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I WAS AT A PUBLICITY SEMINAR recently and
the speaker said something very useful. She suggested that when
you do a TV interview, you decide beforehand what message you
want to communicate to the viewers, and then, no matter what
the interviewer asks you, make sure you answer with your
message.
Of course you have to acknowledge the question
somehow and make the transition to your answer smooth, but, she
said, no matter what, you must stay on what you want to say and
not get sidetracked by the interviewer.
She was an expert in her field and said
this was good advice. Some interviewers are downright hostile.
Even if they aren’t, they often have a different purpose
than you do for being there. So the question becomes: “Whose
goal will be achieved? Yours or theirs?” Of course, if your
two intentions are not wholly antagonistic, it is possible that
both of you can be satisfied.
The same principle operates not only on
TV interviews, but in regular life too. The first and most important
principle is to know what you want. Know what you want.
It doesn’t mean you have to step all over everyone to get
it. But your wishes are at least as valid as anyone else’s,
and from your perspective they are more valid than anyone
else’s. That’s the way it ought to be.
So take whatever you get from the world
— your circumstances, the people in your life and what they’re
trying to accomplish — and use it to accomplish your goals.
To do this you have to focus on what you
intend to accomplish, and go after it like a hungry lion stalking
her prey. No matter what happens, keep trying to accomplish your
purpose. It takes some concentration and a little practice. But
you’ll be able to achieve your goals with more certainty.
And you won’t be drained as much by things unrelated to
your purpose.
Your goals are honorable and valuable.
Don’t let them get shunted aside by pushy people or less-than-ideal
circumstances. Take whatever the world presents to you and use
it to accomplish your purpose. No matter what.
Whatever happens, use it
to accomplish your purpose. |
