winter. Lumbering along a neatly groomed track on cross-country skis, I
spotted a Nordic skier swiftly striding toward me in the same trail. I didnt
need to observe his high kick or his snazzy diagonal poling to let me know I
was obstructing the path of a pro.
How to Make All the Right Moves 341
While mustering the energy to lug my throbbing legs out of the track so
Super Skier could soar past, he deftly sidestepped out of the groove, leaving
the groomed trail all for me. As he whizzed toward me, he slowed slightly,
smiled, nodded, and said, Good morning, beautiful day for skiing, isnt it?
I appreciated his deference (and insinuation that we were equals on the
snow!). I knew he was not thinking Hey look at me. Here I am! but Ahh,
there you are. Let me make room for you.
As I implied in the opening words of this book, the diffeence in the life
success between those two types of thinkers is incalculable.
Why was Super Skier able to pull off his move so gracefully? Was he
born with the skill? No. His was a deliberate move that grew out of
practice.
Practice is also the fountainhead of all smooth communictions moves.
Excellence is not a single and solitary action. It is the outcome of many
years of making small smooth moves, tiny ones like the ninety-two little
tricks weve explored in How to Talk to Anyone. These moves create your
destiny.
Remember, repeating an action makes a habit. Your habits create your
character. And your character is your destiny. May success be your destiny.
ooja
(Ooja)
#1