Show…Don’t Tell –
Canada's Diamond Coach Adele Alfano

Back in November, I launched a new humorous keynote called “The Higher the Hair…The Closer to Heaven”. I knew that this particular keynote had to be theatrical and over the top. Even though I am a motivational speaker, not afraid of the stage, I am not an actress (even though my family claims I am a drama queen!). Feeling out of my element and not within my comfort zone, I asked a good friend ,speaking colleague and humourist Paul Huschilt who has a theatre, singing and acting background to help me out. He had great tips, suggestions and ideas of how I could deliver this keynote with impact and pizzazz. The one thing that I remember the most and he kept drilling was to show the audience…don’t tell. I knew about show and tell from grade school, but I never was aware of this saying.

For many of you who do not know, this term is used frequently in the publishing word in which writers are encourage to show a story rather than tell a story to the reader through vivid descriptions. It is also used extensively in acting and makes the difference between dry storytelling to showing through actions a compelling story.

So in my new keynote I had to show my obsession with big hair by imitating Marge Simpson, show rather than tell my passion for hair products and show rather than tell my obsession and dedication to the drama of having curly hair. But, especially to show the mind and heart that lies behind this big hair.

We are in 2006…a new year with new possibilities and I am excited to embrace 365 new days of action ahead. There is a great African proverb that says:

When deeds speak, words are nothing.

We now live in an era of words: e-mails, text messaging, RIM messaging, and voice mail. We are now fighting action and words are winning.  Doing is taking a back seat to saying. If you want people to believe your words, we must all speak with our actions. Words such as love, compassion, kindness or sympathy, are just merely words unless they are reinforced with action: a hug, a gentle nudge, a pat on the back, a ‘live’ phone call or a hand-written note (yes, put in the mail with postage on it!) The power of these actions are more than words can say. Actions do speak louder than words.

Last year (2005) was a challenging year both globally and right in our own backyards. I am sure many of us talked about the natural disasters, the wars or the political and religious strife’s. But did many of us put those empty words into action? Did you donate? Did you volunteer? Did you give of your precious time? Did you pick up the phone to offer your sympathy? Did you offer to help during the crisis? Did you connect by action rather than mere words?

I encourage all of us, myself included, for 2006 to do rather than say. To show…rather than tell. Because sometimes talk can be cheap but action is immeasurable!

In the area of human life, the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action. Aristotle

Copyright Adele Alfano
www.adelealfano.com/
Reprint is welcome with permission only.

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