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Last summer, my son and I took the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful day on the golf course. Our twosome was joined by 2 40-something African American men. Both were the size of professional athletes and, to my shame, I naturally fell into that stereotypical assumption. As I began to ask some questions, however, it was obvious that I was in WAY over my head.

Both men were scientists that had turned their brains into successful careers in business. I was amazed by their obvious skill and drive. I’m not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I realized this was a moment where I could parlay this acquaintance into a life lesson for my son. I asked these guys, “What advice would you give a 14 year-old to set him on the road to success?”

“Learn to communicate effectively! Debate team, speech class…whatever it takes. LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE!”

Simple, yet profound.

We live in the era of texting language, horrible grammar and limited vocabulary. It seems to me that one communicating with style, substance and power IS the one-eyed man.

Let the coronation begin.

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About a year and a half ago I engaged in a discussion on this topic. Things have accelerated since then, but I thought I would post what I wrote. In recent months, my email box hasn’t been any emptier, it’s just become much less relevant to me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this…

3/31/08

E-mailI don’t really believe we need to ask the question “is email dying?” I think it’s already dead as we knew it, and we just haven’t unplugged the life support yet.

Can email be a part of an integrated digital communication world? Perhaps. But the fact that many businesses seem to depend on it now really has no bearing on its future. As has been suggested, I remember hearing people tell me that email won’t have any impact on snail mail because people still like to put pen to paper. Yet here we are, and I doubt any of us has written a real letter of late. (I am guessing that older people were also inclined to dismiss the ball point pen, because people were familiar with hearing the scratch of the nib on paper…)

The clue in where this is going lies in the lives of today’s “digital natives”. Most of the faces I see fighting for email look like mine (though you all are much better looking!)…30’s, 40’s 50’s and up. This world is going to be ruled by our digitally native kids, and they are a generation that WILL NOT be told how to communicate….believe me. You try getting a hold of these students via email and Rip van Winkie will have slept twice before you get a response.

What do you think?