You talk too much

“You talk too much” — this is feedback that at different times in my life, I have received frequently.  I think out loud.  I love to talk.  Sitting at a coffee shop with a close friend to catch up (or in the case of Backpacks for Dinner, sitting at a coffee shop with Eric and Rusty) is probably one of my most favorite things to do.  And for someone like me — talking is more than just important, it is essential.  But sometimes I need to shut up.  Less talking.  More doing.

This TED talk by Derek Sivers: “Keep your goals to yourself” was an instant favorite when I first watched it, and it quickly influenced our work with Badass Backpacks.

And then I took this concept too far.  I STOPPED talking.  Outside of our Tuesday night Backpacks for Dinner sessions, I began to really struggle, constantly being paranoid that if I was talking, I was most likely talking too much.

Sigh… Yes, Adam, you talk too much.  Yes Adam, you need more doing, and less talking.  Derek’s advice resonated with me because it was advice I needed to hear.  But as these things go — a balanced approach is almost always best.