Leadership Thought #261 – Talk Is Cheap
Talk is cheap. As a sports fan, it is amazing to watch how many individuals talk a big game and then don’t deliver. In life, business, or sports, it is better to let your actions do the talking. Players or coaches who draw unnecessary attention to themselves or their teams and motivate the opposition through what they say always surprise me. Winning games at a professional level is hard enough without putting a bull’s-eye on your back. When you put yourself on a pedestal, all you do is encourage other people to want to knock you off it.
I am guessing that in many cases, when people speak out too loudly about their own capabilities or accomplishments, they are somewhat insecure. In all occupations, talent recognizes and appreciates other talent. You do not have to tell your peers what they already know, especially if your actions are transparent for all to see. True self-confidence stems from a history and pattern of effort, diligence, and accomplishment, not from self-promoting rhetoric or dreaming. Contrary to widespread belief, thoughts and words are not actions.
In my experience, successful people focus more on what they are doing instead of being caught up in talking about it. They understand that “talk is cheap.” It takes genuine courage to act when the task is difficult, the risk is comparatively high, and few can actually do what’s required. Potential will only ever get you so far in life, and it will lose its luster quickly. Genuine motivation usually comes from within and doesn’t require external validation. Talk less and do more!
Related articles
- Actions versus words (iowabiz.com)
- Actions are Louder (jeremiahbarnes.wordpress.com)
- Who Has The Right Words And Ideas (bigsexymedia.com)
- The Ant and the Grasshopper – Revised Version (sonofjames.wordpress.com)
