The one trait good communicators share

Musician Lenny Kaye quoted Patti Smith during a "Fresh Air" radio interview: "Progress isn't the future. It's keeping up with the present."

Never heard that before. I wrote it into the Google Doc I keep for quotes and phrases that capture my attention.

You can't be a good communicator if you are not a good observer.

You have to collect words, phrases, and images like toys and then use them later. 

Observations are the building blocks of every leader's anecdotes, visions, ideas, writings, and policies. 

A good observer is always "open for business." 

✔️ When you overhear words, phrases, conversations, film dialogue, and even song lyrics that sound interesting, open up your mobile phone and type it in your Notes.

✔️ If you see a poster, ad, magazine cover, newspaper headline or image that makes you go "Hmm, what's that all about," take a photo.

✔️ Learn something new from an Instagram story or random TikTok? Save it! In the case of the latter, download it!

Other ways to be "open for business":

Stop and look at what is posted on street walls.

Scan the magazine stand at the airport. 

Watch a TED Talk or SXSW keynote on YouTube.

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Remember...

If nothing goes into the gas tank, you can't drive.