BWFLI
  • Facebook
  • Home
  • Blogs
    • Brenda’s Blog
      • Brenda’s Blog
      • About Brenda A. Smith
    • Weekly Thoughts
    • Breakfast With Fred
      • What is Breakfast With Fred?
      • About Fred Smith, Sr.
      • Breakfast With Fred website
  • BWFLI Roundtable
    • BWFLI Launches the Roundtable
    • Introduction-Schedule-Bios
    • Ron Glosser-Fred Smith chapter
    • Perseverance Book
    • 200 Mentoring Questions
    • Jarvis College BWFLI poster
    • Alice Lloyd College poster
    • Lindsey Wilson College poster
  • Leadership Online
    • Leadership Team
  • About Us
    • What is BWFLI?
    • What is Breakfast With Fred?
    • About Fred Smith, Sr.
    • About Brenda A. Smith
    • Contact Us
  • Please Donate
    • Click Here to Donate
    • Why Give to BWF Project, Inc.?

Turn of a Phrase

Brenda’s Blog – July 4, 2017

“We Made Too Much”

The sign over the baked goods caught my eye. The marketing department hit a home run. “Day old -on sale half price” is common in bakeries. I am drawn to their marked down items.

This header on the shelving unit made me smile. “We Made Too Much.” They could have just as easily posted “We Sold Too Little” and sent the same overage message. But someone understood the power of an apt phrase.

The book of Proverbs gives us this visual: “Like apples of gold in settings of silver so is a word skillfully spoken.”

The construction of words can greatly impact the effect. I am working on a shift from “have to” to “get to.” It changes my energy and my attitude. Dad told the story of Beverly Sills, the internationally known operatic singer, who prepared to leave an early social gathering by saying, “I must go for I have to sing at the Met tonight.” She no sooner uttered those words than she turned and corrected herself with, “No, I get to sing at the Met.” My challenge is to notice how many times “get to” can be substituted for “have to” and a marvelous lift occurs. For example, “I have to pick up my granddaughter after school.” That is a declaration of a task. But, “I get to pick up my granddaughter after school” comes with a smile and joyful expectation.

Another shift I am making is saying “Always remember” rather than “Never forget.” They both say the same thing, but one is strong and hopeful while the other has the sense of a wagging finger.

Shaping, molding, and crafting phrases is an enjoyable mental exercise. Considering the weight of words and their symmetry gives us an opportunity to create something apt. Ultimately, our expression can bring impact and influence.

  • Brenda A. Smith shares a TV Interview about LeTourneau-BWFLI event

  • Fred Smith Sr. shares a lifetime of Encouragement at Centennial Celebration

  • Mark Modesti TED Talk – The Argument for Trouble

  • Student Impact at Emmaus Bible College

  • BWFLI Impacts Lindsey Wilson College

Categories

Archives