Encouragement is the Key

Encouragement is the Key

Mary Kay Ash says that thousands of people have gone farther than they thought they could because somebody else thought they could. What that someone else did was to offer encouragement, which is the "fuel" of hope.

The question is, how often do you give someone a word of encouragement, a verbal thank-you or a simple little note that says "I genuinely appreciate your efforts - you're doing a beautiful job"? This little story told by Herm Albright adds this thought: "After watching a middle-aged waitress going about her business efficiently but with a smile for everyone, I decided to compliment her on her good humor. 'Well,' she said, continuing her work, 'it's like this. If you see the twinkles you won't notice the wrinkles.'" She's right. A simple word of encouragement or a pleasant smile does inspire people to do better. Interestingly enough, however, the person doing the encouraging, whether it's in the form of a simple smile, a little note or a verbal "you're doing good," automatically feels better about life itself and, more importantly, about himself.

The Boy Scouts training teaches doing a good deed every day because they understand the long-term benefit of being other-people oriented. One marvelous resolution all of us need to make is simply to be kind and say or do something nice for someone every day. It could be our mate, parents, children, employees, employer, the people with whom we have any kind of interchange each day. You will find that the more you become other-people conscious, the happier and more effective you will be - so, make it a way of life, do something nice for somebody every day and I really will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s Motivator. He authored 33 books and produced numerous training programs. He will be remembered as a man who lived out his faith daily.