Communication Class - Blog #9 - Ashton Kutcher Speech

Today's blog topic, the second last topic of the course I might add, can be found here

Let's review shall we?

Opportunity looks a lot like hard work

No argument. In fact, I'll go one step further, and if you've been around a while you'll know I've talked about this before. Not only does opportunity look a lot like hard work, we are the product of our actions. Work hard, make good choices, the future is yours. Unless you're born into an incredibly independently wealthy family with generous (and stupid) parents, you're going to have to work to get what you want. We all do. And yes, there is a certain amount of fate and luck sprinkled in there. But for 99% of your life you're going to be creating your own fate and your own luck.

The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really really smart




Hmmm...

Ok, having said that, my husband's pretty smart. And it's kinda sexy when he talks about his work and sounds smart. So... ok. Let's go with that.


Everything around was made up of people who are no smarter than you are.

At first I thought this was silly. I mean, the person who made my computer knows a LOT more than I do. Or the person who wrote this Executive Strategy book I was just looking at. Or the person who designed this iPhone at my elbow here...

Then I thought. Hmm..

Maybe they may have a lot more knowledge on this topic, but that doesn't mean they're smarter than I am. I think this links back to the first comment. Ok, for reals, perhaps people have different aptitudes for things, but regardless of where your aptitude lies, if you work really really really hard at something, you'll appear smarter than everybody else at it! In fact a study has shown that the ability to delay self-gratification is actually more influential on end results (GPA, Success factors, etc.) than IQ is.

I once had a boss who, while we were looking for the perfect candidate to fill a job, told me that "We can teach the candidate to do the job. We can't teach smart." But smart, in this sense, isn't (and wasn't) IQ. Smart is ambition and talent and hard work and comprehension. You can have the smartest person in the world (and believe me, in my job, in some of our lines of business we have some amazingly smart people!) but unless they have the drive and the common sense, they couldn't figure themselves out of an elevator at the best of times.

Still, give me Bradley Cooper with a high IQ and I won't be angry with you.

**Edit** Apparently smart also has nothing to do with your ability to use html tags.

Communication Class - Blog #10 - the final chapter.

Good day, and welcome to the 10th and final communication class blog, wherein Gina talks about what she learned in this class and how it will be useful as she develops her professional identity.

Well. First, I think I need to establish that I'm fairly confident that I have already developed a professional identity. However, having said that, I'm fairly confident that one's "professional identity" isn't like shortbread cookies. It's not like you mix 'em up, throw 'em in the oven and PRESTO! here's your professional identity. The professional identity I have now isn't the same identity I had 5 years ago, or 3 years ago, or even this time last year. I have enjoyed all of the classes I've taken over the past 14 years and I have learned something from every one of them, even if the lesson is "Wow, you're really smarter than you give yourself credit for" or "Wow, just because you hold a position of authority doesn't mean you're good at something." Every class has shaped my professional identity, just as every day at works shapes my professional presence.

This class has formalized a lot of the theories behind communication that I didn't realize I've been following over the years. Much of my own knowledge has come from watching others and a bit of trial and error over time, but it's nice to know that my instincts have been on track all this time, and it's also nice to be able to fine tune bits and pieces that might have needed fine tuning.

On top of that, this class has given me a bit more self confidence. It's funny how often you think you're smart, or funny or talented in your head and you go for years surrounded by the same people who may see you as smart or funny or talented but it's just "the norm" for you and for them.

Having a fresh set of eyes and ears to critique my communication skills and help me improve them has been completely invaluable, and on top of that I've met some great people that I hope I have the opportunity to work with again in the future.

And with that...

Communications Gina is out.

Cheers!!