Good morning,
Happy Friday! In today’s interconnected business environment it seems that the importance of not burning bridges should be pretty obvious. Yet lately I’ve observed a number of situations that left me shaking my head.
These were instances in which one party didn’t get the outcome they wanted from the other and instead of being graceful about it they lashed out. I’m simply amazed by the shortsightedness of such bridge burning behaviors, which turn temporary setbacks into permanent losses. Since we don’t always get what we want today, the following advice is especially important.
Think long term.
Earlier this week I hired a company I haven’t worked with in years. I kept their contact information all this time because they did a great job and in particular, I still remember how gracious they were when I canceled their services. No muss, no fuss, just “we hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future.” That’s the opposite of burning bridges.
Let’s build some bridges – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. Life is short but there is always time for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson
P.P.S. Please help spread the sunshine. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com
Showing posts with label Appreciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Appreciation. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Have you ever gotten a new car and then suddenly you see the same model everywhere? Last time I bought a car it seemed like everybody followed my example and got the same one in the same color no less. Of course what really happened is this.
We find what we’re looking for.
This is true in pretty much all areas of our lives and when it comes to managing employees, apparently it’s been scientifically proven, according to an article in yesterday’s Science Daily.
“How leaders view their employees tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” according to Thomas Sy, assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside and a longtime business leadership consultant. In what he describes as the first study to examine leaders' conceptions of followers, the psychologist found that "if managers view followers positively -- that they are good citizens, industrious, enthusiastic -- they will treat their employees positively. If they think of their employees negatively -- that they are conforming, insubordinate and incompetent -- they will treat them that way," he said. "Manager beliefs about employees impact organizational outcomes."
This study is an interesting reinforcement of an important piece of common sense, that having positive expectations increases the likelihood of positive results.
Let’s stay positive – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being." Goethe
P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com
Happy Friday! Have you ever gotten a new car and then suddenly you see the same model everywhere? Last time I bought a car it seemed like everybody followed my example and got the same one in the same color no less. Of course what really happened is this.
We find what we’re looking for.
This is true in pretty much all areas of our lives and when it comes to managing employees, apparently it’s been scientifically proven, according to an article in yesterday’s Science Daily.
“How leaders view their employees tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” according to Thomas Sy, assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside and a longtime business leadership consultant. In what he describes as the first study to examine leaders' conceptions of followers, the psychologist found that "if managers view followers positively -- that they are good citizens, industrious, enthusiastic -- they will treat their employees positively. If they think of their employees negatively -- that they are conforming, insubordinate and incompetent -- they will treat them that way," he said. "Manager beliefs about employees impact organizational outcomes."
This study is an interesting reinforcement of an important piece of common sense, that having positive expectations increases the likelihood of positive results.
Let’s stay positive – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being." Goethe
P.P.S. I always enjoy hearing from you and I thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
SunnyMediaGroup.com
Friday, January 7, 2011
Just Because
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Some things in life are worth doing just because they’re the right thing to do. The world is full of crossroads where commercial interests and human concerns seem to point in different directions. Today’s sunny note is simply a reminder to take the high road.
Do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.
Not every action needs an obvious “return on investment.” It’s inevitable that some of the things we do for the people in our lives will go unnoticed or even unappreciated. Yet we do them anyway. Not for pats on the back or commercial rewards, but simply because we care.
In fact, caring turns out to be its own reward, making each of us happier at the end of the road.
Drive safely – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. In response to last week’s Sunny Note, Cheri Young sent in a great suggestion that I asked her permission to share with you today. Here is Cheri’s recommended alternative to "resolutions." Thanks Cheri!
>>>I find that most resolutions are good for about 3-4 days, after that we are crabby and discouraged. I make a list called "less and more." This way I can celebrate improvement and failure never happens unless I quit trying.
Instead of the usual, I want to lose XX pounds. How about:
I want to eat more real fruit and less refined sugars.
I want to eat more lean protein and fewer fast food hamburgers
Supporting actions:
• Change purchases at grocery store, we tend to eat what is at hand.
• Eat Grilled chicken salads instead of fried foods at restaurants.
I want to spend less time on routine cooking.
I want to spend more time entertaining.
Supporting actions:
• Double the recipe on "routine" foods and store/freeze for another day.
