The danger in communicating with word pictures rests in the reality not everyone sees it like you saw it.

Not everyone likes broccoli, asparagus and Brussels sprouts. I do. I am not offended by the smell of them cooking because I enjoy eating them. Some people just run out of the house when the smell them cooking.

There are images which have the same effect. When I say “living in Mayberry” many people see a quaint little town where everyone knows everyone. A place where the deputy is a goofball but the local sheriff is everyone’s friend and hero. A family centric time in American history where life was simple, easy and endearing.

When I say “Mayberry” others see a time, a place, an era of racism, hatred, bigotry and a lack of inclusion. They see separate water fountains, separate restrooms and segregated schools. They feel the angst of being less than their neighbors and peers. They hurt for their parents and family members who were blasted with water canons, beaten for no reason, arrested and imprisoned it’s no just cause.

See the word “Mayberry” is of itself a word picture. It could be described is greater and greater detail until you can hear the jingle of the bicycle bell as it passes on the street and smell Aunt Bees apple pie cooking in the kitchen. In the moment some people will resonate with a peaceful day gone by which they would love to return to. Others will tremble in fear, pain and anxiety of a day they had wished to never recall.

Leaders and communicators must be sensitive to the provocation each word picture might create and then choose metaphors and stories which are emotional sculpted to draw others into the desired emotional state without manipulation or causing undue pain.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

How does cognitive dissonance apply to leadership and the way you communicate?

Another work you may have heard is congruent. Basically they both mean that you truthfully say and do what you feel and what is most consistent with reality.

The idea of “fake it until you make it” can often become an outright fantasy. Faith and fantasy are not the same.

As an example a barking cat or meowing dog or even an English speaking, space ship flying raccoon might appear in a fantasy based movie. To truly appreciate these characters you must suspend your disbelief because these things don’t represent any known form of reality. Fantasy.

The belief that one day you will write a book, sing on stage, be well known around the world, these are all possibilities within the realm of reality. Potential horizons which have not yet happened, but which could happen if all the effort, passion and process necessary is applied to achieve them.

When leaders who have no skill, no passion, no process but make promises of their future - the past often reveals glaring failures - the people around them don’t hear what one day could be, they hear a barking cat or a talking raccoon.

Consistency is key. Confident, reality based faith, belief in truth and potential these are the elements of leadership people need to follow a great leader.

All of these qualities, good or bad are revealed in the stories you tell everyday.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com/Podcast

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

R U Judgy McJudgerson? Do you judge others based on your own standards or comfort zones? Most people do. Leaders should not us such an arbitrary standard.

Most people know the old saying “judge not lest you be judged” yet they judge others anyway. Ironically, what is meant by the phrase and the way most people apply or have little to do with each other.

It is also true that many people don’t see judgement in the way they scrutinize or criticize others. ESPECIALLY when what they are “judging” are good deeds.

No one wants to be “judged” when they are being held accountable for their bad behavior or bad choices. We all have a million excuses for why we do what we do. But try to give up a bad habit which you once shared with friends like, drinking, smoking, cussing, gambling, staying out late on work or school nights and see how long it takes them to SHAME YOU INTO A DRINK!

“What are you TOO GOOD FOR US NOW?”

“Look at miss goody two shoes!”

“He just thinks he’s holier than thou, because he doesn’t hang with us anymore.”

Yes. That’s judgment. If that’s you, Mr and Ms Mc Judgerson! STOP IT.

Leaders need to set a standard which is clear, objective, fair and equitable. Not a double standard. Not two sets of rules. Then do all you can to meet or exceed the same standard you hold others too.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons promoting faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

Leaders are sometimes more bent on being right than being truthful. What does it mean to relinquish your right to be right?

Do you know someone who is so determined to be right they will argue about trivial matters? They will even argue the details of the surroundings in the illustration you are trying to make —- completely ignoring the point.

Today’s confrontation laced culture thrives on this form and style of communication because of the high value placed on intersectionality and the divisiveness of our media and politics.

Leaders need to determine early in the conversation what is the real point and stick to it.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

Who is your heart broken for?

Who do you see in pain and you just can’t stand by silently?

Whose pain do you resonate with like it was your own?

