What are the nine most important words in the English language? Money. . . love. . .sex. . . health? As far as individual words are concerned, I don't know the answer. But when strung together to form a single sentence, I know of nine words that are more powerful than any others. At least they have proven so to me. These words have enabled me not simply to make more money but to unlock the love instinct in others. Do you want to know what they are?

How I Learned to Speak

First, let me give you a little background.

I started out as a writer. Then I discovered how to take and use photographs to illustrate my articles. From there I moved to producing slide shows consisting of 35 mm slides synched to a sound track. Next thing I know, I'm writing speeches for corporate executives and professional speakers. Soon I started speaking myself and continue to address audiences to this day.

I remember the first time I delivered a public speech. It was during a program for which I had written talks for other speakers. I had all of nine minutes to make my mark. I guess I did a pretty good job because afterward a number of audience members came up to me and told me they enjoyed my address the most. I booked another $5,000 worth of speaking engagements on the spot thanks to those nine minutes.

An Important Revelation

I'm still plugging away, hop-scotching the country and delivering speeches. It's a great life but an exhausting one. One day, I studied my bookings and made an important discovery: I could make a lot more by changing my travel patterns. I realized I wasn't getting much work near my home. The people in Dallas and Miami seemed to know me better than my neighbors in Michigan!

So I made a resolution: I would allow the people of Michigan to discover me the way the folks in other parts of the country had. And it was at this point in my life that I found those nine magic words.

The 9 Words

Those nine words are: "I've got a problem and I need your help."

Disappointed? Expecting something more elaborate? Well, bear with me another few moments and I'll explain.

Each time I'd finish a speech, I'd walk up to the person who booked me and say: "I've got a problem and I need your help." Then I'd explain that my problem was that I wanted more bookings in Michigan but wasn't well known in the state. "If you think I'm an okay speaker, would you help me out by mailing my brochures and a personal recommendation to three meeting planners that you know in Michigan?," I'd ask.

By golly, it worked. Before long, I had tripled my Michigan bookings. Since then I have found that this nine-word sentence is a magic formula that works in all kinds of situations.

Conclusion

People are good. They want to do good things for others, especially if they believe in the value of what that other person has to offer. Just as important, they like to be asked to help. Being asked for help makes them understand their own value.

"I've got a problem and I need your help."

I urge all of you to try out the sentence in your own personal and professional lives. I'm sure it will work as well for you as it has for me.

MEMBER REPLY

Retirement & Self-Reflection

SafetyXChange received this article in response to Lauryn Franzoni's series on career self-reflection. [See, http://www.safetyxchange.org/article.php?id=678&cha_id=5 for part one]

Hi Lauryn:

I read your article with interest. Like many women, I have devoted my time and energy to my career, as well as to being married, raising a family (not necessarily in that order!) I know I am not alone in having given up hobbies and relaxation interests, as I put family and career ahead in priority.

I will be retiring within 5 years, and I know I must start making the transition now. But where do I start? What would I do? It was suggested to me by a very wise acquaintance that perhaps I should take some self assessment tests at the local university to see if I could get any ideas about what courses to take. It turned out to be a great idea!

Discovering an Interest

The two tests I took were the Myers-Briggs and the Campbell Interest survey. I had taken the Myers-Briggs test a number of times before as part of supervisory courses at work, so there were no surprises there. But the results of the Campbell Interest survey were enlightening. Of course it told me that I have the career I should have (science). But it also told me that there was a whole artistic side to me which could be explored, which included writing and other artistic endeavors.

So, I am starting to write, and plan to take a few writing courses before I retire. I am actually excited about it. And, writing is something which is age independent, so I can continue to do this well into my retirement.

I just wanted to suggest to you that the tools you described in your article may also be useful for retirement planning, and even to get to know oneself better to make a change. They really helped me a lot and I can now move confidently ahead into my retirement and know that I will not be sitting in front of the TV with the remote. I have a plan.

If you would like to use part of this letter in your column, please do so. But please do not use my name or contact information. Thanks in advance for respecting my privacy.

EDITOR'S REPLY:  Thank you for the heartfelt note. If you need help in your new writing career, I would try out the technique Art outlines in the story above.

WORKING TRENDS

How long will baby boomers stay in their jobs?

Working Past Age 50

By: Glenn Demby

How will employers around the world replace and pay off their benefits obligations to retiring baby boomers? The answer will depend in large part on how long boomers stay in their jobs before retiring. The table below documents retirement trends in the G7 countries since 1970 - specifically the percentage of employees who continue to work past age 50.

AGE 50 To 64

SOURCE:AARP, "Perspectives of Employers, Workers and Policymakers in the G7 Countries on the New Demographic Realities," Sept. 2007, http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/intl_older_worker_1.pdf

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