Listening Pays Dividends

I know this, already I don't have to be told:year. One of the things I remembered I was to
Listening pays dividendsdo, was to find guys just like this guy. Only, I
That's what children do, they listen and do exactlywould never have picked him out of a crowd to
the opposite. They listen when I'm on the phone,say, You are one of them!
and raise a ruckus. They listen when grammaThem: Coin collectors. Not only a coin collector, a
reads then a neat book, and they follow alongpreferred coin collector. They get privileges, lower
with the gigantic pictures.prices, extremely positive service, whether by
Listenting pays, but today it paid a very differentthe US mint or the Canadian one. He was telling
picture.me the collection he has. Unbelievable. It is not an
I met a friend I hadn't talked to; or better yet,unreasonable amount of coin, to buy the coin.
listened to for months. He is one of those(pardon the pun). But over the years, they add
characters passing through life, much like me. He'dup to an amazing amount of cash or better yet,
rather talk than listen. I learned today, it was timebank roll.
to listen first, and what a pleasant surprise.From now on, I'm an active listener. Up to this
Here is a guy that has developed a nice littlepoint in life, I've been a very active talker and
hobby that will pay his wife millions when he'snow i'm learned to listen. I remember a course I
done. I realized that as I was listening to him, Itook a few decades ago (when you are my age
remembered reading in a book not a week ago,it is easier to say decades) that said talking only
that this is one of those things I should be doing.makes up 7% of communication. Listening is
Now you gotta understand who I am. I am a guyaround 45%. I probably have the wrong numbers,
that writes a to do list longer than a grocery listbut the span of the numbers are fairly accurate.
and never gets it done. But I do rememberNow, I am an active listener, and since I plan not
things, even though I'm in my 60th year. Forto die before I'm 100, I have time to make up
those of you who say you are in your 39Th yearthe difference. What do you think?
and holding: no, no,,,listen up, you are in your 40th