Indeed I am guilty as charged. I must confess that no matter how gloomy the weather is or how bad the news is I make a conscious effort to go out everyday and do something good for myself and for other people, strangers and friends alike.
There is no such thing as waiting until you are in a better time financially or personally to be able to do good for others. Your ultimate success and personal and professional growth comes from you being able to generously and openly give things of value, whether it is your time, expertise or money. You should always be open and willing to share it with those who are in need at that time.
Here is a slow paced ‘feel good’ video on how to build up your good karma account:
Regardless of how your day is going, are you making a conscious effort to put ‘good energy’ out there everyday? And when things don’t quite work out as expected are you seeking resolve, not revenge? While you don’t know how and when that good energy will be returned, you should know that the time will come and it will arrive when we need it most. And that good energy will also come in abundance and continuously when you are giving in abundance and continuously. This has to be a part of your psyche. Otherwise, when the good stuff cometh, your back is turned and you miss out.
So what does it take to be a ‘Repeat Commender’? Here are 3 tips to get you started:
1. The Seuss Shall Set You Free: As in Dr. Seuss- when you feel a little silly and a little off center is when it is easier to get out there and do things without fear of feeling embarrassed. Don’t be afraid to go out there and have a little fun, be a little quirky and just go with the flow. People will be drawn to you because you are 100% human TRANSLATION they can identify with you because you are approachable. It is when you seem to be nearly perfect that you become ‘untouchable’ and it makes it difficult for people to connect with you because they feel they cannot live up to your expectations.
2. It’s a Small World: Yet it is so easy to forget and be forgotten. So connect with people face-to-face in your community and via social networks such as facebook, youtube, twitter and myspace. Look for people who have similar interests and introduce yourself. Follow-up and follow through by making time to log on to your social networks and doing community based events regularly so that you can connect with the same people over and over again and subsequently build stronger relationships over time.
3. Empower others: Generously and openly share ideas, motivational thoughts or sayings, new websites and programs you have discovered…anything that helps you. Try to help others. Believe me nobody is going to copy you precisely because they don’t think how you think and they are generally at different places in their business. And if they use the tools you recommended to them are being used you should feel flattered because it means they see you as a credible resource. This eventually opens up exposure and opportunities to speak, train and consult.
Soooo, are you a repeat commender? Then confess your crime in the comments section.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I agree that it is good business to do nice things. However, you need to make sure that everything you do is completely genuine. When people know that you are being nice just to make a profit, they are turned off immediately. I just got a birthday card from a dentist that I went to once a year ago. I really doubt that he looked at the calendar, realized it was my birthday and rushed to the store to get a card in the mail for me. Obviously it was an email reminder that goes to some secretary with a box of happy birthday cards.
Whenever you try to reach out for someone make sure it is for the right reasons and not just to get a sale. Customers or potential clients will notice that your heart isn’t really in it.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:54 am
resolving instead of revenging is an excellent point. In order to keep everything running smoothly, your goal should be to make the situation better.
There are some people, however, that you will never be able to make happy. In cases such as those, you can give it your best shot to work things out and if it doesn’t then you will know you tried the best you could.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Yes, I agree. But people who are ungrateful and can’t be pleased no matter what really get on my frickin’ nerves aka pet peeve, so I just typically leave them be. The less time I am in any environment with them the better. It makes it easier to not get into repeat situations where you feel like choking somebody out. It’s the whole rowing the boat philosophy….it’s alot easier when everybody is doing their part and not just along for the ride.
I would like to think that I have a lot of good energy circulating around me in the universe because I am constantly surrounding my people who are generously and freely giving up their time and expertise (with no thoughts of ulterior motives) and are grateful when you are doing the same in return. In this unselfish brainstorming process every now and again we are often able to develop services and products that can then be monetized and we both are able to ‘live’ as well doing the things we truly love. But if that doesn’t happen it’s ok, because we both are personally and professionally developing regardless.
This is the same type of culture and community I am constantly striving to build for the young people I work with everyday. They are learning to pool resources and create individual and collective opportunities and they are all very selfless. I think the techniques we are sharing are working and they are learning how to allow the universe to work for them as well
October 9th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Laura Ray,
It really has to be a part of your psyche. I have a paper calendar that has everybody’s birthdays on it, friends, family, neighbors etc so I will remember to mail them a personal handwritten card or call them what have you.
But I also was taught to send handwritten cards from when I was very young. That is what I mean it has to be part of your psyche. I know some people doing it to go thru the actions, but sometimes its better not done if you don’t truly mean it. Thanks for being active in our community…and I sincerely mean it
cheers.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I think it is great when a local company takes the time to wish you a happy birthday. My insurance salesman sent me a card when my son was born, and I thought it was great. Regardless of the fact that I knew he wanted to sell me some life insurance, I still was impressed by the thought that went into it.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I could agree more with this one “Don’t be afraid to go out there and have a little fun, be a little quirky and just go with the flow.”
Great post, Shonika.
- Mike