Shut Up & Listen: The Flex You’re Sleeping On
Written by
Janis Todd-Randall, BA, MA, EMBA
Stupidbubble Founder
You ever sit across from someone and think, “Say one more damn word…”
Here’s the mirror: a lot of folks are addicted to being heard and allergic to hearing. Everyone’s broadcasting; almost no one is receiving. That’s not power. That’s noise.
Burst the bubble: Silence isn’t weakness. Listening is leverage.
We’re drowning in takes—pods, posts, panels—yet starving for signals. The wise don’t rush to be quotable; they read the room, hold the pause, and speak last—so when they speak, it lands.
If your mouth is always moving, you’re missing the message, the nuance, the intel. Not every thread needs your paragraph. Not every disagreement needs your dissertation. Sometimes the strongest sentence is nothing.
Listening isn’t passive. It’s strategy. It’s how you build trust, set sharper boundaries, and make cleaner decisions. Want to be a better leader, friend, partner, human? Listen. No defense. No performance. Just presence.
Life Lesson
Speak less so your words carry more. Read the room. Hold the pause. Ask one real question before offering one opinion.
The Stupidbubble Listening Play (this week)
- Two-beat pause after they finish.
- Mirror + confirm: “What I’m hearing is… Did I get that right?”
- Phone down, eyes up.
- Close the loop with a clear next step.
Everybody has a stupidbubble. Some stay trapped. Some break it. We turn ours into power.
Bottom line: Your ears are free. Use them.
Ready to build presence that actually connects?
FREE! Turn minutes into momentum. Get The Awakening Part One — Audiobook + Manifesto. Press Play or Download Audiobook. Listen and Speak the Manifesto daily for 7 days. Watch your focus sharpen.
Now it’s your turn. Drop your thoughts, after you read the whole thing—yes, that’s listening too. 🖤
Let’s talk—but this time, let’s hear each other.
