The power is in the idea…
Yawning is such an innocuous act. It’s something we all do and yet yawning is contagious. Some of you will yawn in the next few minutes just because you have read the words yawning in this opinion. And for some of you reading this in a coffee shop or open office others may have seen or heard you yawn and they may yawn as well. So in a very short time a whole lot of people will yawn. The funny thing about yawning is how contagious it is. If you read about yawning, see someone yawning or even hear someone yawn it triggers an involuntary yawning response. I am told even blind people are prone to yawning when they hear someone else yawn.
After yawning some of you may even express the opinion that you feel tired. So the act of reading the word yawn can also trigger an emotional response. Who would have thought that reading such a small word can have such an effect. The fact is words can be powerful instruments that influence how others act and feel.
Our national vocabulary was positive during the world cup. We all spoke up, focused on the positives and had a national common goal. The goal has passed and the new national conversation is about discontent. Discontent with service delivery, discontent with wages, discontent with the economy, discontent with working conditions.
People without goals and ambitions naturally fall into the negative trap. People without something to look forward to, criticise and wallow in their own discontent. This discontent is infectious. This discontent is also food for those who wish to exploit the situation. Watch the events that will lead up to next years local government elections carefully. We are already seeing the jockeying for power in institutions such as some sporting codes.
The words we use in our national conversation are currently negative. As a nation and as businesspeople we need to articulate a common national goal. A positive one so that our national conversation can change. That we can use positive words with pride once again.
Words are infectious…. believe me.
