Hey Scaling Up Nation! It’s your weekly host, Trace Blackmore. In today’s episode, I answer your questions about communication, healthy habits, being a good listener, and share a story that I hope causes you to reflect on why we work and who we work for

I love that so many of our listeners submit show ideas for us, and after looking through dozens of show idea suggestions, I noticed one overarching theme emerge: communication. Good communication can help every relationship you are in from your family members to your clients. Good communication is never “accomplished” like clicking a check box, it is maintained and never ends. 

 One of the things I’m going to dive into today is a book that changed not only my communication style but also how I systematize my life for the better, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. As a reference, here are those 7 habits: 

1. 1. Be proactive 
   2. Begin with the end in mind 
   3. Put first things first  
   4. Think Win/Win 
   5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood 
   6. Synergize 
   7. Sharpen the saw 

After listening to today’s episode, I challenge you to get excited when you meet someone who doesn’t agree with you because you will leave the conversation better for it. 

 Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.  

 -Trace  

 

Timestamps:  

Scaling up our knowledge, so we don’t scale up our systems [1:25] 

Upcoming events [2:05] 

Better communication by “Minding The Gap” [3:55] 

Why I don’t talk politics [5:09] 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [6:55] 

The art of conversation [11:40] 

James’ Challenge: “Explain to a non-technical person how a compression chiller works.” [18:20] 

The story of the fisherman and the businessman [21:45] 

 

Quotes: 

“Having a solid foundation grounded in your values, ambitions, and personal creed allows you to not be threatened by other people's ways of thinking.” - Trace Blackmore  

“When you get in a situation where someone does not agree with you, you should instantly say “Yippee, this is my opportunity to learn something from a different point of view than somebody else.” - Trace Blackmore  

“I try not to talk about politics. Politics is frequently used as a shield, not a bridge.” - Trace Blackmore  

“We need to build a bridge to fill in the communication gap.” - Trace Blackmore  

“I think too many people are scared of having their minds changed.” - Trace Blackmore  

“If you know something and keep it to yourself, what good is it?” - Trace Blackmore  

“The best way to learn something is to learn it with the mindset that you are going to immediately teach someone else.” - Trace Blackmore  

 

Links Mentioned: 

The Rising Tide Mastermind 

Submit a Show Idea 

AWT (Association of Water Technologies) 

 

 Books Mentioned: 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey