Kathleen has a unique message for many markets.

BLACKSMITHS to WORDSMITHS

Blacksmiths used to be commonplace in our world. There they were-fitting horseshoes and muleshoes so we could get around from place to place in rough terrain. A much-needed part of our early "networking" culture.

Now, however, wordsmiths equip us with the necessary lipshoes.

Lipshoes come in many brands. There’s facilitate, stewardship, concensus, compromise, collaborate, win-win, stakeholders — why the choices are almost limitless. There are about as many brands, as there are words we can lap our lips around.

Today, any reasonable person wouldn’t even think of getting on the communication highway without being properly ‘shod. To do so would be politically incorrect and there you would soon be-in the ditch and off the highway. And we all know what this would mean — another meeting to share our feelings. See — if you have the right lipshoes-you can feel the feelings. That’s how this works.The problem with lots of these brands, however, is they are made of poor quality. Frequently put together with a lack of integrity, intelligence, or ethics they quickly wear thin on the rough road of conflict resolution. Sadly, for the consumer, excited and upbeat right after buying them, heads off down the road only to get blisters of exasperation, frustration, disillusionment and delay.

Lipshoes come with no guarantee of success. Failure is assured; however, if you weren’t lucky enough to get ones made with ethics, intelligence and humor at the core. It is these three elements that will solve problems, open doors and build respect.It is these three elements that at one time best described the American personality in general. We constantly drew on these as we solved problems, charted new courses, and redirected our efforts and intentions.

The lipshoes we are wearing today too often see varying opinions as conflict that need to be facilitated, we substitute attitude for intellect, and embrace anger rather then humor to prove a point.

Blacksmiths of yesteryear used the right metals for the right terrain. Wordsmiths could learn valuable lessons from the ‘old-timers as they attempt to problem solve their way into the 21st century. If the shoe fits—wear it!

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