Pay Attention and Listen

God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.

One of the most valuable skills you can develop is learning how to shut your mouth and actually listen.

Most people never get good at it because they’re too damn busy thinking about what they’re going to say next.

They’re nodding their head…

Pretending to pay attention…

…while waiting for an opening to talk about themselves.

…and that habit is costing them.

Lessons they could have learned.

Relationships they could have built.

Opportunities they never even recognized.

People will tell you what matters to them, what they’re trying to accomplish, and where they’re struggling.

If you pay attention, you’ll learn how to help them.

You’ll also learn things that can help you.

…but you have to care enough to hear what they’re saying.

You don’t learn much when you’re constantly trying to prove how smart you are.

You don’t build strong relationships by making every conversation about yourself.

…and you sure as hell don’t become wiser by assuming you already have all the answers.

Someone doesn’t have to be more successful than you to teach you something valuable.

A mistake they made might be the exact mistake you’re about to make.

…but you’ll miss the lesson if your ego is too big to let them finish a sentence.

Put your phone down.

Ask questions.

Pay attention to the answers.

Give people enough respect to hear them out.

You don’t need to dominate every conversation to prove your worth.

Develop enough confidence to be quiet…

…and enough humility to recognize that you still have plenty to learn.

Talk less.

Pay attention.

Learn more.

Then put what you learn to work.

#100to0