Just Listen -- It's Not About Liberal vs. Conservative

I recently visited with a wise and deeply principled female senior manager from a Fortune 500 company. She offered an observation that I have not been able to get out of my mind. She was happy to have me quote her, but upon further reflection I decided to save her the possible complications that speaking out might cause. Discretion is often the better part of valor when you work at a large company -- which may explain why I have never worked for one.

She told me that she thought the greatest rift in our country was not between liberal and conservative, left and right, democrat and republican, but rather between the shallow hearted people who just talk (and blame and complain and whine) and the deep hearted people who take action on their convictions.

Her observation -- which I am inclined to agree with -- is that people of diverging political views, who are truly committed to bettering the world around them through different approaches and demonstrate that commitment through action vs. words may respectfully disagree, but then will find ways to work together cooperatively.

The real problem is those from both sides of the political spectrum who are filled with rhetoric -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing -- who rarely take action, but waste the time of those who would cooperate by continuously stirring the pot.

What do you hear when you "Just Listen" to the world around you?

On another note, please accept my deepest thanks and appreciation to the Huffington Post and readers that have helped my just released book, "Just Listen" jump to the top of multiple categories at amazon.com.