I just came across a poorly written article that turned me off from the very beginning.

The writer didnt know a thing about crafting a good opening line and he even seemed to forget what they teach in English composition classes about starting with a thesis paragraph.

But I caught myself making these observations, no lets call them what they are; I made these criticisms, and I was about to skip the rest of the article.

And I stopped myself, remembering a phrase I have offered on countless occasions to my seminar participants and speech audiences:

Even a broken clock is right at least twice a day!

We could be listening to people in whom we invest zero credibility, yet its possible theyll say something thats astonishingly insightful, or simply something that triggers a very important association in our minds.

For example, a teenager remarked that he was surprised his music teacher was going to play in a concert with so few rehearsals to her credit.

Then he said wih genuine admiration: I didnt know she had the courage to play so poorly!

My jaw dropped.

What a great phrase, I thought, and instantly, I associated his idea with cold calling.

Lots of people dont make cold calls in sales work because they dont have the courage to play poorly.

This is also why so many procrastinate.

Anyway, this young man made quite a contribution to my thinking, though it was unexpected.

The lesson in all of this is the credibility of the speaker or writer may be irrelevant.

We can still learn a thing or two, from anyone at any time, providing were open to it!