A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Noor Tagouri, an award-winning journalist, producer, activist, and motivational speaker. At just 27 years old, she has amassed over 2 million social media followers and been featured in top publications like Vogue, GQ, and Forbes! We discussed her incredible journey—from hiding her identity to becoming America’s first hijabi news anchor.

While our conversation was filled with insights, one takeaway stood out to me, and I believe it can make a real difference in both your personal and professional life.

Here’s my favorite takeaway from our chat:

Don’t waste your words!

As we all know, words have immense power in shaping how we connect with others and influence decisions. They can inspire, motivate, or even deter someone from taking action.

Take a look at these two sentences: 👇

“I understand Liam, but I think that won’t work.” 🤔
“I understand Liam, and I think that won’t work.” 🧐

Notice the difference?

The first sentence uses the word “but” 👀, which often comes across as dismissive, as though you’re negating Liam’s idea. When you say “but,” the other person is likely to tune out, subconsciously closing off to what you’re saying.

In contrast, the second sentence uses “and.” By using “and,” you soften the objection and create a more cooperative tone, making it easier for Liam to stay engaged.

Noor Tagouri understands the power of this one word. She’s learned to replace “but” with “and,” allowing her to build on her thoughts rather than negating them.

As she explains, “I replace ‘BUT’ with ‘AND’ so I can continue a thought instead of negating the last one.” 🔥

What about you? Do you find yourself using “but” more often than you should? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!