Each different profession has its own specialized vocabulary and expressions. Remember that your Verbal Intelligence has a direct correlation with your success at work. The most successful people in their chosen fields have a vocabulary that ranks in the top 10 per cent for that field.
Begin to keep a list of words that is special to your own profession, and make sure that you aim for that top 10 per cent!
One way to get your mind set for this new vocabularian accomplishment is to pretend that you already are in that top 10 per cent. Act out the role, especially using the kind of vocabulary that is used by people who are successful in your field. If you keep persisting, you soon won’t have to act the role – you will be living it!
Set Vocabulary Targets for Other Areas of Your Life
Choose two or three other areas of your life, such as hobbies, social activities, your children’s interests/studies, etc., and set yourself goals similar to those you set above for your profession. By doing this you will be following the example of a body-builder who trains a wide range of muscles, rather than simply one. You will therefore develop a well-balanced body of vocabulary skills.
Listen for New Words
Listen out for new and unusual words as you go about your daily life – on the TV or radio, at the local shops or a meeting at work. Adding this new focus of attention will not only make you a better vocabularian; it will make you a better listener, and therefore more popular and successful with others. Keep a notepad or some form of recorder always with you so that you can jot down new words of special interest, meaning or beauty. At regular intervals, either at the end of the day or week, transfer your new words to a master list. When you come across such words, try to use them in sentences at least five times in a day – this will help you remember them.
Look for New Words
Do exactly the same with your eyes as you did with your ears, checking newspapers, magazines, books and screens for new and exciting words. Transfer them to your lists. When you are doing both these listening and looking exercises, be on the look-out for words that reflect or relate to your senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and movement. This will both improve your vocabulary and widen its range, making you a better, more confident communicator.
Make a Mind Map
Build a mini Mind Map® on all the advantages an improved vocabulary and increased Verbal Intelligence will give you. In the centre of here is a little image which summarizes Verbal Intelligence. Branching from it are 10 main branches, and from each of these, three sub-branches. Copy the Mind Map® onto a large sheet of paper. On the main branches print, clearly, the first 10 key ideas that come to your mind when you think of the ways in which an increased Verbal Intelligence would improve your life and your chances of success. When you have completed the first 10 ideas, think of three more ideas that branch from each of those main 10 and, in the same way, print them neatly on the lines provided. When you have completed the exercise, place your Mind Map® somewhere where you will constantly be reminded of just how valuable an increased Verbal Intelligence is to your entire life.
Invest in a Good Dictionary!
Make sure you get a good dictionary. A good dictionary is the ultimate guide and support for anyone wishing to improve their Verbal Intelligence.
Word Power Booster Number 1
As this is your first Word Power Booster, it is introductory! Below each word are four different definitions. Choose the one you think is closest to the correct meaning. See the answers here.
1 INTRODUCE (in-tro-jóos) (a) To stick a needle into (b) To become a Duke (c) To bring in or present (d) To do first
2 INTROFLEX (ín-tro-flex) (a) To bend outward (b) To bend inward (c) To build muscle (d) To look strong
3 INTROCEPTIVE (in-tro-sép-tif) (a) Capable of receiving into itself (b) The beginning of a reception (c) A method of preparing food (d) Able to perceive the inside of things
4 INTROGRESSION (in-tro-gré-shon) (a) The act of going in; entering (b) Falling behind (c) Thinking about things (d) Becoming aggressive
5 INTROJECT (in-tro-jékt) (a) To inject (b) To ask (c) To discard (d) To throw into
6 INTROMIT (in-tro-mít) (a) To lay on hands (b) To stop (c) To allow to enter; insert (d) To jump across
7 INTROSPECT (in-tro-spékt) (a) To look for glasses (b) To inspect (c) To look outward (d) To look within
8 INTROMISSION (in-tro-mí-shon) (a) To start a break (b) To insert (c) The beginning of a project (d) To start religious conversion
9 INTROVERT (in-tro-vért) (noun) (a) One who turns inward (b) Something upside down (c) Dressed in green (d) One who stands vertically; good poise
10 INTROPRESSION (in-tro-pré-shon) (a) To introduce the media (b) Pressure within (c) To make heavy (d) To press upon
Child’s Wordplay – Proof that You are a Natural Verbal Genius
‘Language is the immediate gift of God.’
Noah Webster
In this chapter I will introduce you to the best language learner the world has ever known – that master of Verbal Intelligence, the human baby!
I will show you the ‘secret’ formulas that babies use to achieve their astounding results. As a consequence, you will discover new approaches to: ‘cheating’/copying; play as a learning tool; the making of mistakes and ‘failure’; creating success from ‘disaster’; general attitudes to learning; and the incredible ‘genius power’ of Persistence.
You will come to realize that, as a baby, you used all the right tools to develop your Verbal Intelligence. As your life progressed, you discarded them, and as a result the development of your Verbal Intelligence came to a grinding halt.
However, all you have to do now is pick these tools up again and continue with your verbal growth. This time around, you’ll not only have the tools you once used to learn and remember thousands of new words – you will have the additional tools from The Power of Verbal Intelligence, which will enable you to use the ‘baby skills’ as a launching pad for your own accelerated development!
You will end up as an even better vocabulary and language learner than the baby.
Let’s start with the fascinating story of a Japanese musician, Suzuki, who made some amazing discoveries about your incredible Verbal Intelligence potential.
Suzuki’s
