Have you stopped to listen to the sounds around you today? Are you really hearing what your kids are telling you, or are you hearing the noise of your own thoughts bouncing around in your mind?

Listening is not passive. It takes practice and hard work to cultivate as a skill, but once you learn how to do it, it becomes the key to unlocking so many doors in your life and your career. 

Mentorship and favorable access are built on the ability to listen consciously, and they’re key elements in The Best Seller (out next month). Learn more on how to cultivate, practice and tune into your own natural ability to listen in this classic, but informative TED Talk from Julian Treasure.