The ultimate “2-for-1 special”

When we think about “2-for-1” specials we get excited. I know for me I get that adrenaline rush knowing that I can get two identical items for the price of one! The ultimate BOGO (Buy One, Get One) opportunity.

Encountering the “2-for-1” we come at it from the perspective that we are the ones getting the best deal. I mean, what other possible reason could it be that someone would offer that special unless to give something of worth and value to someone else.

Each of us are gifted with the opportunity to give the greatest gift to others…daily. I refer to it as the ultimate 2-for-1 special and as soon as you read it, you’ll know it too!

It looks something like this. We have two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, two arms, two hands, two legs, two feet (you get the picture)… and one mouth.

Our ultimate gift we can give to others daily is to utilize our senses twice as much as we utilize our mouths.

Now, some of you may be prompted to stop reading here. You’re thinking, “I know where you are going, Lori… you can’t fool me!” Well, on the surface you may be spot on, however I challenge you to read to the end and see if you learn something new.

Two Is Better Than One

One of the greatest marketing principles that is used daily is the catch. That piece of content that grabs your attention and you can’t escape it. Ask any avid shopper and the BOGO is right up there.

Business and relationships are no different. The catch is that you as the seller (product or services) are offering something to your client or customer… that you care.

“Sharing is Caring”

How then does this “2-for-1” work inside of business? Certainly, it is easy to glean the simple aspects:

Listen twice as much as you speak

Do twice as much as you speak

Think twice as much before you speak

And…

You would be spot on. ?We should be listening more than we speak. Actions do speak louder than words. That’s all good. Now, let’s go a little deeper.

Two Eyes

When we take pause to see, we gain greater clarity. Not only in the physical sense, but in the emotional sense too. If we get to a place where we can see another’s emotions through their postures rather than assuming we already ‘see it’ we will find every time something new to view. Something important that if preoccupied with speaking, we would miss.

Two Ears

This is the simplicity that we all know. Yet, the beauty of this simplicity rests in just how simple it really is. Too often we are formulating our responses and miss what people say. When we do, we also miss the tonality.

We can pick up the tone and miss the tonality. The tone is what we hear, but the tonality is why we are hearing it. By taking the time to listen intentionally we can listen through the tone (the what) and into the tonality (the why) of the tone itself.

One of my colleagues was a paramedic and he would say he become laser focused on making character judgment calls on a patient in under 30 seconds, which is amazing to me. He goes on to say that the more time we take listening with intentions and for tonality, we can talk to the tone with greater confidence.

Two Arms

The importance of the arms is the weight that we help each other carry. Our arms operate as our greatest defense mechanisms and simultaneously as our greatest asset.

When someone needs help and we can help them, we should consistently choose to help. Try moving a heavy object. Hard by yourself, but easier with someone else. When that weight is shared, the carry is light.

Taking the time to invest our energy into others, we will discover a new level of gratitude and connection. We may also find a depth that we may have missed if not for the awareness to see how we can help others.

Two Legs

Our legs take us places. They are the elements that support our bodies. No matter where we are, they are right there ready to move.

Legs remind us of the three elements of a good relationship (personal or professional) which are safety, security, and stability. When these three elements are present relationships thrive. In our lives, having two legs are certainly better than having one, they make life easier. Life may not be easy but having the ability to move about freely creates opportunity.

Opportunity is what takes us places. The more opportunities we go after, the more we will find fulfillment, success, and happiness.

Opportunity is really adventure wrapped up inside of the unknown.

We Can’t Forget About The Mouth

It wouldn’t be fair to the one piece that gets us places quicker and is the one thing that can be an asset or a liability and will often float between the two, our mouths.

The reason why we only have one is because if the influence of the mouth. From it we bless, curse, lift up, or tear down others and sometimes ourselves. It must be kept in check. Our bodies natural checks and balances system is the ultimate “2-for1” special. ?

If we maintain the balance and think and act twice as often as we speak, our speech will level up and holds itself in check, naturally.?