malices and jeers of captious critics and rivals and the enduring stupidity and folly of some of their helpers, yes-men and bootlickers. Sophistication Sophistication is the poise gained by being worldly wise; experienced in the phases and conventions of life as practiced. in the centers of culture and pleasure and among the leaders of thought and in major activities. The opposite is credulity, timidity and awkwardness when based on ignorance, laziness, partial knowledge and poor skills. One becomes sophisticated by being born in the better levels of society, being trained continuously in their conventions, taught their traditions and customs, and then following them. With much effort, close study and continuous attention till the reflexes take charge, ambitious outsiders and "climbers," in time, can, by imitation, acquire superficial veneers of polish and culture. Then, if practiced long enough, sophistication becomes · second nature-habit. Efficiency Efficiency conveys the idea that a task has been well done, quickly and without waste; effectiveness; competency; capableness; proficiency. Efficiency is attained only after previous study and preparation and by diligent, persevering, steady hard efforts, work and repetitions. There must be a spirit of readiness; of knowledge of how to start and how to accomplish skillfully-perception, grasp, judgment, decision, prompt action and quick economical results. Knowledge from experience, after many a try then skill; reasonable flexibility in adapting to the task in hand the other experiences of life. Without practice, repetitions and skills, efficiency is almost impossible. To prepare for critical moments and crises that demand immediate results, previous repetitions are essentiallong years of unremitting, drilling toil, self-discipline, and real sacrifices. Efficiency is promoted when there is loyalty both up and down, with leaders and followers treating each other with mutual sympathy, respect, confidence, firmness and justice. Lapses in efficiency and discipline are certain where there is slackness, undue severity and the lack of courtesy, frankness and information. Only from 5% to 20% of the total of human ability and resources are wisely employed. Think of what could be done for humanity's progress if the time and energy of the leisure class, the idle and the unemployed, the crippled, the sick, those inefficiently occupied and those employed anti-socially, in dissipation and in crime, could all be employed usefully for mankind's welfare! Voice An individual's voice plays a large part in the making or ruining of careers, for it adds to or detracts from personality. Too often the speech patterns of phrasing and the stress, quality and melody of the talker's voice affects, and even determines, the behavior of seniors, associates and subordinates. Antagonisms are built up against those who use a harsh, rasping tone; against a soft, listless tone; against monotonous downward inflections; and against explosive stresses uttered in short, snappy phrases. Ambitious persons should listen to recordings of their various voice tones and moods. "Placing the voice" can be learned, for good speech and pleasing tones are matters of mechanics. In many persons, the voice is not "placed" right. Then, a voice teacher's services should be sought. The normal voice range should be discovered, practiced and adhered to. Every effort should be devoted to cultivating clear, resonant and warm tones-tones that carry conviction, sympathy and understanding. When speaking, the history of one's life is broadcast; the state of health, the state of the mind, one's breeding and education, poise and sophistication. A voice may be as beautiful and as haunting as a face. Talking; Conversation "A picture is worth 1,000 words." (Probably more.) "Good thinking makes good talking." Talking is the uttering of words; conversing; speaking familiarly; an avenue of expression; colloquy; discussion. Talking is an avenue of expression used by the mind, soul and spirit and the intelligence and the emotions whereby ideas and concepts are painted into word pictures. These are capable of an infinity of objectives. Language may be misleading. Hearers may forget the exact wordage but not the image or impression on their receptors, mind, soul and spirit and intelligence and emotions. The hearer's receptivity and personality, together with the talker's inward spirit, personality, motive and competency control the nature and extent of influence of a talker on his fellows. Spoken-word potency depends on the degree of reception by the receptors of the hearers. A century ago, before the invention of the steady white light, the growth of literacy and the correction of vision defects, the vast majority of mankind learned of previous epochs and of his own, and, unfortunately, still does, mostly by talking. It is one of the most accessible of pleasures. Besides fostering friendship, affection and love and expanding human contacts, talking can be made quite profitable. The mind, soul and spirit and the intellect and the emotions generate talking