There You Are

"We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far." -Swami Vivekananda

I travel quite a bit in my job that that takes me to places far flung around this world. I have been to every one of the seven continents with the exception of Antarctica. I am trying to figure out what possible reason there might be for me to earn a business trip to that last one. It just has not worked out yet that Emperor Penguins have identified a use case for disk storage.

In each of these places, I know that my actions and words are closely watched and listened to. Each of my visits require me to speak in front of customers and the local co-workers for the company I work for. As anyone that speaks in front of others, you know that your words have impact upon those listening. What I say is expected to be truthful, accurate and easily understood. If that doesn't happen, the words can lead to misunderstandings and wrong outcomes.

Even my actions can have bearing upon those around me. The way I act during breaks in between meeting sessions. The way I act at a client dinner meeting or event. What I do and how I act have a huge impact on people's perception of me, my integrity and my influence or lack of influence. Acting like a dolt will certainly temper their opinion of me.

The same is true for anything I do, whether it be in front of people or behind closed doors. What I do, where ever I do it, that is who I am. It is similar to the old phrase that says, "Where ever you go, there you are." Both phrases basically mean that one cannot run from one's problems or actions indefinitely. I am who I am where ever I am.

So regardless of where I am, a meeting in front of customers, at home with the kids or standing in the checkout line at the store; people see your actions and who you are by what you say. It means that you or I can have influence on people no matter where we are. The way we think translates into words which translate into actions. So than it extends to where ever you are in your thoughts, so go your words and actions. Make those thoughts the right ones.