Becoming one...

One look at Ronald Reagan’s resume and something called the Presidency of the United States tends to overshadow the long and winding invisible rooting system that made up the firm sturdy branches leading him toward an office nicknamed Oval.



It wasn’t dollars and common sense that sent the former California Governor to Washington, historians instantly labeled Mr. Reagan the Great Communicator—something he defines with a simple thought, “If you talk to everybody, you talk to nobody, but if you talk to one person, you talk to everybody.”



I know exactly where that was dropped into his bucket of success. Deeply dug into the official radio playbook all performers on the twin speaker stage bump into a Program Director that sternly rubs your nose in a single flavor of, “Make every thought about one person, talk to them, not at them, be part of their life without expecting them to become part of yours.”



Ronnie took those skills to Hollywood where he masterfully crafted the next level of great communication skills—eye contact.



But radio doesn’t come with pictures… How could someone on a microphone develop a talent to look directly into a listener’s eyes: Page two of the playbook introduces thought provokers and performers into the chapters of placing a picture of someone in front of them…practice talking to that person. Look into their eyes; envision their reaction to your presentation. Share thoughts don’t read words.



Every business, family and all walks of life depend on communication to be the idea grand maker of a positive or productive end result.



Purchased a pair of jeans over the weekend from a well known bargain priced national chain—upon paying for the merchandise the employee, making no eye contact handed me the receipt and clothes followed with a giant, “Thanks for coming in. Have a great weekend!”



No one-on-one. Loved the spirit and the adventure of trying to connect but lost in the message was belief.



It’s like the fast food restaurant that takes your order; clearly a man warmly greeted you with a smile…once at the pickup window—the man is now Monica and the good feeling experienced minutes earlier is gone because the person taking your money doesn’t seem to be happy about putting in a weekend shift.



Author Lou Solomon invites you to study the way children take in the world—their eyes are wide open. As we grow, our minds create an inner world of multi level thought—in time we tend to trust less which forces us to spend more time within than without.



During this method of reinventing America here’s your opportunity to be a leader by way of electing to put focus on the eyes other people and not allowing your message to resemble a pinball game darting between this person, that player then squirrel!



In an old episode of Lassie, a man came to town claiming the big fluffy beautiful collie was his and he wanted her to begin starring in dog shows again. Once there, the original owner couldn’t figure out why his dog refused to obey commands. No eye contact…he allowed his voice to make decisions without taking the time to look Lassie in the eyes.



Look at the way Mom’s keep kids in line an entire room away…she shoots the look!



Lou Solomon believes we should constantly work on creating personal closeness. That’s the way you get people to stop and pay attention. The new goal should be to connect through conversation spirited with interest in the person present and by developing eye to eye contact.



How does the current keyword Face Book or Twitter fit in? Some friends have five or six hundred pictures featured on their pages or you could be the voice over radio talent who was told during a vocal production workshop that every picture should be taken off because people see what you look like can affect if you’re hired or fired.



Look at how many teachers and other employees have lost their places of performance because company department heads were invited into their on-line world. What are we truly talking about and to whom?



On the web, at work, church, home or somewhere running around the neighborhood try talking to one person; treat your links on Face Book like…..friends! The best part of your day shouldn’t be Folgers in a cup but the opportunity to bridge.



Your hands are trained to bring food to your body. You can’t live without nourishment—those ten fingers and their prints are the morning radio show during the average broadcast day. Getting people to you are the other day parts…such as your eyes, voice, imagination, your creative way of writing, talking and your openness to let there be two sides of the conversation.



If you talk to everybody, you talk to nobody, but if you talk to one person, you talk to everybody……….President Ronald Reagan.



arroecollins@clearchannel.com