If you are an entrepreneur you can choose for your income to drive your inspiration or you can choose for your inspiration to drive your income!

You can identify a need “which people will pay to have their needs met” or you can identify a need which you can uniquely fulfill and trust the income will follow.

Who is your heart broken for is a deeper question than “who is your target market?” But these questions are directly related. Because “Who is you heart broken for” already defines the condition, the circumstances, and the problem in need of a solution. Once you align it with the people who are broken, you will know your target audience avatar.

I challenge you to SEEK THOSE WHO NEED YOUR HELP AND THE WELL BEING OF THEIR HEART AND NOT THEIR MONEY.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

We know bad things happen to good people. Are bad things done BY good people?

Bad actions are always a result of bad thinking which always begins in the heart (emotional center or will) of an individual.

Corruption in government, just like corruption in business, school districts, and marriages starts with the heart of an individual then creeps in to their immediate associates and eventually invades the culture like a virus.

If you want your life, your business, your family and your government to be corruption free keep your heart pure.

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.learntoroar.com

Video Collections - www.tellitlikeitis.tv

Copyright 2018 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

Autonomy. Is it real? Are any of us truly independent or are we really more interdependent than we admit?

Unity and unison are not the same thing. Unity and harmony are more alike. Independent and unison are not the same (duh?) independent would be a solo!

Are you “everything to everyone” to the extent you have struggles with your own identity? Get to Blog And Video Con - details below.

May 16 will be three years since the launch of Tell It Like It is TV and the Leading Leaders Podcast. That’s 1095 days, 939 business days, less holidays and travel days means just over 900 podcasts have been recorded and distributed via social media, iTunes, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and my own website www.jlorennorris.com a combined small tribe of friends and followers pushing just over 15,000.

It has been an evolution of discovery. What message style is most conducive? Which audience is most responsive? What part of the day? Which days of the week? How many words to I write to accompany the video for SEO sake? When and where do I record? Do I write a script? Where do I get my content? How do I serve all these people and remain true to myself????

Perhaps you have toyed with the idea of having a blog or podcast. Perhaps you are ready to venture into video, live or recorded, preplanned and scripted or off the cuff, alone or interview style. If you have you need to get to Blog And Video Con May 2-4.

I will be speaking on StoryPower. Misty Gilbert will be speaking, she has written thousands of blog posts. Tim Gillette will be speaking as out main trainer and host.

You don’t have to be great to come, but if you come it will be a good start to being great online.

$297 VIP tickets are still available at www.BlogandVideoCon.com

***But, I can get you discounted tickets for only $197. And save you $100 if you click here

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Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.

Yesterday was an amazing day which culminated in meeting a networking legend because of networking. Ooohhh the irony!

A few weeks ago I got a LinkedIn message from a connection I had not stayed in contact with. Andrea Adams-Miller is a publicist for Red Carpet (We meet at a James Malinchak event 5 yrs ago) and one of her clients is a radio show called Amplified with Ken Rochon. She asked if I would consider being on the show to talk about the work I do in leadership and I agreed.

One week ago today, she and Ken were in Dallas for Erik Swanson's event Habitude Warrior Conference and I was available to drive them from the airport to the hotel and we had dinner with my wife on the way.

5 days later Ken and I are driving to Austin when...

Connect. Connect. Connect. Respect but connect. Why should you bother building relationships with people who are not like you? Why bother building relationships with people who can offer you nothing?

Too often I hear people say “I am not going to waste my time with...” and they list a TYPE of person whom they deem unworthy of their attention.

I also hear people say, “I can’t be bothered with someone who hasn’t already succeeded where I want to succeed.” Maybe that’s about age, education level or accomplishment. Maybe it’s just about pride!!

Leaders must be humble enough to learn from anyone. They must be wise enough to to who they are learning from, but humble enough to learn anyway.

So CONNECT with people of all walks, all ages, all races and religions with an open mind, and open heart and RESPECT.

YOU MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING!

Tell It Like It Is TV with J Loren Norris providing daily leadership video lessons for faith, family and freedom.

Blog & Online Courses - www.jlorennorris.com

Copyright 2019 Tell It Like It Is, Inc. All rights reserved.