March-April 2007 -- WELCOME

THE LISTENING CONNECTION
--your world-wide connection to "effective-active listening"

EAR-OPENING CONTENTS

1) March-April Ear-Opening Commentary.
"The Ear-Opening Eruption"

2) Your INTERACTIVE DIMENSION - Your Opportunity: To Respond to these March-April Questions of the Month

3) World-wide INTERACTIVE RESPONSES to the January-February 2007 Edition Questions

4) March-April Thought Provoker.

5) New Audiobook -- 3 Different Formats!!

1) THE EAR-OPENING ERUPTION

by Greg Bauer

"I am getting to the boiling point of fully erupting!" These were the words that exploded out of the mouth of a twelve-year-seasoned administrative assistant to the Vice President at a multi-departmental meeting of department managers that I attended. This now emboldened and confident individual took charge of the meeting and further exclaimed:

"My husband is dying of cancer! I've got better things to do with my life and with my husband during his final days that to spin my wheels here for the past two days listening to constant complaining and constant diversions from staying on the main subject at hand."

"We are getting absolutely nowhere!"

"We haven't even come close to discussing this futuristic project at hand toward meeting our client's expectations or timelines!"

Complete silence and stillness engulfed the entire room. Nobody moved. Nobody said a word. This administrative assistant and capturer-of-the-moment continued on by staring down each of these managers with direct eye-to-eye contact in complete silence.

Then she exclaimed: "This is the first time in two days that you've actually listened to somebody else beside your being so self-absorbed in your own individual demands and wishes."

The group took a 15-minute break and gave way to the air clearing. A new atmosphere of each individual actively sharing emerged and actual listening took place for the remainder of the afternoon. Initiatives were discussed and planned with actual timelines set. At the conclusion of the afternoon, one of these department managers stood up and thanked the administrative assistant for her caring words and offered strong words of support from the group for her and her husband in their days ahead.

How effectively are you actually listening to others?

What measure(s) is it going to take for you to better "Utilitize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening?"

2) YOUR INTERACTIVE DIMENSION -- YOUR OPPORTUNITY: RESPOND TO THESE MARCH-APRIL QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH.

BRIEFLY EXPLAIN:

(1) How effectively are you actually listening to others?

(2) What measure(s) is it going to take for you to better "Utilize the Power of Effective- Active-Listening"?

*YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- CONNECT WITH:*

THE LISTENING CONNECTION

YES -- This is your opportunity to share any of your answers (responses) to the questions from above with our international audience of subscribers of The Listening Connection. 1) We will include your answer(s)/response(s) in our next (May-June) issue. 2) Our readers (subscribers) would also appreciate your providing us with your first name only, state you reside in (if in the U.S.), and your country. We are really looking forward to sharing with you new horizons in The Listening Connection being your worldwide connection to "effective-active listening". E-mail your perspectives/responses to: gregbauer@listenone.com.

3) WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE RESPONSES TO
THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007 EDITION QUESTIONS:

(1) What one individual has made a significant impact upon your life? How?

(2) How have you lately attempted to help another individual(or listen to another individual) without expecting to receive anything in return?

JODY -- MINNESOTA -- USA

My life today, at age 39, would probably not be the same today or have taken the direction it did without this one dynamic leader that entered my life at age 16. This motivator of human qualities and their potential was my track coach in high school. During a conversation I was having with her about life and my goals, she invited me to try out for the track team. I had no real desire to participate in any sport, including track. After about six nudgings from her to come out to the track and just try it out, I conceded to her wishes. I became more involved in the track team and actually placed 1st or 2nd at many of the meets. I'll never forget one statement that this leader of a coach repeated over and over again:

"What do you want to achieve in your life? Pursue it."

This question has reverberated in my mind at every significant turn in my life for the past many years. A visualization of her face, her expressions, and her voice appears in my mind, even today, of her asking that question. Even though she has passed on, she will continue to be very much alive in my mind and life forever. Thank you, Coach, for continually helping me to listen to myself.

TOM -- MICHIGAN -- USA

As a computer software engineer and enjoying my work immensely, I found a lacking void in my life. Thanks to a friend of mine that's a firefighter and involved with youth at risk, I now help coordinate 4 different youth at risk sports programs simultaneously 3 nights a week. These bright, smart youth are starving for adults to listen to their hopes, dreams and problems.

JOSHUA -- NORTH CAROLINA -- USA

There I was. My life was spiraling downward into a deep-dark abyss. I accepted this position and lost all hope for life and what it had to offer.

My fiancee and I had been going together for about 1 1/2 years and been engaged for about six months where we had already made specific plans for our wedding. I was driving her back home after she and I had attended an enjoyable social evening with other couples. Upon arriving at her place, at her front door, she proceeded to very calmly tell me that she was moving on with her life. She further exclaimed that she had a desire to start dating another guy she met at her office, she had a desire to also date other guys, and wanted to start exploring a new career path. She placed her engagement ring in my hand, thanked me for everything, gave me a big thank you kiss, and said good-bye, and closed the door. She closed the door on, what I thought at that time, was the final chapter of my life.

