“We think because we have words. The more words we have, the better able we are to think conceptually.”
– Madeleine L’Engle, author
Imagine if Lincoln had said, “Hey, a few years ago, a bunch of politicians…” Or if FDR addressed the nation on December 8, 1941 and said, “Wow! Yesterday was a bad day, huh?” What if Neil Armstrong had said, “Holy cow! Lookit me! I just stepped on the moon, for cryin’ out loud!”
Instead, “four score and seven years ago,” “a date which will live in infamy…” and “one small step/one giant leap” become imprinted on the minds of generation after generation.
The point isn’t to use more words, it’s to have more words available to use — to create linkage to concepts that will make a difference. If change is our desired outcome, the words we choose influence the outcome, primarily because the words we choose influence the way we think. They influence the way others think of us. They determine whether our conversations are easy to remember or just blend in with the rest of the day. They determine whether people see us as difference makers or the status quo.
The goal is not to come across as Carlton Banks on Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The goal is to use the right words, the right way at the right time — to make a difference.
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