#PV - SHHH

By John R. Nocero & Sandy Abell

 John: I heard something this week and it is so true – just because you can say something doesn’t mean you have to. Someone asked me today on LinkedIn if I was still hustling and writing. I said yes, I am writing but I am writing probably once a week or so and in a more meaningful way. I am collaborating on a journal article now with some colleagues and those take time.

So, I am putting the time in. I am saving the hustle for the things that require hustling. Work. Kel. Sleep. The Yankees? No hustle – that pains me to write it but true. Finances. Hustle. The rest? Not so much. There is a lot of noise out here now and people all have something to say. I wonder why this is. Sometimes it is better to step back and be quiet, unless you have something to say that will benefit you, your colleagues or the people you love. Otherwise, ssssh.

Sandy, thoughts?

Sandy: Good points John. Yes, sometimes (maybe often) silence is golden. For some reason people seem to believe that if they think or feel something, they have to share it with the world. With all the technological means at our disposal, people instantly share whatever is going on with them. Even what they are eating or what they had for dinner last night.

Unfortunately, they often don’t take time to think it through. To decide if what they want to share has any relevance to anyone. To think about if anybody really cares to hear it. And most importantly, to look at the ramifications of what they want to share. 

It could be a thought that is inappropriate in your workplace, or might be offensive to people you associate with, or is breaking a confidence. Unless there is a darned good reason to share it, your suggestion of “sssssh” is the smart way to go.

I believe that if we each waited and thought about what we want to share, looked at what it will do out in the world, we would have a lot less noise out there.