Money Making Skill #2 - Listening

It's so funny...Listening skills are one of THE most important skill you can have for making money, and yet they're not taught or practiced in schools, universities, or even corporate America. Everyone's always too busy talking to figure out that listening would solve a ton of their daily issues.

Have you watched people at the malls? I go out there regularly to watch, listen and learn. I see kids that go from asking for attention for a quick question, to screaming at the tops of their lungs, simply because no one would listen to them when they asked to be heard. I see guys and gals with their significant others both talking at the same time...and you can tell that neither of them are listening to the other (it's a wonder that more don't get lost).

So what difference does it make if people at a mall aren't listening to their kids or to each other? It matters because how people operate in one are of their life, is how they operate in all areas of their life. And from a home based business standpoint (or any other type of business for that matter), it matters. If you're not listening (and I mean TRULY listening) to the people you're spending time with, you're missing out on a ton of valuable information.

I started practicing listening many years ago. It's amazing what can be heard just in tone and intonations alone, much less what's going on in people's backgrounds (which will let you know whether they're listening to YOU or not). When you get good at listening, you can hear whether someone's paying attention, whether they've had a rough day, whether they're not really believing what you're saying to them, or whether they're bored or irritated with the conversation. You can also find out if they're as passionate about the newest business endeavor you're discussing or whether they're just humoring you.

You can also find out a lot about a person's character by listening to how they have basic conversations. (And if you're considering whether to go into business with someone, this because an important skill to master). For instance, do they constantly interrupt when you're giving them information about a new idea? And if they are, why are they interrupting? Is it to correct your idea, to showcase what they already know about it, or is it to give honest feedback and brainstorming ideas because they agree with where you're going with the idea?

So where do you go to learn listening skills? There's really no place to "go", it's simply a place you can "be" regularly to practice. Be in the conversations you're having and even the conversations that others are having around you. Don't speak...just listen. See what you can really hear that people are saying, and more importantly, what they're NOT saying. If you consciously work on this skill, you WILL start spending your time with the people who are going to be willing and able to assist you towards your financial goals, and stop wasting time with those who just aren't interested or don't have the abilities or talents you're seeking.

Until the next time....