Mike's Quotes #20: Who Will You Touch TODAY?

"You can touch someone's life wherever you are....where will you be and who will you touch TODAY?" - Mike Spillman (11.2011)

One way or the other, you WILL "touch" or impact someone today...and every day. You will either "touch" or impact those around you in a POSITIVE way or in a NEGATIVE way. There is no middle, or neutral, ground in this area. 

Too many times we may feel that there just isn't much that we can do that matters in today's world. We often think that way because we are thinking about something BIG and NOTICEABLE to those that may be watching. 

Sure, there are some in our world that will make sure that all the cameras that can be gathered together will be around when they do something "nice" for someone or for a group of people. Yes, it's still good that something good is being done but, friend, I believe what you do on a daily basis may very well have a far greater impact.

When you choose to treat those around you with respect and as a fellow human being you really have no idea the "weight" or impact of such action. Really, you may never know what impact this type of action may have on their lives and the lives that they, in turn, may also touch in a positive way. 

I remember hearing Colin Powell, retired four-star general in the United States Army, talk about how he would make sure that he stopped and actually talked to the guy at the garage ticket booth on his way out. He had noticed how pretty much everyone just gave the attendant their ticket and kept right on going without even acknowledging the guy in the booth. Mr Powell felt it was important to make contact with this person on a regular basis and to actually get to know them to some extent to where he could actually ask them how his kids were doing. 

This is what I'm talking about. Whoever you are, wherever you are, YOU have the ability to touch those around you in a powerful and positive way. And, just like when you touch a pool of water with your finger and ripples go out from the point of contact, so it is with your personal touch in the lives of others. 

You will likely never know how many people are touched in a positive way because of YOUR decision to "touch" as you go through life. 

Pretty amazing, isn't it? YES, IT IS!

So, not only should you be sure to do what I say in my closing "tag line" but also be sure to help impact the lives of those around you in an AWESOME way!

So yeah, get after it and, as you do so, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Your FEET Will Follow...

That is some kind of UGLY picture there, isn't it? :)

Sorry. I apologize for that. Once you catch your breath, just use  your hand to cover the picture and continue reading.

I was watching a video clip of Dani Johnson (DaniJohnson.com) the other day and she mentioned a phrase that she had heard some time in the past. "Your feet will follow your mouth" was the phrase and it has stuck with her for years.

And, it's TRUE!

You speak the direction of your life and your daily actions. You may or may not quite understand that, friend, but just know that your words ARE that powerful.

WHAT you speak and HOW you speak determines your direction. Are you kind? Considerate? Encouraging? Affirming?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Put your money where your mouth is."?

There is more truth behind that phrase than you may realize!

What - and how - you speak may very well bring extra MONEY into your life and, just as easily, it may actually take money AWAY from your life!

I'm not talking about being a "suck-up" or "brown-noser".

I'm talking about being genuine (you can't fake that stuff for long!) and actually caring about people. The REAL you cannot help but come out for others to witness...good OR bad.

Your words - and use of them - may lead you to promotions and/or new job opportunities. They may also keep you from these things and cost you money that you didn't even know about.

Isn't there enough strife in the world? Isn't there enough strife just around YOU and YOUR world? The same is true about stress, unkind words, and all other kinds of negativity.

Don't make this a seasonal thing, make it a way of life...YOUR life.

Because, after all, your feet will follow your mouth!

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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You Just Never Know

You just never know.

 

I just completed a multi-part series on "The POWER of ONE DAY!" and, yet, this still fits right in with that whole train of thought.

 

Think about it. When you consider the number of people that cross your path in a day and then multiply that by either 30 or 31 days per month and you begin to realize that, indeed, there really IS NOT any way that you can know what is going on in each of those people's lives!

 

If you've never done so, go back and find the blog post entitled, "The Power of Positive People" on Sunday, October 6, 2013. In that post I talk about Herman, the man that mows my yard. Go on, read it if you haven't done so yet!

 

Now, instead of mowing my yard, Herman is taking care of the MANY leaves that have fallen in my yard. I LOVE where I live with two HUGE oak trees - one in the front yard and one in the back. However, though these trees are wonderful for the shade in the summer they dump a LOT of leaves when fall comes around!

