gathered, stored, and shared.

But these ideas are often overlooked or brushed aside.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this insightful thought:

"Look sharply after your thoughts, they come unlooked

for, like a new bird in your trees, and, if you turn to

your usual task, disappear."

As you go about your day with routine activities, many

good ideas may briefly appear. For example, in the shower,

or traveling to work. These ideas might be intuitive messages

that seem to come from nowhere; or thought associations triggered by a billboard or a comment on the radio. Or ideas you hear in a casual conversation with a friend of co-worker. Sometimes they are "nuts and bolts thoughts" about sending a birthday card to your sister; and sometimes they are an "Ah-hah!" thought that solves a big problem you've been working on. And everything in between.

Do you harvest them, then store them? If not, they'll fly away.

I'm a low-tech guy, so I use 3x5 cards I carry in my hip pocket

and in my car. When an interesting idea lands in my mental

trees, I write down a few words when I've stopped at a light

or when I'm involved in a house-holding task. Some people I

know text the thought into an electronic device. Still others

speak a few words into a micro recorder.

The relevance to conversation is this: As you stay open to

good ideas, many come rest long enough for you to notice,

then store them. Later you can share them with family, friends, and co-workers. You can put them to use.

Then it will never be true for you to say about yourself that

"I have nothing to talk about." In fact, you'll have many

good and interesting ideas.

(Words this issue: 297 Reading time: 1 minute)

Tip for Talk: How to Harvest and Share Ideas

Loren Ekroth ©2010, all rights reserved

Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life.