Here’s a suggestion: When you connect with people today, leave them in a better position than you found them.
The temptation is for us to treat people with respect, but not to invest in them. Sure, we say please and thank you, but seldom look for an opportunity to invest in them.
The thing is, a few words from you can have a genuine, positive impact on someone who needs it.
For example:
- Your words can boost their confidence, when they were starting to doubt themselves.
- Your words can help shift their focus from negative or neutral, to positive.
- Your words can encourage them, when they were beginning to lose faith.
- And your smile may be the only sunshine they see today. Many people outwardly look happy, yet inside they are hurting. Something as simple as a smile or a sincere “thank you” can make a huge difference.
So, why did I refer to all this giving as an investment?
A non typical Investment
Many businesspeople fail to understand that some things are hard to measure immediately on a spreadsheet. If they can not see an obvious financial reward for doing something, they don’t do it. Investing in others fits into this category.
Business is all about people. Running a business with the kind of mindset I have just shared, improves how people feel about you. I have lost count of the times that someone I encouraged, has later been of just as much help to me… sometimes more.
You know what though? The sceptics are wrong!
Ironically, when we look back and, as Steve Jobs said, “join the dots,” we find that these hard to measure acts often end up having a direct, measurable impact on our own success. Oh, and if you want to start paying it forward immediately, why not share this message with your friends.