making the world a better place

We All Had Help

Anyone who is successful
(any definition of successful)
has had help.

They might not acknowledge
that help.
Heck, they might not
KNOW about the help
they were given.

But it was there.

Someone helped them.
Usually numerous someones
numerous times.

I, for example,
a couple days ago,
suggested another writer’s book
for a Best Of 2024 Award.
I didn’t tell that writer.
I just did it.

And if she wins
or is nominated,
I will be happy for her
and I will continue to be silent
about my part
in that success.

Everyone has had help.

Help others.

Hope others help you.

When you’ve achieved success,
realize that someone DID help you.

Tell People You’re Proud Of Them

I’ve recently posted
about this
but,
with the clip of Catherine O’Hara
telling Macaulay Culkin
she was proud of him
going viral,
I felt we might need to hear it
again.

Tell people you’re proud
of them.

That’s all you have to say.
“I’m proud of you.”

Those four words
are super powerful.

How powerful are they?

They’re so powerful
hearing them said
to another person
can make people happy.

One of my online buddies
told me she replays the Catherine O’Hara clip
at least once a day
and she imagines Catherine O’Hara
is saying those words to HER.

Tell people you’re proud of them.
It will change their lives
for the better.

For Their Health

A buddy in the the travel business
told me
they are seeing an increase
in bookings for vacations
for ‘mental health reasons.’

The world is a mess.
People are under
a lot of stress due to that.

They are searching
for ways
to decrease that stress.

Does your product/service
decrease stress?

Does it offer an escape?
Does it take some of the workload
off people?
Does it make their lives easier?

Stress that
in your marketing material.

Encourage prospects
to buy your products/services
‘for their mental health.’

There’s a growing need
for that.

Your Good Deeds Will Eventually Go Public

When I help others,
I do it
as quietly as possible.

I don’t want the recognition.
That’s not why
I’m helping others.

But I know
my good deeds
will eventually go public.

There’s always a trail.
And we live in a world
where everyone has a recording device
and is constantly using it.

Someone WILL say something
or post something
or tell someone.

When I help others,
I accept that will happen.

You don’t have to tell others
about your good deeds.

Someone else
will eventually share
that news.

And it will be more powerful
because it is being shared
by that someone else.

There is no need
to broadcast your good deeds.

Recognize The Quiet Supporter

You likely have someone
on your team
who quietly works
and offers support
in various ways.

This could be
an employee,
a spouse,
a partner,
a customer.

They are always there
and they likely do things
to support you
that you don’t know about.

It is d@mn easy
to take them for granted.

Recognize them.
Today.

Recognize them
in a way
THEY would want
to be recognized.

You’re d@mn fortunate
to have them on your team.
Ensure they know that.

Help One Person A Day

When we run our own businesses
and can work hours
we decide to work,
people WILL take advantage
of that.

They will ask us
to pick up their kids
after school
or drive them to appointments
or do little tasks
that on their own
seem like nothing.

But multiplied
by everyone we know
and asked every day
suck all our time.

I help one person a day.

Many days, that’s it.
I don’t help more people
than that.

And some busy days,
I help by donating supplies
or cash
or helping to promote a promotion.

I tell the asker
of the favor
I can’t help
that I have to help someone else
that day.

Help people
but also protect your time.

Giving Anonymously

I’m a big fan
of giving anonymously.

If I hear,
for example,
a kid needs a backpack
for school,
I’ll drop one off
on their doorstep
with a note
‘from the universe’
(or something like that).

I’ll ring the doorbell,
wait out of their view
and ensure they pick it up.

Because they can’t attribute
the gift
to one person,
they tend to attribute
it to EVERYONE.

That makes their world
a happier,
kinder,
more generous place.

It also saves their pride.
And I don’t have to do
the ‘no, you take it,
I’m sure about it’
dance.

Consider giving
anonymously.

Deciding On Your Legacy

We decide our legacies.

We influence
how people remember us
when we’re here
on this Earth
and after we’re gone.

If you want to be
remembered fondly,
with joy,
with caring,
do the things
that leave that legacy.

Build more
than you destroy.
(And yes,
this includes building businesses.)

Love more
than you hate.

Give more
than you take.

Support more
than you punish.

Help more
than you hinder.

It is basic math.
Positive contributions > Negative contributions
= Being Missed After We’re Gone.

It is truly
THAT easy to leave
a wonderful legacy.

Who NOT To Ask For Help

There are people
in this world
who close the doors
behind them.

If a program
or a pathway
or a strategy
benefited them in the past
and they’re now
no longer using it,
they will try the d@mnedest
to eliminate it.

Be VERY careful
around those people.

If you find yourself
on the wrong side of a door,
they will not only
not help you
but they will try
to ensure that door
is never opened to you
or anyone else.

Do NOT ask them
for help.
Ever.
They will make
the situation worse
for you.

And actively work to keep
the doors you have used
open.

Because I guarantee
others are trying
to close them.

Tell People You’re Proud Of Them

Yesterday, I told
a loved one
I was proud of them
and all they’ve accomplished
thus far
in their life.

She cried.
She hadn’t heard that
from…anyone else.

She HAD heard
a LOT of criticism.
We all do.

People are quick
with the negatives
and slow (if at all)
with the positives.

Tell someone
today
you’re proud of them.
Change their world
for the better.