and speech, which in turn generate more ideas, concepts, knowledge and skills. As the various faculties, facilities and talents expand and develop and are used, new skills emerge and broader concepts ensue. The larger vocabularies prove intelligence, and allow expressing the more delicate shades of meaning. Like writing, talking is a matter of individuality. Both are ineffective, unless the undertones and the overtones of wisdom, sincerity, convictions and personality are strongly and clearly expressed. Beware talking about affairs of which one knows little! Do not cover too much territory! Avoid flowery and high-flown expressions. Beware slang, the resort of uncouth, immature minds! Use familiar, simple and forcful comparisons. Learn to talk to common persons-never "talk down" to them! Talk about concrete matters; about things close to home and important to listeners; about their lives, families, neighbors, town, state, their todays, their hopes, etc. Use inflections, pauses and emphasis. Put sympathy, prudence and intelligence in the voice. Avoid the shrill notes. To enhance sincerity, assurance and authority, use the deeper and more resonant tones. Be accurate and lucid, using the simplest words and language construction-clear, concise expressions. Practice on the family! Worth-while matters should dominate conversation. One should try to carry on conversations with the well-informed. Oratory is more emotional than logical-intellectual playacting. Leaders and thinkers are good listeners, letting others, who would have the stage, talk freely. Thus is minimized in the talker's mind any notion that they are better than tools leaders are trying to use. Thus may these people be wooed from their ideas and preconceptions. A sense of partnership can be stimulated amongst followers in the affairs leaders seek to advance. Whether in small or large rôles, aspirants must perfect this art! Learn to listen! an essential to becoming a good talker. If considerate of others' ego, good talkers and conversationalists cannot avoid surprising their fellows. Be patient with talkers. Try to penetrate the minds and discover the motives of all with whom one talks! Allow them opportunity and liberty. Discover a person's strongest motive and appeal through it. Be astute! Lead them to talk of themselves, their work, hobbies and hopes. Continuously, good talkers admit they are not the fountain of all information, knowledge and wisdom. Beware prattling! Be sure you have something to say! Say it! Stop! The less talking, the more time to think. Words: Vocabulary "How many live in abject verbal poverty when the riches of the race are within their reach!"-Finley. "Words are the shell of ideas." Word is an articulate sound or combination of sounds expressing an idea. Vocabulary is the total number of words a person uses in thought, speech and writing. Words, language and their inflections and also gestures are conditioned reflexes-habitual tools of instincts, emotions and intelligence. What crude affairs they are! originally devised by primitives, savages, uncouth and unlearned ancients, Dark Ages needs, ignorant coalescing feudatories, inexorably-formed centralized nations, Renaissance progressives, Reformation, Industrial Revolution, evolving liberty, the freedoms and democracy, emerging science, engineering and technology, quantity production, Marxism with its dialectics and designedly deceptive semantics, United Nations, etc. Words are only the accepted symbols of images and thought. Sentences are series of words arranged to convey meaning. Language is human speech. Words, sentences and language are rough, clumsy, inaccurate, mental tools that are incapable of completely and clearly expressing the exquisite imageries of the human intellect. However, they are the only devices available to systematize ideas, concepts, thinking, reasoning and expressions. Obviously, the larger the number of these mental tools or words in the intellectual tool room, the larger the vocabulary, the broader and better the thinking and the possibilities of clearer expression. The purposes of all talking and writing are to express one's self adequately. Naming things, events, affairs and ideas, and then classifying them, are effective foundation stones for imagination, ideas, concepts, thoughts, reason and logic. Without many words or a large vocabulary, there can be little comprehension or good thinking. The ability to express one's self easily and well is supremely important. Deficiencies in words, speech and language frustrate the communication of ideas and feelings, prevent self-understanding and impede the adjustment of personality problems. No two individuals ever get exactly the same meanings, ideas and concepts from any given arrangement of words, sentences and language! Probably, it is only in mathematics and in science that exactness of meaning is approached! Conveying ideas and intent, exactly and precisely, is difficult because of the varying capacities of the hearer's or reader's receptors. Except for a few of the commonest words, probably, most uttered words |