The Language of Success

Increase Your Earning Power By Increasing Your Vocabulary

But that is the simple fact of the matter – a richer vocabulary means better communication skills and in turn greater potential to rise up life’s social and professional ladder. Your ability to use your language will determine your place on the social pyramid and will also control to a great extent the amount of money you will earn during your life.

I am very sure my English literature and language teacher would be very happy to hear that, although it is something I did not appreciate at the time I had to read all those novels and poetry. It is not surprising when you think about it because your thoughts are often words, words lead to action and action leads to results. It is as though without the words you cannot think as clearly. Ludwig Wittgenstein concluded that “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”

Research backs it up
The Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation has carried out extensive research in the area of language and how it affects our level of success. They carried out one research in which tests were given to executive and supervisory personnel in 39 large manufacturing plants. All of the men tested scored high in the basic aptitudes that rated their leadership skills. But the differences that arose in the vocabulary ratings of the men were definite and very dramatic. Out of a possible 272 points, presidents and vice-presidents averaged 236; managers averaged 168; superintendants 140; foremen 114 and floor bosses 86. In every case studied the vocabulary correlated with executive level and income.

A personal experience
Other research has shown that children with the best vocabularies get the best grades in school. I remember very well that I could not read or write until I was in about third grade, though I can’t be sure exactly of that. Up to that point I had used Nyanja as my primary means of communication and whatever English I knew was mostly from watching TV.

I even recall my father trying to persuade me to speak more of English by saying that he wanted to introduce me to a very nice girl at the sports club, only she spoke English so I would have to prove that I could speak good English before he could introduce me. It didn’t work despite his best efforts as I was too shy at the time to even think of talking to a pretty girl.

But one day I got to thinking about the whole mystery of reading and thought of the frustration of pretending to know what was going on in class when I really didn’t. So I got a book, I think it was Mulenga and Jelita in those days, and started to try and decipher the code. Because of the prior learning I had in the alphabet, it did not take long for me to catch the pattern. Actually, within a day or so of trying I could read well enough for someone that age. It was right in time to convince my mother that I could read, as she had gotten concerned about my grades and the fact that my teacher had told her I could not read. That evening she got the book and asked me to read. To her surprise I could. Little did she know that it was a very recent development.

That was the day my school life changed. From being a less than average student my grades went up and I was soon at the top of the class. Learning to read was the one skill that made all the difference. As my vocabulary grew it appeared that my intelligence grew with it. I knew even then at that young age that being able to read was the best thing that could ever happen to anyone.

It opened up new possibilities. Earl Nightingale put it very well when he said that each new word we learn becomes a nucleus from which our thoughts grow. Each new word we learn also enables us to learn many more words, so that the effect is multiplicative. This is important because, as Benjamin Lee Whorf observed, “language shapes the way we think and determines what we can think about.”

Strengthen your vocabulary
Therefore we need to take the time to strengthen our vocabulary and use of language. The best way to do this is simply to read. Reading just 15 minutes a day will work wonders in improving your vocabulary. Imagine that, just 15 minutes a day could improve your earning potential and your standing in society.

Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? But you will be surprised how many people can actually do this simple thing. Yet most of us will gladly spend more than 15 minutes a day in front of the TV, drinking or just plain wasting time. What value are you placing on yourself, your dreams and success? If you are truly committed to them, 15 minutes a day will be a small price to pay. But remember that the price has to be paid. 15 minutes a day translates to 90 hours of reading every year or an average of 10-15 books. That will not only improve your vocabulary, it will also allow you to gain valuable knowledge in your chosen field.

Earl Nightingale summed it up well when he said: “Our use of language is the one thing we cannot hide.” Take the time to improve your language and vocabulary for greater success.