Wally Bock’s Post

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Author Coach -- Book Developer -- Ghostwriter

When I was growing up we ate a lot of tuna noodle casserole. It was hearty and easy to fix and relatively inexpensive, so it was a favorite around our house. I know that other people, other parts of this great land, eat potato chips on their tuna noodle casserole. Some fancy folks, I’m told, put things like mushrooms in their casseroles. We had peas in ours most of the time. One night, though, there were no peas in the casserole. I don’t remember why. I do remember my father grousing about it, going on and on about no peas in the casserole. My mother got that tight-lipped look she got when she was getting ready to fire the death rays. As my father droned on, my mother got up from the table. She went out to the kitchen, opened the freezer, and took out one of those Jolly Green bricks of peas. Then she went to the sink where she used a knife to chip off a single pea. Mother returned to the dining room, holding the pea aloft. Then she sat down at her place, smiled mischievously and rolled the pea down the table to my father. Two things happened. My father stopped complaining and then started to laugh. But, to his dying day he never complained again about the lack of peas in or near anything. Sometimes, the most memorable communications use no words at all.

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LaRae Quy

Author | Mental Toughness Center | Secrets of A Strong Mind | Member of Forbes Business Council | Harvard Business Review Advisory Council

1w

Great story! That’s the thing: stories engage, whether in writing or speaking.

Tim Cooke

I ghostwrite books for time-starved CEOs and professionals | In 20 hours we can create a book to raise your profile, drive business, and change your readers' lives | Oxford-educated author with over 350 books in print

1w

Love this story, Wally, and the point you're making. Your mother sounds like a truly great woman!

Suzi McAlpine

Leadership geek, author of best selling book Beyond Burnout & award winning blog The Leader's Digest. Creator of The Leader's Map blended leadership programme.

1w

Oh haha! A clever story, a clever mum and a clever message.

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