Does Your Walk Talk?

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Hello, my friends.

I feel a little bit like a Sesame Street episode, where each show is “brought to you by” a certain letter of the alphabet.

I feel that way because this subject is actually brought to you, through me, but from two men that I love and who are very close to me – close to my head, my heart, and my life.

Those men are John Maxwell and Brian DeCosta.

John Maxwell is my friend, mentor, and business partner. You know him because he is the number one leadership guru in the world, and on top of that, he is a world-renowned speaker. It has been an honor to be around John for the last seven and a half years. He is an amazing guy.

John is also a prolific writer. No one has written and sold more books on leadership, communication, and personal development than John – well over a hundred books.

I have written…two!

Because John is such a prolific writer and speaker, he has a way of turning a phrase like nobody you’ve ever heard. He is gifted in that way, and, to his credit, he has worked hard for decades to finely hone his craft.

You have heard the concept that “actions speak louder than words.”

You’ve probably heard it a million times. You have probably said it a few times as well. I know I have.

What does it mean?

It means there’s often a difference between the language people speak and the values they espouse – or a difference between what they say and what they actually are if you watch their actions.

I have heard John talk about it in a way that was quite impactful to the audience.

He said, “Your walk talks, and your talk talks; but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

The first time I heard him say that, I was scrambling for a pen and a piece of paper to write it down, and so were so many people in the audience. It is a memorable way to convey the sentiment of authenticity – of being real and credible.

That’s a powerful lesson for all of us to carry through in our daily lives, both personally and professionally. And it is one that John not only says, but lives.

Also, I must point out my son, Brian.

He is not John Maxwell…but John’s not him, either.

You can see what Brian does at BrianDeCosta.com. He has an amazing site.

Brian lives in Los Angeles. He is a personal fitness guru and a trainer. He coaches people. It is amazing what he has accomplished, and now what he helps others accomplish.

I am his father, so I am hopelessly and unapologetically biased. I am both impressed and respectful of his work because I know it is born of authenticity.

And that is the point I am making in this video.

There are millions of people out there who espouse fitness principles, diet, exercise, hydration, and rest. I am not a dietitian or a doctor, but I have heard those messages over and over again. I do my best to adhere to those ideals of health and fitness.

Brian abides by them and espouses them as well…to a very disciplined degree.

He lives three thousand miles away, but he came home for the holidays. It would have been easy to slack off and enjoy his mother’s homemade (and I must add, delicious) meals without working out. After all, it was a holiday.

Though we did enjoy our share of family dinners, I observed that he was disciplined in his habits even then.

I also observed that he made workout videos every single day he was on vacation – and he didn’t just do a short video. He exercised off the camera as well.

His girlfriend, Amanda, was also with us. It was wonderful to have her. She is amazing as well. Her site is AmandaBucci.com.

Being around these two phenomenal young people during the holidays, I observed their values and principles; and I also got to witness their actions. They live what they say. They’re not just words. They take action…every single day.

So on one end of the spectrum of life, there is John, walking the talk; and on the other end of the spectrum are these two young people walking the talk.

Here is the lesson from John and Brian, two of my favorite people from opposite ends of life’s spectrum.

As it pertains to this principle, “Don’t say it if you’re not going to do it.”

And, by all means, if you say it, “DO IT!”

This is the essence of integrity.

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Ed DeCosta is one of the most engaging executive coaches and thought leaders of our time. He delivers results with companies of all sizes, from high tech start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations. Ed is an ICF certified professional coach. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in international management from the University of Texas, and an MBA from the University of Texas. Ed is also an adjunct faculty member in West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics, teaching Professional Selling and entrepreneurship courses.

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