The problem with writing words is that words commit me to nothing. They don’t necessarily communicate my real thoughts, values and beliefs. They don’t always reveal what I consider important. They don’t always represent who I really am.
However, my behavior says a lot about me. If I say I love my wife and kids, but spend very little time with them, do I really love them? Perhaps. Will you believe it? Probably not. Because the evidence doesn’t support my words. What truly matters to me always comes down to actions. It’s the only real measure you have to know what kind of person I am deep down.
I think it gets even more specific. What is important to us can be identified by where we put our time and money. If you really want to know what matters to a person, look at their calendar and check book. So what if I say that I care about the poor. Do I contribute any money to charity? Do I invest my time in any causes that aid the poor? If not, what’s the chance you’ll take my words seriously?
Yes, we all have to earn a living. And as a professional, freelance copywriter, I write words that present clients in a positive light. Actually think I do a fairly decent job of it. Nothing wrong with that as long as we’re not falsely misleading or misrepresenting. I just need to keep in mind that at the end of the day, when the computer monitor is dark and the keyboard is silent, it’s the actions that really matter. That’s what I most want to get right.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely right, Chip. I think I’ve turned down more web design contracts than I’ve taken due to that whole ‘misleading or misrepresenting’ issue.
Very powerful ending. So true. Words trip me up so often, even though I write well. But it’s the meat behind the words that people come to trust or not trust over time. Thanks for the inspiration, Chip.