How tempting is it to try to slide by on half-effort? What if I could skim through the book and still get an A on the book report? What if I could glance at reference resources and think I got the gist of the material to at least sound like I know what I’m talking about. You could. You probably have. But it’s not a good strategy and it’s going to lead to failure. It did in these two stories.
One is a nationally recognized talk show personality interviewing a famous comedian on a highly ranked national morning talk show. High visibility all around. What a lovely and personal gesture it was for the interviewer to talk to the comedian about his wife. In fact, waxing poetic about what beautiful marriage they have and how many years they’ve been together. Could have been a beautiful part of the segment. Except that the wife had passed away 18 months earlier. How does she not know that? How does one not read the basic milestones of someone you’re interviewing? The winner here was the comedian whose handling of this cringe-inducing gaffe was a master class in grace. Do your homework!
Yesterday I was listening to the radio where the talk show host…who touts himself as a rock star in the business world…had a guest, whom he was touting as a businessman of significant note. However, he kept getting the guest’s company’s name wrong. He kept getting corrected and he kept getting it wrong. How is that possible? You’re the talk show host, he’s the guest, here on your invitation about his expertise, and you can’t get his company right? And you keep getting it wrong? It was embarrassing to listen to. Do your homework!
Preparation is key in doing well in whatever task you’re facing. You will serve your clients better if you know them better. You will make your teachers happier if you are prepared. It will only serve your best interests to have a reputation as someone who is prepared, who has an understanding of the subject and is informed. Your communication will have no depth if you have no substance.
Do your homework!