Welcome to our podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host with Becoming Your Best, Global Leadership. Think of one of the most amazing books you have ever read!  What sets it apart from all of the others?  Well, it’s the words! And, imagine an incredible speaker or comedian.  Aside from their unique presentation, it is the words that gives them passion to make a difference. They’re put together in the right way that make us laugh or reflect upon a play or movie that you have been to or seen, it is the words that also really penetrated your soul in a way you can never forget. I mean, just think about Mary Poppins: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even though the sound of it Is something quite atrocious If you say it loud enough You'll always sound precocious Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Who could ever forget that one or “A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down?” Or how about John F Kennedy? “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!” Or Martin Luther King, “I have a dream,” Yoda:  Do or do not!  There is no try! So, think of words that have influenced your life:   I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can…., I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could.  This little phrase fro The Little Train that Could has lasted with me for all these years.   Today’s podcast is about the use of words, which is a wonderfully exciting and a mind-blowing part of Principle #7 of The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, and this particular one is: How to be an effective communicator. Words happen to be a huge part of communication. So, what’s really the vision for using words?  Well, they allow us to both communicate and understand in a way that inspires and impacts both your behavior and the behaviour of others. So, words really do provide you with the capacity to articulate even your own personal vision, just think about that. Which in turn can affect your thoughts, actions, habits, character and ultimately your destiny. So, if there was ever a reason to work on your Good, Better and best in an area, your use of words is it!  So, whether you are 20, 40, 60, or 80 years old, our words, and in turn, our actions really define who we are. As a matter of fact, talk about being self-conscious of something, my capacity to do this podcast is limited or enhanced by my use of words.  Yikes—what a responsibility. And as we reflect on The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, these principles are ever vibrant, fresh and NEVER get stale or old.  Each one is an inspiration that lifts us to new heights.  However, when they work together, all 12 together, magic happens.  A chemistry of excellence is released. So, Principle #7 is  of course to be an effective communicator.  Our capacity then, to use these words, really  effects our capacity to communicate well.  And so to improve in this area is an exciting, wonderful, breath-taking journey. Today, actually, it would be so fun to be together, to discuss and brainstorm these in person. To share our thoughts on ways to use words better.  And so, I will imagine that your thoughts and contributions in our discussion are a vibrant part of this podcast today. In the absence of being together, let’s just share some of the things we might have discussed in the form of a word checklist of things that you (we) can do to enjoy this expansive journey that has such a big impact on our lives. We could talk about language and words:  So let’s start out by listening to this one. Diane Setterfield from The Thirteenth Tale.   “There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.”  ― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale   Wow!