Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (Part 2)
The Q & A continues: Captain Bob” Smith is a retired firefighter and fire captain. A member of the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER HALL OF FAME, Captain Bob speaks on the topics of overcoming stress and developing superior communication skills. He has written 2 books: Eat Stress For Breakfast and Fire Up Your Communication Skills. With three successful start-up businesses, education, and over 40 years of research, Captain Bob thoroughly enjoys helping others. Enjoy this Q & A, part 2, with Captain Bob.
Q. Captain Bob, who has been the most influential person to help you be the best you can be?
A. That’s easy. The most influential person in my life who has helped me time and time again is my wife, Harriet. After that, I would have to say that it is the friends and members of the National Speakers Association. Talk about a motivating powerhouse!
Q. If someone wanted to improve communication skills, what advice would you offer?
A. It has been my experience and my research that points to the fact that the best communicators are really, really, good listeners. Sadly, most of us do not engage in conversation to listen. We have a conversation to be heard. There is a difference. You have to improve your listening skills to improve your communication skills.
Here is an exercise. When having a conversation, start really listening to what the other person is saying.
If you don’t listen, you will not hear and understand. Let’s say this conversation revolves around a problem, If you are being asked for solutions, you cannot do so without listening and understanding the problem.
Here’s my advice: What may seem crystal clear to you probably is not to your partner. Are you listening?
Or, are you just planning your rebuttal?
Q. Captain Bob, what do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in life?
A. The greatest accomplishment of my life was making the commitment with Harriet to save our marriage and put our family back together. Once we were on a smoother path, we were able to focus on making memories. One after another. We help and do more with our adult children and their families at a time when they really need it. We have the privilege of seeing and enjoying the results. When it comes to family, does anything else matter?
Q. What would you most like people to say about Fire “Captain Bob” Smith?
A. I would like people to say that I helped them get their life unstuck. I’ve received thousands of e-mails, voicemails, DM’s, and letters from others who have benefited from the information I have shared through the years. Often, I cry when I receive them.
I will leave you with a few quotes that hit home:
Q. “Most people don’t change because they see the light … They usually feel the heat!”
A. “Hope is hearing the music of the future. Faith is dancing to it today!”
Fire Captain Bob
(NOTE: The above Q & A is in part from an interview that Captain Bob previously gave to The Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame)
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