August 19, 2009Updateded quick tip: Only talk what you walk

Filed under: Power Phrase Quick Tip by merylrunion |

Today I received two emails from female associates with sister in the title. I guess it’s girlfriend day. One invited me to an event she was promoting, but also included a lovely note. The other was from a friend who had canceled our last three attempts to get together at the very last minute. The casual nature of her cancellations indicated that she was treating our plans as intentions rather than the commitments we had made to each other. Her email was a forward to about thirty women and contained a treatise on the value of girlfriends.

I was happy to receive the promotional email with a personal note, but felt less heartwarmed by the poetry and prose from someone whose actions had not matched the flowery language of her forward. It reminded me of a chapter in my SpeakStrong book that says not to talk a walk you’re not walking. It’s better to remain silent than to speak of things you don’t live up to.

I do value the women in my life…including my “flaky” friend. I just consider this a reminder of how talking the talk can highlight the fact that we may not be walking the walk. It reminds me to make a note that before I let the words leave my mouth (or my fingers…) I want to check to determine that I’m living what I advocate.

Here’s a quote from trainer Colleen Stanley.

“Do what the competition isn’t willing to do….though you’re probably not willing to do it either!”