Conversation is the 9th wonder of the world

Conversation is the 9th wonder of the world! Conversation creates many worldly wonders every single day. So does compound interest. Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world, taking a small investment, investing wisely, to be left alone over many years, becomes a substantially larger number. As Albert Einstein said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it… he who doesn’t… pays it.” If one is a disciplined saver, you will be rewarded over time. Those who are savers understand the disciplined process and work it takes to deliver those results.

Did you know that if you save $500 per month for 30 years at a 10% return, you will have over $1,100,000? These are some of the conversations we have in our household and our clinic staff meetings. You see, it is my job to help our people understand the 8th wonder of the world, compound interest because most parents have never taught their children about it. The 8th wonder of the world can be the difference between creating everyday working millionaires that can retire comfortably versus someone that retires from working (at any career) and not having enough to retire.

This educational process all occurs through conversation. And it isn’t just one conversation, it is revisited over, and over, and over again. Especially with our kids. And it is in these conversations we are creating the 9th wonder of the world! Conversation! Nothing in this world happens without an initial belief followed up by a conversation. Conversation creates connection. Connection breeds commitment. Commitment creates relationships. And relationships drive success.

These are the processes, simple conversations, that are the difference makers in your kid’s life, those around you each day and their life, your student’s life, your player’s life, your work family’s life, or those lives in your church. We must open the door for powerful life-changing conversations. Open the door by being an inviting soul for the conversation. If you don’t make yourself inviting to talk to by being resistant, too stoic, too intimidating, or dominant, you as any sort of leader will not have people want to come to you and talk. Or come to you and open up their heart and soul to you. So soften up, be approachable, be inviting, and make yourself a draw factor for conversation verses making your people or your kids scared to do so.

The key point is this: are you implementing the 9th wonder of the world called conversation? Are you having everyday life-changing conversations of encouragement, motivation, negotiation, life building, moral building, core value building, expectation layout, behavior implementation or modification, giving thanks, giving a compliment or a pat on the back, giving credit where credit is due, and doing so in a vulnerable, humble, honest way?

It is everyday conversations where we move the needle. It isn’t in one big “sit down” meeting, where we lay out whatever it is we layout, and we leave the room that moves any needle. We must remember, one conversation is an introduction. We must keep having the conversation over, and over, and over again. My wife has them every day in her vehicle before and after school! It’s every day at work or at home or with your team or with your students or players. Every day! Start and don’t stop! Make it a habit, not a New Year’s Resolution!