So, as I stated, there I was. Shocked, stunned, and totally devastated in this deep-dark abyss. I walked aimlessly for the next two hours. Trying to figure out, in my mind, what had just happened. I found myself standing in front of a church where I attempted to open the door and the door actually opened. I stepped forward into this dimly-lit church and took a seat about halfway up to the front. I sat there for quite a while in my numb condition. I hadn't been inside a church for at least two years. I then started asking God some questions out loud. After a while a man in street clothes appeared before me. He, with a friendly welcoming smile, shared with me that he was the pastor of this church. He asked if he could sit with me and I welcomed his company. He just sat there and said nothing. Eventually I began sharing with him what had happened to me that evening, my feelings for my now ex-fiancee, and my expectations for our now lost future together.

The gentle caring man of God shared with me these words that have served as an inspirational guiding light for me in the past many years:

"Who do you want to become in God's community here on earth?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"God is listening."

JACKIE -- TENNESSEE -- USA

After graduating from high school some 4 years ago now, I've been in the world of sales and earning a paycheck at what I knew that I didn't want to do for the rest of my life. I didn't care for our sales manager's way of conducting business and closing sales.

While sitting at a crowded coffee shop one day, a gentleman approached me and asked if I'd mind sharing my table and I agreed. Both of us were busy using our laptops. He asked what business I was in and I proceeded to spill my guts as to how much I hated my boss and what I was doing, but that it paid the bills.

After very patiently listening to all of my grief and whining, he very carefully asked -- "So, what is the next step in your life?"

I am now a hairstylist and enjoying listening to my customers.

LISA -- FLOIRDA -- USA

The idea of helping and listening to others came to me so naturally, I didn't even have to give the idea a second thought.

I am a cancer survivor. If it weren't for all of the caring and loving individuals who gave the thousands of hours towards helping and listening to me, I wouldn't be where I am today as again a contributing member of today's society. I am a living product of receiving the healing power of others really loving, caring, and listening. Thank you all.

Now it's my turn to love, care, and listen to others that are terrified, devastated, and without hope. It's my turn to share this healing power with those that have cancer and with their loved ones.

ANTHONY -- COLORADO -- USA

I am a retired school teacher, still in my fifties, energetic, and in good health. I've had no real hobbies, except for golfing occasionally. I started visiting and socializing with residents in a local retirement community and have continued to enjoy interacting with these folks for the past 8 months or so. Recently I was asked by this large community's social activities director to help her in setting up and arranging the many group activities. I accepted and really enjoy being a part of these peoples' lives.

BOB -- TEXAS -- USA

The thought never crossed my mind to do something else with my life. I was set with a career as a full-time firefighter in a larger metropolitan area. I most enjoyed helping others when a crisis struck in their lives, as related to my firefighter's lifestyle during the past 14 years.

Then, my life was thrown a curve. While at a large house fire, my life changed. I found myself on a burning floor that gave way, falling thru to the floor below, beams from the burning structure falling onto my legs, and I was trapped. My team of firefighters came to my rescue and thanks to them I am alive today. However, I lost both of my legs in this brief period of time in my life.

The next chapter opened in my life when my physical therapist asked me what I liked most about firefighting.

I thought about that question for a week and asked that question of myself.

I responded back to her about a week later -- "I like to help others in crisis."

Since then, my family and I have moved several states away. I help others in life-transitions with a non-profit agency in getting their lives back on track.

Looking forward -- leaving the past to take care of itself.

4) MARCH - APRIL THOUGHT PROVOKER:

Today's Thought Provoker

5) New Audiobook Released...  
Explore / Expand Your Internal-Effective-Active-Listening Potential With These Exciting New Audiobook Options!

The Breathing Blanket

NOW AVAILABLE ! ! !

CD   --   MP3 CD    --   DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL FORMATS

NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR -- GREG BAUER

*Stay posted to our website (www.listenone.com) for further action press releases regarding this international launching of these audio book formats.

ATTENTION: SUBSCRIBERS

(1) Our focus of this Newsletter will continue and remain on techniques, skills, and attitudes toward how we better "Utilize the Power of Effective-Active-Listening"™ in future issues.

(2) Your ideas and suggestions as to subjects you would like to hear about in the upcoming issues of this Newsletter - The Listening Connection - pertaining to listening would really be appreciated and we would like to hear from you at gregbauer@listenone.com.

In The Spirit of Sharing With Others . . .
. . . Opportunities Become Accomplishments

©Greg Bauer (President, Greg Bauer & Associates, Inc. / DBA Listen1) Editor/Publisher 2007

· Looking forward to our sharing the next edition of The Listening Connection