Kind Words Never Go Astray
A few days ago I was invited to speak for a good friend who is the President of the Surf Side chapter of Business SWAP. It is a global organisation for professionals and business owners, providing networking opportunities and access to personal development. Apart from the 6:00am wake up call (so I would be there bright and perky for a 7:00am start) the remainder of the morning was delightful.
After some brief pleasantries and the usual announcements, to kick the morning off each attendee stated a “Thought of the Day”. This was followed by a brief speech from one of the members and then it was onto me for the main event. It was great to have the opportunity to share some of the things that I have learnt by putting together the Secrets Exposed series and people seemed to really enjoy it. However, I was totally blown away when at the end of my presentation audience members one-by-one came up and presented me with these cards. Here is a couple of examples….
This was a touching experience and of course I was extremely grateful. But then on the drive home I started to think, when was the last time I wrote an “Applause Card”?�
There is an old saying that goes “Recognition - Babies cry for it and grown men die for it” and it so true.
Often we think good things about people but that is all we do - THINK. We don’t take that extra step and actually make the effort to say what we think and feel about a person. What I have realised is that no matter how big and successful you think a person is they probably need to hear what you have to say more than you know. Often times it may look as though they have it together, but in actual fact they are human just like you and even the smallest comment or gesture can go a really long way.
So that is the first challenge to speak up and SAY SOMETHING. The next challenge is to put pen to paper because as they say nothing is more powerful than the written word.
So now here is my challenge to you… Go ahead and make someone’s day!
Dale
