Emmanuel Acho

Again, true story, ladies and gentlemen.

She asked me one simple question, Ed, one very simple question.

And I live by this.

This brings this conversation full circle.

She said, Emmanuel, what is your intention?

I said, Oprah, my intention is to change the world, and I truly believe I can.

I said, I'm currently working on writing a book.

She said, books?

I love books.

And that's why Oprah and I partnered together to write the first several of the Uncomfortable Conversation series.

Now, bringing this full circle to answer your question, what is the intention of the person I'm talking to?

That is how I know when to end a conversation.

If the intention of the person is a gotcha moment, I'm out.

What do I mean by a gotcha moment?

Let's speak plainly.

If the person just wants to try to make me look stupid, I'm out.

If the intention of the person is to figuratively speaking dunk on me, if the intention of the person is to be like, boom, I got a man, I'm out.

If the intention of the person is not reconciliation, I'm out.

If the intention of the person is not to hear what I have to say while simultaneously allowing me to hear what they have to say, I'm out.

So the best question we can ask anyone during the course of conversation is the question that Oprah asked me first.