A participant in a recent Tongue Fu! workshop asked me, “Sam, your book Tongue Fu! is still selling around the world decades after it was published.
And, as you could tell from the response from the people in this room, everyone seems to find it as relevant today as when you first wrote it.
Why do you think that is? Why has it endured?”
I thought about it for a moment, then this popped out of my mouth.
“If you write and speak about the human condition, your message will always be timely and timeless.”
Circumstances change. Our desire to connect doesn’t.
Our desire to communicate so people feel seen, heard, valued, and respected is a universal need that transcends cultures, languages, and generations.
If you are writing and speaking, it matters to talk about trends, events, and circumstances.
If you want your words and work to endure, talk about the human condition.
Talk about how – despite our best intentions – sometimes we do and say things we wish we hadn’t.
Talk about how we all want to learn, grow, evolve – to be a better person, parent, partner, leader, citizen.
Talk about how we all want to matter, add value, make a difference.
If you talk about that, people will always find what you say resonant and relevant.
Your speaking and writing will be a force for good, now and in the future.
ACTION
How can you add to your words and work this week to speak to the human condition?
Want help getting started? Try this…
Grab a piece of paper and list five things you’re dealing with right now – big or small. Then look at that list and ask yourself, “If I spoke or wrote from this place, what would I say?”As you’re writing your next blog, book, speech, text, email, or article, pause for a moment and ask yourself: “Will this matter only today… or could it matter ten years from now?”
This simple question can invite more self-awareness to your work and infuse it with your humanness… Which is needed more now than ever in our AI-driven world.