“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”

— Ken Blanchard

One of the practical effects of giving your time is that you become more open.

But understanding how open or closed you are may seem impossible to know. Here’s a simple question you can ask yourself at the end of the day to gauge how open you are.

“How often did I seek out feedback from others today?”

Are you an open book? Or a closed book?

Do you go out of your way to hear what people think of your work, your art, or your ideas? Are you willing to accept an honest appraisal from a person whom you respect? Are you a sponge, willing to soak up another’s ideas?

Or, do you avoid feedback?

We all can become more open. Seeking out more feedback is a way to know you’re becoming more open.

A way to become more open is to give your time and connect with the people in your life and the strangers that pass through it. As you become more aware of their needs, and try to help them, sometimes through giving positive and motivational feedback, you’ll become more open to receiving feedback yourself.

Becoming more open. It’s just one more benefit of giving your time.

Was the model (also affectionately known as the ‘target’) speaker for Portland Toastmasters’ Evaluation Contest tonight. It was a nice way to help the members of a Toastmasters’ club, who treated me wonderfully, and also receive positive and specific feedback on your own speaking. … Also changed the reader board at my daughter’s school this morning.