A wake up call........

I was fortunate enough to see a motivational speaker last week at our mid year work conference. Wow, what a fantastic experience. I asked myself the following question during and after the event which reminded me of something that I had been forgetting:

How am I adding value to those people around me and how am I passing on my energy to other people? Two very good questions (even if I do say so myself). The emotions that this guy evoked in me were ones of disappointment and excitement. Disappointment because I had felt like I had lost my way slightly in adding non-material value people and excitement because I knew that I could change it in an instant!!!

One example he gave, is something that I had been doing previously, but had gotten out of the habit of doing and that how you respond to people when they ask you how you are! Simple things eh! He said that the normal response when you are asked about how you are is…….ok, not bad, fair to middling!!!! Those responses are very non-commital!! It reminded me of the power of using more exciting and energetic words such as fantastic, fabulous, awesome, brilliant or something similar!

So I decided that I would reinstate my belief in the power of positive response to the question “How are you?” and put it into practice. So when I went to get my morning coffee at Starbucks when I was in Windsor, I asked the girls behind the till area……”How are you?” their response was “We’re ok thanks, How are you?”, well this was my chance to shine……”I am fantastic thanks” their response was “Wow, fantastic, what have you got be fantastic about?”, “Well I have plenty of reasons really, where do you want me start?” They responded positively and as we continued to chat they ended up saying “We would love to be outside in this weather, but we have to work.” I then proceeded to tell them why it was so great to work where they worked i.e. it’s a really busy site so the time goes quick, the view out of the window is of Windsor castle, its right by the Thames so you can go there with your lunch……….etc etc……

Now, the above sounds a bit cheesy, but it raises the question - What are you enthusiastic about today? What are the things in your life that you are thankful for? What non-materialistic things are you giving others everyday?

Remember you interact with hundreds of people each day either directly or indirectly, why not make their life a bit brighter!

If you look hard enough there is always something to be excited, happy, enthusiastic and energised about. Whether it be the sun shining after the weather being miserable for a few days or having a fantastic meal with friends or simply getting a smile from some one………