 

Anyway, I was gone all day today and Herman finished the job in my yard that he began yesterday. I noticed a little "urgency" in the call from Herman's wife that asked me to be sure to drop the money off by their house when I got home (which I had already planned to do) and I did so gladly.

 

When I handed Herman the "agreed-upon-amount" for the job done, he looked at me and said, "Mike, you don't know how much I appreciate this!" I didn't think anything about it because I was paying Herman for a job that he agreed to do. I guess he could see the confusion in my face when I said, "Well Herman, you did a great job." Herman went on to tell me how that, financially, he was behind right now due to different things and that the money I was giving him was especially needed on this day.

 

I had no idea. I thought I was just simply paying Herman for a job that he had agreed to do and yet, Herman was thanking me.

 

You just never know.

 

And we don't! We are all connected and we all NEED each other, friend! When you do business with someone (I think especially with local, small businesses) you just never know what a difference YOUR business makes for that establishment.

 

So, once again, I am so glad I got to spend a few minutes with Herman today.

 

Keep your eyes, ears and hearts open to the opportunities that surround you every day, friend.

 

Why? Because you just never know.

 

And, as always, whatever you do, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

 

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Small Things Becoming BIG!

It's "MAGICAL MONDAY" once again...what will YOU do with YOUR magic?

We go through our days doing what we may think are totally insignificant things along the way. As a matter of fact they are so insignificant to us that we don't even think about them when we do them. (Now stay with me on this because, yeah, I'm going to hit a few "pet peeves" but we ARE going to end on a very positive note!)

For example, one thing I see a LOT of people do (and a growing number of young people - wonder where they get it from?) is to litter. And, from what I can tell by watching, they don't even think about what they are doing. I mean, after all, what's the big deal about one tiny little gum wrapper, right? Of course not until you multiply that by thousands of people that are doing the same thing.

Have you noticed how many "non-handicapped" people park in the "handicap only" parking spots? Hey, what's the big deal, right? I'm just going to run in for a few moments and pick something up. Again, without even thinking about this small, seemingly insignificant action.

Rude comments without thinking. "Oh wait, did you take that SERIOUSLY?" Talking on your cell phone or just being completely engulfed by it while in the company of others.

I could go on and on because there are so many and, by the way, there are things that I do, as well, that has a negative impact on others that I don't even think about. Small. Insignificant.

Now, on the other hand there may also be lots of little things that we or other people do - again without much thought - that may seem rather insignificant. And, just like the negative examples above, though they may SEEM to be small and insignificant, they may be anything BUT that in the lives of some people.

Opening the door for someone else. Saying, "thank you" and "you're welcome" and "how are you today" (and meaning it) when so many people are either too busy or too preoccupied to do so. Picking up that gum wrapper on the ground and putting it in the trash. Taking the time and making the effort to TRULY LISTEN to someone when they are talking with you. Giving someone else the RESPECT of your full attention when you are with them.

Here is a prime example that I experienced just the other day. Please know that I do not share this with you to "pat myself on the back". This just really just jumped out at me because, to me, it was small and insignificant and something that I try to do so often that I didn't even give much thought.

Now first, let me tell you that, for the most part I feel that the term "customer service" is an oxymoron. It seems that the majority of the time that I have to call in and speak to a "customer service representative" it turns out to be something LESS than a pleasant experience. Can any of you relate to that?

Anyway, I really wasn't expecting a battle of any kind but, to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to making a call that would involve a customer representative. As a matter of fact, I tried every way that I could think of to try to take care of this business through this company's website where I would NOT have to talk to anyone. No such luck.

Within the first minute of the conversation, after the gentleman introduced himself to me, he asked, "How are you today?" to which I responded, "I'm doing great! How are YOU doing today?" No biggie. No major motivational speech. Simple. Small. Seemingly insignificant.

However, this gentleman on the other end of the phone said with a smile in his voice, "Mr. Spillman, I'm doing fine and, I'll tell you this - I will be working for another 8 hours or so on my shift and you will likely be the ONLY person that will ask me that today. THANK YOU for asking me how I am doing!"

Did that seemingly insignificant exchange make a difference in this man's day? Apparently so! Did I set out to make that impact? Not really. But I did.

Small things becoming BIG. Think about it and pass it along and see what happens in YOUR world.

Until next time, friends...

