Next steps

- Who's someone in your life who knows you at your best, has your best interests in mind, and wants you to have the best impact you can in work and life? Think of this person for a moment, and it can be more than one person too. How would they encourage you going forward as you apply some tools we covered in this course in ways that will be most helpful to you? I ask you to call them to mind because these are the best people in our lives to remind us that communicating effectively isn't just exchanging information but connecting inspiration. Communicating well is the way to get things done with people to reach great results, build great relationships, have great experiences, to string together days, weeks, months, and years you can be proud of.

To have the positive impact in work and life that you really want to have. Think of it this way. Imagine it's a year from today, and between now and then, things go as well as you want. What will you have done, achieved, accomplished and experienced that would lead you to say, twelve months from now, "this has been an exceptional year". What are your answers? What does success look like for you, a year from today? Fill in the details and then answer this. If you're really going to make it happen, what's the number one thing you can start doing now in your communication skills that will help you get there? Something to be even more effective in how you present yourself, your ideas, or how you connect with others.

Pick one thing, you don't have to make it big, but you do need to do it consistently. Pick it, do it, start today. Don't let today become tomorrow, next week, next month, and don't do it alone, find a friend or a colleague who's willing to help. Someone you can support on their development as they help you with yours. You don't have to work on the same things, just share the same commitment to exchange advice, encouragement, and feedback. Having an accountability partner is a best practice that accelerates positive change.

Meeting regularly to support each others growth is a terrific habit, make it a habit. I hope the next year goes every bit as well as you just envisioned. To make that happen, check your progress and stay on track. Take out your calendar and mark the date three months from now to come back and watch the course again. See where you've improved, see how the tools apply to anything that's changed in your situation, and, see what else you can add to your skills. One last thing, remember how we started this segment? You were thinking about someone who knows you at your best, has your best interests in mind, and wants you to have the best impact you can in work and life? Reach out to that person and let them know that when you look for some inspiration to communicate even more effectively, you thought of them.

It's a great way to get started, and as Twain reminded us when we began the course, that's the secret to getting ahead. Best wishes to you getting ahead and having the impact you want and deserve.