Do you like talking? If you're anything like most people, you love the sound of your own voice.

But here's the thing: Talking might be making you poor. Running your mouth like the Boston Marathon might be preventing you from making millions.

In fact, I suggest that if you want to be a true leader and make the income you want, you might want to shut the f*ck up.

But you know what's not funny? Realizing that I was an obnoxious twit in my 20s when I was building my first company.

I used to think I was smarter than everyone else and they should just listen to what I have to say. It turns out that I was right; but, that's not the point.

The point is, I would have made a LOT more money if I had just shut my pie hole and listened rather than blabbering on like a know-it-all.

See, creating a viable business isn't rocket science. You listen to what people want. You create what they say they want. You sell it to them. Easy.

But you probably think you know what people want (you probably don't), know what they need (you might not), and are sure that you only just need to talk to more prospects to make more sales.

But what if you don't need to talk more? What if you need to do the opposite?

What I've actually found is that, if your product or service isn't flying off the shelves, you probably need to listen more carefully to what people are saying.

It's what the best CEOs in the nation do every day to make sure they're on the right track; they listen to customers, listen to the market, and try not to let their grandiose egos get in the way of what’s true.

In addition, consider this: If you find yourself getting into conflict with the people around you more often than you would like, then you probably aren't listening enough.

I can't tell you how many conflicts I've avoided by pausing in the middle of a conversation and asking myself, Do I need to talk right now? Or should I just shut the f*ck up?

Whenever I choose the latter, I magically avoid a conflict because I ask more questions, listen more carefully and come away with a much better understanding of what the other person is thinking and feeling.

Plus, the person I’m speaking with feels like a rock star because I let them share their life story with me without interruption.

So, the next time you're about to speak, consider doing the opposite. It's amazing what I can hear and learn when I just. shut. up.