Getting What You Want

Easter 2013. 

In the middle of some serious downtime – camping island style, with nothing but beaches, water, boats, sunshine and campfires, drinks, laughter, families and kids hanging out. And a gentle nudge by one of my friends to my eldest son to help get his daughter focussed on doing a ‘bit better’ in English. 

And whilst we all laughed and in the back of my mind I thought to myself – like that will work! Aidan (said 15 year old, eldest son) went on to do something that has imprinted itself forever in my mind as in insight into getting what you want.

Walking up the beach late one afternoon, all the kids in front of us, Aidan had a chat with Laura* about English and why she didn’t like it. And what he said next was absolutely genius.

He asked her if she wanted to be able to get whatever she wants as she grows up. Her answer was yes, of course I do!

And he responded with well that’s why you have to do well in English. You have to know how to use language to convince other people to see your point of view, and to get what you want.

We didn’t have the #micdrop moment then…but it will always be one of my #micdrop moments.

Because if you want to get what you want then you have build the muscle of communication.

To be able to ask better questions.

To understand the world around you.

To describe what you love and what frustrates you.

To articulate a problem accurately so that you can find a solution fast.

To craft a message so compelling that people can’t help but listen you, to love you, to follow you.

To stand out in a world so that the world knows what you do, how you do it, and how you help them.