Discussions Provide Clarity of One's Own Goals and Plans

Yesterday a friend came over to talk about her business and how she could increase her number of clients. After a long discussion, I felt that her services and products supported one another beautifully, and our discussion progressed to "how" to get her message out.

Because I was not emotionally involved with my friend's business, I noticed it was easier for me to see the big picture. But that's not my point. What I discovered was the her visit and our discussion had lingering effects in relationship to my own business.

By 11 o'clock last night I couldn't wait to get to my "idea book" and jot down exactly how I plan to progress in one particular area of my own business. (It's amazing how the mind works.)

Years ago I had the distinguished title "Manager of Park Avenue Academy." Sounds impressive, yes? Well, this Park Avenue runs through the little town next to mine, and our one little classroom was legally required to have a "manager," even though I only taught one class a day. 

I taught the early Wang and IBM word processors in the 70's when people were still terrified that if they hit the wrong hit, something inside their machines would explore. I had gone through Wang training but was not at all confident that I was capable of teaching it.

Fortunately, a friend took the class, so I stood behind her as I instructed. "Now press . . ." and I would quickly press the designated key to see if indeed it would do what I said it would. The point is that by teaching, I really learned the products.

Even earlier, when I taught English, I obviously was expected to know the parts of speech, including gerunds, participles, and infinitives. I didn't! Every weekend I would studiously complete the assignments in my little Warner's Grammar Book, go to a senior English teacher's house and have my work corrected. Once I taught it, I got it!

Again, the point is: when you teach someone else something, you really understand the subject!

By  talking with my friend yesterday, I got clarity on my own plan of action. By teaching word processors I mastered them, and my teaching gerunds, participles and infinitives, I mastered them.

As a solo entrepreneur, I find it very easy to keep to myself and do my own thing, especially since my husband just pats me on the head and tolerates my little dabblings, but I am always astounded how talking about a project brings the project more clearly into focus. 

This relates to more than business; it relates to our opinions about world affairs, our feelings about someone, our concerns, our fears, our hopes and our dreams. Talk about them and and see the blanks fill in, the colors emerge, the clarity become brighter and more focused.

The point for me and hopefully for you readers is: talk to people about your plans, your dreams, your desires, because the more vivid the picture is in your mind, the greater the opportunity will be to achieve what you see.