The package from the supermarket says “Gourmet Dried Plums”. I wondered if there was a difference between “Gourmet Dried Plums” and “Prunes”. What I have learned is that all prunes are plums, but not all plums can be dried to make prunes. A plum that can be dried without fermenting is a prune. Therefore my “Gourmet Dried Plums” are indeed prunes. Now in this case, I suspect that the dried plums are part of a marketing campaign to make them more attractive than prunes, but it points out the significance of naming things.
In healthcare, we have moved to calling our patients our customers. The intent as I understand it is to help all of us understand the significant position of control our “customers” have to choose. They maybe customers, but as John Nance points out in “Hospitals Should Fly”, they are patients. They come to hospitals to get better and get home safely, in improved condition.
Do your employees work for you or with you or along side you. While I suspect there is more than one appropriate answer, the behaviors that one exhibits based on your understanding of the answer to that question will impact significantly the results you get.
Take the word “Aspire” synonyms listed include ambitious, be eager, crave, desire, dream, hanker, long, pursue, seek, strive, struggle, try, want, wish, yearn. Each of those words have to me a different feel and would convey a slightly different meaning when used.
How often do you think about the meanings of the words you are using and the impact that it might have on the message those you are communicating with? Have you taken time to notice the words that others use, and the impact they have on you and then your interaction and communication. Words can be powerful and being intentional about the words you use may more closely align your results with your intended results.

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