Personal Growth Never Ends

The ability to communicate is something we all have in common, but how we present ourselves through communication can either make or break us in the eyes and ears of our peers. It has been my pleasure helping others see their own strengths and, when necessary, open up the doorway of better communication techniques, encouraging them to take the baton of self-improvement when they are ready. There are few experts in this art, so we must learn and grow from those around us. Instructional organizations such as Toastmasters help us by improving the abilities we already have.

Some of our members are good writers, storytellers, actors, poets, thinkers, motivators, etc. and we all learn from one another to perfect our own communicational niche. Unfortunately, some people (even those who appear educated) don't believe that proper, clear and concise communication is important. They often lose themselves in the quagmire of "ums", "ahs", "you knows", or the stark misconception that they can do no wrong. It has been said that no one can be all things to all people, but such presumptions have not stopped some from trying.

Case in point... The following card was found upon a bulletin board. I have provided a clearer version beside it...

You Need Me!
Prudent, preppie, polyglot, poet: prestigious, poised, patient, polite,
practical, possessed of pervasive sense of equanimity
MA: applied linguistics--Tulane
BA: international affairs--Sweet
Briar College (VA)
I.Q. 154 E.Q.113 Kersey: INTJ
Scorp, MW/h/na/Southr'nF
NS,D,D
Communicative Thespian
Critical/lateral Thinker
Completely Teachable
Consummately Tasteful
Computer Tolerant (40WPM)
Fluent and literate in 3 languages + a smattering of 6 more
Contact: (name and E-mail address listed I've intentionally blocked)

The questions that come to mind immediately are:

What is the person trying to promote about themselves, i.e. what type of work are they looking for?
Are they serious about self-promotion?
Could the presentation drive away any prospective employers?

I contacted this person by e-mail asking them to define what they were trying to get across, presenting the questions listed above, as well as offering them a chance to grow. I explained that they might benefit from the skills offered by the Toastmasters organization and the business leaders that they could possibly meet. The response stated the following:

"I can see you are not the prospective employer for whom I was angling. You are obviously threatened by my 'embarrassment of riches'--to toss off another hackneyed canard--. I am pleased that you know the meaning of the word peruse and it's spelling since many of my employers have known neither.

I think that if someone is going to make an exponential power of my salary and demand utter and abject loyalty, while returning not the same, that person should be at least as educated or intelligent as I was upon graduation from grammar school as my last ten or so employers were not so gifted. Call me picky.

As for your group, I have all of the support I need right now, I have no need of your services at present."

I find the attitude presented in the writing to be a disturbing trend, common with many who have made a success of themselves by institutionalized educational standards. This trend is not only apparent in the techniques of communication skills but any area of self improvement. Knowledge and the ability to learn does not stop when a class is let out. It's a lifelong process. I applaud all who have followed the path of classrooms and universities, but they are only the first steps to what can be a long path of opportunity and growth... they are by no means the end.

When one no longer can see that everyone they meet and everything they do, no matter how small or insignificant it seems, gives opportunities for improvement, they sow the seeds of personal destruction. They have then suspended the ability for self-improvement. Unfortunately, many come to this realization too late to have it dramatically improve their personal life -monetarily, spiritually, or emotionally.

You must honestly ask yourself if you need to improve yourself in any way. If you answer yes, then do something about it. You must make the change. Start Today.

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