20 years ago when my friend, Bob Warren, started mentoring me and coaching me he taught me to listen better. I want to tell you it is difficult! We would go to restaurants and we would talk. I'd be looking around the room to see who was in there, who was coming in and he would say, “listen, you got to focus, you've got to make eye contact with the person you're talking to and not be thinking about what you're going to say next. You need to pay attention to what they're saying because people only remember how you make them feel and you make them feel unimportant when you don't pay attention to what they're saying.
I'm going to tell you, I'll just be very honest and transparent with you that was difficult for me. For a long long time, it was like every time you were talking I was thinking man I got something to say. I can match that i can one-up! I can't wait till they take a breath so I can interject! I want to tell you it takes a lot of discipline and a lot of wherewithal in order to withhold the things that you want to say! Listen, what they say is important!
