The Richest Poor Man on Earth

The billionaire and the pauper have something in common: freedom. The billionaire speaks freely as he has nothing else to gain, and the pauper speaks freely as he has nothing else to lose. Somewhere in between the two lies a wonderful communication lesson for us all.

Elegant Nothings

There is nothing worse than watching a person speak on a sensitive topic while feeling the pain of them hiding their true feelings. They say things like, "Some believe that..." or "I'm sure many people disagree with me when I say." I call these statements 'elegant nothings.'

What makes our words effective is conviction, not correction. One can speak with sincerity and be sincerely wrong. The public does not punish you for having good intentions but being wrong. You are punished for being timid.

This We Know

When you speak, you don't have to tell us "I believe" or "I think." News flash: if you are speaking, we know this is your opinion. It is OK. We get it. Don’t equivocate or pander to what you think is considerate of other points of view. Most people are aware that your view is not the only one in the world. We would just appreciate it if you say what you mean and let the chips fall where they may. Chips never float.

Wealth of Words

If there is one skill, one competence, one gift I would suggest the entrepreneur cultivate over all else, it is speaking with an informed freedom of heart and mind. People who know how to speak emotively without being emotional, listen well, consider others, and maintain their convictions are as rare as stumbling across a 10-carat diamond in your Raisin Bran. When you become that person, you will have more opportunities than you can fit in a lifetime.

Written by: Dennis Ross

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