Stop and Listen

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

Epictetus, Greek Philosopher, c. AD 55-135

Would you please stop what you're doing and just listen for a minute? Not because we're having an argument. Because we're trying to have a conversation. A brainstorming session. A discussion. A... If you took a minute and listened more often, you'd be surprised at how many great ideas you can get from friends and colleagues. You'd be amazed at how many problems others can help you solve. You'd be floored at how many of those shitty tasks and projects would move faster just by talking through them, asking for help, chit-chatting on possible directions, and progressing toward a solution. Whether it's as simple as releasing the ego or letting go to grow, listening to what's around you leads to better decisions. You get to draw on someone else's creative mind, their experience, their fresh eyes, reaching the goal faster, stronger, and with a lot less suffering. We hold ourselves back by thinking we know it all, by being afraid to ask a "dumb" question, by avoiding a colleague so we don't "bother" them. Or the classic: wanting to solve it ourselves. Listen more often. Speak to others. Stay open to hearing different things, ideas, and directions. It's amazing what you'd hear.