Becoming An Outstanding Person | Silence – Week 2 of 12 |

This article is part of the How To Become An Outstanding Person In Twelve Weeks series. The twelve weeks will allow you to tap into your hidden potential and become a productive power house like the infamous “first American”, Benjamin Franklin.

While I believe that anyone and everyone could accomplish “outstanding” status, I also believe that it takes dedication and elbow grease. I present you with a step-by-step guide to accomplishing this goal, just dig in and start now.

The way the excel journals function is that I work on one virtue per week, concentrating all my efforts on the task as hand, while recording the slip ups in the other virtues as they progress naturally. I won’t comment on the slip ups until that specific virtue gets its week.

Silence (Week 2 of 12)

Silence

My progress with Silence.

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. This virtue is particularly important because it eliminates hours of wasted time, in the form of gossip and pointless conversation.

In order to stay away from gossip I found myself asking myself “what is my intention”. This is something I picked up from a friend. In order to stay focused he put signs on most of the walls in his house that read “what is my intention”. While I did not make signs, I used this technique before contacting or responding to a person and often while in the middle of conversations.

This virtue enabled me to be more direct and get to the point of a conversation, without being side tracked. It wasn’t too hard to implement when you focused your attention on it for a week. The payoff is truly great. I feel like that by not participating in such negative conversations I was able to, in a way, rid my world of these things. Out of sight, out of mind.

What silence does not mean is avoiding all leisurely conversations, that could serve as entertainment or support for someone. If it benefits others or yourself, it’s still worth talking about.

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Posted by in Goal Setting, Personal Development | March 6, 2007 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Print | 16 comments

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/02/08/how-to-become-an-outstanding-person-in-twelve-weeks/ How To Become An Outstanding Person In Twelve Weeks | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] Becoming An Outstanding Person | Silence – Week 2 of 12 | [...]

  • http://www.todayisthatday.com/blog/ Aaron M. Potts

    Alex,

    Your “what is my intention” bit reminds me of a similar concept I use that accomplishes the same thing.

    Whenever I am having doubts about whether or not to say or do something, I simply ask myself:

    “Will this take me towards or away from my long-term goals?”

    If the answer is “away,” then that thing does not get said or done!

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    Thanks Aaron… that’s how it usually works… it’s either towards or away, not to be confused with somewhere in the middle… because that’s away too.

  • http://saniawyatt.blogspot.com Sania Wyatt

    I just can’t imagine life without a bit of gossip. ;)

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    I must be developing psychic abilities, I knew you would say that Sania

  • http://todayisthatday.com/blog/self-improvement-and-law-of-attraction-link-love-volume-5/ Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 5 : Today is that Day

    [...] 4) Practical Personal Development – Becoming An Outstanding Person | Silence – Week 2 of 12 – Turns out that the phrase "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" has real merit, and Alex brings it home in a short, but informative manner. [...]

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/02/27/becoming-an-outstanding-person-temperance-week-1-of-12/ Becoming An Outstanding Person | Temperance – Week 1 of 12 | | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] Becoming An Outstanding Person | Silence – Week 2 of 12 | [...]

  • http://shiokculture.blogspot.com Culture Shiok!

    I think this one will be easy for me

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    Do you plan on keeping up with the whole program?

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/03/20/becoming-an-outstanding-person-resolution-week-4-of-12/ Becoming An Outstanding Person | Resolution – Week 4 of 12 | | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] Week 02 – Silence [...]

  • http://www.klmasina.co.nz Kara-Leah Masina

    I’ve noticed when I’m out and about socially with people that most of the conversation does tend to focus around ‘gossip’ – who’s doing what and what the people speaking think & feel about it. It doesn’t matter whether they’re discussing politicians, celebrities or friends and associates…

    It becomes a way to bond, to demonstrate what you believe and what’s important to you, and to find out who else thinks the way you do.

    So as I do my best NOT to gossip, it brings up an interesting issue… how can I participate and therefore ‘bond’ without betraying my intentions to always com from a place of love and non-judgment?

    Quite the conundrum, and suggestions welcomed!

    Much joy,
    Kara-Leah

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/03/13/becoming-an-outstanding-person-order-week-3-of-12/ Becoming An Outstanding Person | Order – Week 3 of 12 | | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] Week 02 – Silence [...]

  • http://vtranslate.blogsome.com/2007/04/26/p5/ Vane translate :: ?????????????? :: April :: 2007

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  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/05/08/becoming-an-outstanding-person-tranquility-week-11-of-12/ Becoming An Outstanding Person | Tranquility – Week 11 of 12 | | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] I believe that if you ask yourself these questions, you will find that many “trifles” or “accidents” are not significant enough to warrant a response. They’re not worth the loss of temper, self-induced stress, or breaking your silence. [...]

  • http://www.alexshalman.com/blog/2007/04/03/becoming-an-outstanding-person-industry-week-6-of-12/ Becoming An Outstanding Person | Industry – Week 6 of 12 | | Alex Shalman . com

    [...] Week 02 – Silence [...]

  • nash

    I felt really very good after reading it.