It Doesn't Cost Anything To Pay Attention

Something I never realized as a younger man was the power of listening more than you speak. I used to think that if I just talked enough, people would start to listen to me and see how great I am. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. It has the complete opposite effect.

What I have learned is that people appreciate it more when you listen to them instead of always trying to talk over them or one-up them.

Listening shows that you care about what the other person has to say and that you are interested in hearing more. It is a sign of respect, and people will respond to that in kind.



Back when I was in high school, I would spend my days ignoring the advice of my teachers, counselors, and just about anyone in power who wanted to offer their help because I thought I knew better. I was too stubborn and set in my ways to listen to anyone who could have helped me make better choices. If only I had known then what I know now, things could have been so different for me.

And after high school, I had zero interest in going to college so I went to work at Cardinal Health which is a network of medical businesses. The location I worked at happened to be a nuclear pharmacy where radioactive isotopes would be compounded with miscellaneous drugs and sent off to hospitals and private clinics for patient testing.

Most of the guys I worked with at this pharmacy were older and most guys had retired and then picked up a part-time job doing delivery to get out of the house. One of the first things I learned from these guys was the power of showing up early. As they have said, "If you are not 5 minutes early, you are late. And if you are going to be late, do not bother showing up at all."

This was such an important lesson for me because it taught me the importance of being punctual and respecting other people's time.

These guys also taught me lessons that I never would have learned in a classroom such as:

Lesson #1: Attention to Punctuality

Result: Showing up early to work led me to 3 promotions in the first 6 months of working there.

Not long after leaving the pharmacy, I fell into working at a local cigar shop doing basic shop duties. Sales, stock, whatever grunt work was needed basically. What I loved about that job was how it brought guys of all income levels together. We would have guys in our lounge who made 6 and 7 figures having a casual conversation and passing advice to guys who made minimum wage and lived paycheck to paycheck. All sharing their stories over a $5 tobacco stick. And after getting to know the usual customers I started offering advice on other cigars or products they might enjoy.

Lesson #2: Attention to Habit

Result: By getting to know the likes and dislikes of my customers I was able to increase overall sales by 10% and move us to be voted the #1 Cigar Shop in Toledo as voted by the community.

This led me to a significant raise and the title of store manager. Over time, I was able to develop trust with my customers and they would come to me for advice on other products. This led to me increasing my sales by up to 30% some months.

The key takeaway from all of this is that it does not cost anything to pay attention to. You can learn so much just by listening and observing the people around you. The next time you are in a conversation, try to listen more than you speak. You may be surprised at how much you can learn.

Lesson #3: Attention to Other's Feelings

Result: By taking the time to listen to my customers, I was able to understand their feelings and needs.

This allowed me to better serve them and create a loyal customer base. As a bonus, my life is filled with abundance. I make more money than I ever dreamed of and it feels great to help others reach their goals too.

So the next time you are in a conversation, take a step back and listen to what the other person is saying. You might be surprised at how much you can learn and how it can change your life for the better.

Listening is a skill that is often underrated but it is so important in every aspect of life. Whether you are trying to build relationships, further your career, or just have a conversation, paying attention and truly listening to others will help you succeed in ways you never thought possible.

Now, I make it a point to listen when someone is trying to give me advice or help me out. And I am so grateful that I have been able to learn these lessons because they have truly changed my life for the better.

What about you? What is the best advice you have ever received?

Thank you for taking the time in reading my blog! I hope you find this article helpful and that you found some value in it. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with others.

And if you are tired of feeling stuck and looking to take the next step towards a better life for yourself, I invite you to check out my services. Together, we can work on identifying and changing any negative thought patterns that are holding you back from living your best life!

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Keep slaying and always remember, Crush The Day Before It Crushes You!