"Be sure to make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

RELATIONSHIPS: An Extension of YOU

"RELATIONSHIPS: An Extension of YOU

I'd like to mention something about the picture used above and how it relates to our topic. You can see four pictures of me - the same person but, yet, each picture is different than the other.

So it is as we deal with the different relationships in our lives. WE are the same person yet, we are perceived differently with each relationship that we have in our lives. Now, let's move on to the topic for today.

All of our relationships (remember, they ALL belong to us) have US as a common denominator. We talked about that before but it is important for us to never forget that fact.

And, regardless of what TYPE of relationship we are discussing (check out person, mailman, parking attendant or best friend) we leave our "fingerprints" on each and every one.

Wow, think about that for a moment!

Sometimes we think these "outer ridge" relationships don't really matter. You know, the ones that we discussed yesterday when we talked about taking the time to acknowledge those that we do come into contact with on a semi-regular basis or a regular basis such as a parking attendant.

We can fall into the trap (and lie) that how we treat these people doesn't really matter. After all, they don't really know us anyway, right?

WRONG!

They DO know you by your actions! Who you SAY you are is not as revealing as who you SHOW you are. Now there's an ugly truth to think about.

We want to think that if these people in that "outer ridge" of our relationships think the wrong thing about us (according to who?) then it's because they don't really know the "real" us.

Oh? Perhaps they DO know the "real" you more than you care to admit.

You leave your "fingerprint" on every person that you come into contact with during each and every day. Like it or not, this is true.

Think about this as well - for most of these people this is the ONLY impression that they have of you. Now, based on that, what impression do they have of YOU?

In my opinion, more than anything else, how you treat those in this category defines who we are more than anything you want to believe or want others to believe.

It is your "fingerprint". It is your "identification" of who you really are.

If you are not satisfied with the "fingerprint" that you have been leaving behind why not make a change starting TODAY?

Unlike our own physical fingerprints we CAN actually "change" this "fingerprint" that we leave behind.

It's your move.

Until next time...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

www.MichaelSpillman.com

Find the Treasure in People!

As we continue our "Positive Alphabet" today, we want to go on to the letter, "F" and talk about how we all need to "FIND the TREASURE in PEOPLE."

First of all, many will likely think of their family and friends with this title in mind. GREAT! They certainly apply and we need to FIND and APPRECIATE the treasure that they are! Yes, I understand that you and your family may not have the best relationship in the world -- not everyone does. BUT, if you do or even if it is just SOME of your family, then be thankful for them and really appreciate the TREASURE that it is to have them in your life!

The TREASURE to have family that loves you. Regardless. Regardless of what you do right or wrong. Regardless of the mistakes you make. Regardless of your success or your failure. Regardless.

The same is to be said of those "true friends" that stand by you - again, REGARDLESS! Those friends that are not "fair weather friends" but are there when things are good OR bad! Those friends that love you and stand by you simply because you are their friend! WHAT A TREASURE!

Let's expand our thoughts a little and consider those people that you are around every day but that don't fit the category of "family or friends" as defined above. Perhaps these are your co-workers. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Yeah, yeah - I understand. But here is the challenge --

"Each person carries a treasure to be revealed."

Wow! When you think about that - it can be truly amazing to think about what you may discover! If we would approach each person contacted during our day with this thought in mind - what might happen?

Yes, I understand that some may require quite a bit more "digging" before we find the treasure. And, yes, some may not even look like treasure at all -- but they may be a "diamond in the rough"!

Make this a challenge and "dig". Make this a challenge and realize that each person carries this treasure within. Perhaps it lies just below the surface, waiting to be unearthed by YOU!

What about those even outside THIS circle? Waiters, waitresses, check out personnel, etc. Those folks that often get overlooked as if they don't even exist. What about those standing behind you or in front of you in a crowded line? What about those that pass you along the street?

HUMAN KINDNESS AND CONTACT can go a long way in unearthing the treasure that lies within!

THINK ABOUT IT and GET EXCITED about it as well!

Let this be a challenge and a determination in your life each and every day! Be determined to "find the treasure in people" each and every day!

Just think about how that will impact YOUR life and then think about how it will IMPACT the lives of those around you!

Wow, I get excited just thinking about it!

Do it. Dig!

And, at the same time (and this WILL happen because of it!)...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike