The man of few words

Something happened to him when he was one. But no one knew quite what.

It took him years to learn to talk. He had the words bouncing around in his brain — he just couldn’t couldn’t get them out.  It was a little fact of his life that was so incredibly frustrating. Doctors theorized that the connection between his brain and his tongue was faulty.  No one knew for sure. All he knew was that he was a man of few words.  And that was fine with him.

He could express himself very effectively in other ways. His blue eyes. His smile. But mainly his deeds. Yes, he was a man of action.  His accomplishments spoke when his tongue failed him.

His corner office in the impressive office tower was dark. Bright lights annoyed him; he preferred the dim glow of his computer screen.  Streetlights flickered off below as the sun lazily greeted them. It was 6:30 a.m. and he was working on his to-do list.  He reached across his desk and picked up the picture of his mother. Her hair was gray and her face had a few wrinkles but she was so beautiful. She had high cheekbones and a pretty smile. He stared at her stunning blue eyes.  He had gotten his eyes from her. And so much more.  She had believed in him when so many hadn’t.  She had guided him through all of those difficult years growing up.  She was his rock. He sat the picture back down.  Everyone needed someone to believe in them.  She did.  He was blessed like that.

He looked over at his wall at all of the pictures of him with famous people.  They had sought him out.  Not for his words. But for his deeds. They wanted to know his secret for success. He smiled, shook their hand and handed him a small book he had written. It was titled, “Seek don’t Speak.”  Usually he signed it and handed it to them.When they asked him questions, he handed them a small printed card:

“I apologize if I can’t answer  your questions fully right now. While I can speak, it is awkward for me to do so and would prefer to answer you with this simple card.  Please forgive me.

While words matter, actions are exponentially more powerful.  One word that I can’t say is ‘procrastination.’  That should be a word that you should drop from your vocabulary, too. Also the phrase ‘I’m going to’ or ‘I will.’  Get rid of them. Replace them with ‘I do.’   Don’t be passive in this life. Lean into it. Attack it. Be the sailor who attacks the wind. Don’t tell people what you are going to do. Surprise them.  If you have work to do, work.  If you need to rest, rest.  Be 100% where you need to be. Create urgency in everything you do. Telling people your plans is wonderful. But you know what they say the road to hell is paved with.  When you leave this office, make a difference. Because life is too short to waste it on words not backed up with action.  Be a person of few words.”

He looked over at his mother’s picture again. She was who had taught him that.  He looked again at her blue eyes and his blue eyes began to water.

The day was starting and it was time for the man of few words to do what he did best: Be a man of action.