First things first: arrange your time wisely.
Don’t throw great chunks of your life at things with negligible returns.
There’s an old saying: in your first thirty years, you can’t get enough sleep; in the next thirty, you can’t fall asleep. But it’s not really insomnia, is it? It’s that after thirty years, you’ve realized how precious time is. You simply don’t want to waste it in bed.
We only have this one life. Make it count — do things that matter, things that genuinely excite you.
But this world is full of time-traps you don’t even notice. Those pointless short videos, for instance. Or the side hustles that look like opportunities but quietly drain your hours and social capital for minimal gain. You’ve invested real effort and still feel lost, with no idea where to begin.
We’re all adults here. We have to learn to prioritize and let go — otherwise, we’ll keep pouring enormous amounts of time into things that serve no purpose at all.
Two things truly matter in life: joy — living the way you want to live — and value — contributing in a way society recognizes. Almost everything else is just there to stir up your emotions.
Take the Russia-Ukraine war: the moment news broke that the US was sending tanks to Ukraine, comment sections exploded. Everybody’s emotions got pulled in — some backing Ukraine, some opposing the US, and on it went. None of it changes anything for you.
So here’s the real question: in the workplace, what’s the most effective way to sharpen your communication skills?
Simple: memorize formulas. Master the templates.
I had a student on my community platform who was genuinely below average at speaking. But after working with formulas and templates, his colleagues’ universal verdict became: “High emotional intelligence — a real team player.”
Many people understand things clearly in their heads but struggle to get them out. If you’re one of those people — someone who gets it mentally — then learning a few social-script formulas and memorizing a few conversational templates is all you need to move through your workplace with ease.
These formulas are actually quite simple. Let me give you an example.
Say you’ve traveled a long distance to Xi’an for a close friend’s wedding. Your friend, touched that you made the journey, insists you say a few words on stage. Suddenly you freeze. You’ve been in the working world for years, but the spotlight hits, everyone’s eyes lock onto you, and your mind goes blank. Either you keep waving it off — “no, no, really, I can’t” — or you drag yourself up and ramble incoherently, stepping off stage feeling ashamed. No structure, no logic. Deeply discouraging.
Don’t be. What I just described is something most people have lived through.
Here’s the formula: Gratitude → Reflection → Blessings.
Remember just these three words, and you’ll handle virtually any impromptu speech without going wrong. Follow this template, and others will think you’re remarkably polished.
Using that same wedding scenario, here’s how it sounds:
“Thank you, old friend, for giving me this chance to say a few words. The groom and I were college classmates — four years of eating, sleeping, and studying side by side. Our friendship runs deep. Today my old friend is getting married, and I couldn’t be happier. I wish you both a joyful marriage and a family filled with abundance.”
Here’s another example. A new department head arrives, gives a speech, then invites everyone to add a few words. People glance at each other — nobody wants to go first. Then the director points directly at you: “You, start.”
Most people would blank out entirely. What do you even say?
Don’t panic. Reach for those three words: Gratitude → Reflection → Blessings.
Here’s what it might sound like:
“Thank you, Director, for giving me this opportunity to speak — it’s a chance for me to learn as well. Over this past year, under your leadership, all our work has proceeded steadily and methodically. My responsibilities have centered on [X], and we’ve achieved [Y]. I’m just one bolt in this organization’s great machine, and I commit to doing my job well. I wish you smooth work and good health. I’m fully confident that under your guidance, our department will reach new heights and deliver even more impressive results.”
Does that land right on target? Gratitude, reflection, blessings — it holds together perfectly.
Of course, different settings and contexts will call for other formulas. But I’m only giving you this one — because less is more. Pile on too many things and you’ll remember none of them. The same is true for formulas.
For impromptu speaking, this one is all you need.