak Aspirationally
(8) Visualize (see Painting Words and Picture = 1000 Words)
(9) Ask a Question
(10) Provide Context and Explain Relevance

And what is the number one memorable movie one liners from the AFI (American Film Institute) 2004 survey?????

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"  (Gone with the Wind - Clark Gable as Rhett Butler)