Reading leads to Articulation: Build your Confidence in Communicating with Others

I want you to consider what is called deep practice. In deep practice, you push your skill level to another dimension. One of my articles earlier last month was titled Talking Is a Complex Skill. In my later years of development and trying to become a better communicator, I have gone back to reading as an important part of my day. I think you should read as much as you can and develop a practice of reading and writing for 1 to 2 hours a day. Pick out books that stimulate insight into what you’re trying to accomplish. Reading gives perspective, helps you concentrate, and expands your vocabulary and thought process. If you discipline yourself to sit and read every day, it will translate into your on-air performance by improving your ability to quickly recall words. This is the big difference between people who don’t read and people who do. People who read are able to recall words very quickly. In conversation, you’ve seen people who never seem to run out of things to say. They put sentences together that make sense and sound intelligent. Reading translates to articulation—the ability to express your ideas clearly. So, start reading to gain knowledge and to organize your thoughts. When you speak, you’ll be able to speak passionately because your brain has been trained to recall words. When coupled with writing, this habit will help you develop your own voice. You’ll find yourself repeating some of the words you wrote down that day when you speak to others. These words become a part of your talking points, and you’ll feel confident when you speak because you know exactly what you are saying. Another thing I want you to consider is practicing your craft by yourself—whether in your car, in your room, or wherever you feel comfortable. Practice doing breaks and entertaining yourself. The more confident you are in the way you speak, the more empowered you’ll feel on the air. Confidence makes a big difference in your on-air performance. I want you to dedicate 2025 to developing a deep practice skill. Sit down, practice your craft, and refine how you deliver your content. Aim to stand out, delivering your message unlike any other personality in the world.

You got to know what you are good at

Here are some questions I want you to consider as we move into 2025, as this is a time of reflection and new beginnings. What are you deeply passionate about? What can you be the best at in the world? You must begin to understand what you actually can be the best at. You need to know what that is. Write about it. What are your unique strengths. What sets you apart? Create your competitve advantage in your field. Write about it think about, go deeper everyday into what that looks like. You've got to be smart enough to know what you is possible for your life.

Here is an interview about Wendy Williams career from 2005 from New York Metro magazine

"The Real You on the Radio and on Your Podcast"

Here are some Tips.....

1. On your daily quest to becoming a world-class radio/podcast performer: - A. Drop the fake front. It is more painful to be fake than real. The constant pressure of putting on a front is exhausting. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to be yourself. Study yourself and believe that you have what it takes to be yourself in all circumstances. - B. Just own everything that you are. Be willing to be rejected. - C. Be willing to take a hit for being yourself. People can smell insincerity. - D. You were not meant to get along with everyone. It is impossible, so stop trying. - E. The day you are liked by everyone is the day you are the most fake person alive. - F. When you speak, don't sacrifice clarity. - G. You are the mouthpiece of your beliefs. Be a good spokesperson for yourself. - H. Learn how to command the pause. In other words, be comfortable making your statement and then let there be a pause of silence. After you have clearly stated what you want to say, allow space for the conversation to settle. - I. Eliminate filler words. Avoid using empty words. Just imagine if each word you used cost $100—how much of it would you waste on empty, useless jargon? Make sure your words have weight. Erase Um, Ahh you know, like um, you know what I'm saying from your vocabulary. It show that you are insecure and have to use a filler word in place of pausing and silence. Pro's pause, Amatuers say umm, and ahh and like. Stop using filler words it is unattractive. - J. In conclusion, being a person who talks for a living must master the art of communication. And I implore you to practice, practice, practice, and practice every chance you get. There is no subsitute for being aware of what is coming out of your mouth. Be intentional when you speak. Mean what you say, and speak it with world class clarity!

If You Want To Be A World Class Radio Performer Read This!

You can’t control time; you can only control how you use it. When you don’t use it wisely, you are intentionally interfering with your own success. You aren’t allowing yourself enough time to do your best work. The 3am Rule is a time management hack: remove obstacles to getting your work done by waking up at 3am and begin to get your work done. People are drawn to the 3am Rule because they want to fix their time management issues. Stop cramming your work together and causing unnecessary anxiety. Use the 3am Rule to create your unfair advantage in the business world. This is a power play in your life if you can discipline yourself to wake up and begin working at this sacred hour of the morning.It will make a big difference in your personal development.

Read This Classic Article from 1994 on Show Preparation

I was reading through my diary from October 1994 about show preparation. It is a classic article about preparing for your show on a daily basis, It has been a blue print for me on how I have prepared for my show for decades. I hope you get some takeaways from this article.

Talking for a Living is a Complex Skill

What is the most difficult thing about speaking? It’s the ability to recall meaningful words in a timely and confident manner—to select words from your vocabulary, from deep thoughts, words with weight that help people understand how you think and offer a perspective that may or may not resonate with them. That is the complexity of communication. Your brain is a great computer, full of experiences and a deep, untapped reservoir of powerful words and emotions. But how can we tap into this reservoir of words—words we might rarely use yet to articulate our ideas powerfully to others? I believe there are exercises that can train the brain to recall words more effectively. There is no replacement for reading and writing if you want to be a well-spoken person. With dedication, you can become one of the most interesting people in your circle, someone worth listening to, if you take the time to develop your ability to speak well. Articulating your ideas well is a complex skill, one that should be honed and crafted, not taken for granted. It’s about finding the right words at the right time to express the essence of the moment unfolding before you. Many people don’t take this skill seriously. Some simply open their mouths and say whatever comes to mind, and often, the result is confusing, off-target, or ineffective. But what we want is to hit the target with our words 10

0% of the time, avoiding the need to backtrack and explain ourselves. We should aim to articulate ideas with simplicity yet with elegance, poise, confidence, and intrigue, leaving others wanting to hear more. When we speak and engage others, activating their minds and stimulating thought, we create an exchange of energy. Our words can turn listeners on with excitement and invite them to think deeply. In doing so, we give them permission to express themselves at a high level. High-level conversation—the highest form of spiritual electricity—is truth. The question becomes: how elegantly, beautifully, and lovingly can you speak the truth to others?