• Pick one weekend a month and invite friends for dinner and cards. (Friends bring the wine and fruit-based dessert.)
I want to save more money.
Supporting actions:
• Increase your retirement savings by one percent and eat out less often.
• Throw change in a cookie jar for the next vacation instead of using your credit card.
• Invite friends to dinner and cards instead of going out, put saved dollars in cookie jar.
As you can see, some actions have multiple results! This is way more fun and successful than promising to lose 10 pounds. Best Regards, Cheri
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com
Happy Friday! Some things in life are worth doing just because they’re the right thing to do. The world is full of crossroads where commercial interests and human concerns seem to point in different directions. Today’s sunny note is simply a reminder to take the high road.
Do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.
Not every action needs an obvious “return on investment.” It’s inevitable that some of the things we do for the people in our lives will go unnoticed or even unappreciated. Yet we do them anyway. Not for pats on the back or commercial rewards, but simply because we care.
In fact, caring turns out to be its own reward, making each of us happier at the end of the road.
Drive safely – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. In response to last week’s Sunny Note, Cheri Young sent in a great suggestion that I asked her permission to share with you today. Here is Cheri’s recommended alternative to "resolutions." Thanks Cheri!
>>>I find that most resolutions are good for about 3-4 days, after that we are crabby and discouraged. I make a list called "less and more." This way I can celebrate improvement and failure never happens unless I quit trying.
Instead of the usual, I want to lose XX pounds. How about:
I want to eat more real fruit and less refined sugars.
I want to eat more lean protein and fewer fast food hamburgers
Supporting actions:
• Change purchases at grocery store, we tend to eat what is at hand.
• Eat Grilled chicken salads instead of fried foods at restaurants.
I want to spend less time on routine cooking.
I want to spend more time entertaining.
Supporting actions:
• Double the recipe on "routine" foods and store/freeze for another day.
• Pick one weekend a month and invite friends for dinner and cards. (Friends bring the wine and fruit-based dessert.)
I want to save more money.
Supporting actions:
• Increase your retirement savings by one percent and eat out less often.
• Throw change in a cookie jar for the next vacation instead of using your credit card.
• Invite friends to dinner and cards instead of going out, put saved dollars in cookie jar.
As you can see, some actions have multiple results! This is way more fun and successful than promising to lose 10 pounds. Best Regards, Cheri
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Sunny Media Group, Inc.
313-268-6810
www.SunnyMediaGroup.com
Friday, November 26, 2010
Giving Thanks
Good morning,
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful day.
Thank you for making me a better person by inspiring me to write to you reliably each Friday morning and for all the other ways in which you help and encourage me.
This morning I’m reflecting on how everything significant we achieve in life is accomplished thanks to the help of others. None of us succeeds alone and no matter how much more we want to achieve in the future, in order to do so we must first be grateful for what we have today.
Let’s convey our gratitude through our attitude – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful day.
Thank you for making me a better person by inspiring me to write to you reliably each Friday morning and for all the other ways in which you help and encourage me.
This morning I’m reflecting on how everything significant we achieve in life is accomplished thanks to the help of others. None of us succeeds alone and no matter how much more we want to achieve in the future, in order to do so we must first be grateful for what we have today.
Let’s convey our gratitude through our attitude – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, November 5, 2010
Goal Posts
Good morning,
This is a special Friday because today fulfills the promise to my readers made one year ago to send a Sunny Note every Friday for 52 uninterrupted weeks. It was a fun goal as well as a challenging one. Looking back, it's the wonderful feedback received throughout the year from you, my sunny pen pals, that gives me the courage to set a new goal of bringing you another year of sunshine. This morning, I'll writing to say:
Thank you.
I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your life. My goal is to be helpful, even if it's only by making you smile with a reminder that it's Friday. Perhaps today's Sunny Note can also serve as a reminder for each of us about the importance of setting goals.
Let's ask ourselves, what would I like to achieve by this date next year? And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Choosing goals that are important to you is one of the most essential things you can do in order to live your dreams." Les Brown
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
This is a special Friday because today fulfills the promise to my readers made one year ago to send a Sunny Note every Friday for 52 uninterrupted weeks. It was a fun goal as well as a challenging one. Looking back, it's the wonderful feedback received throughout the year from you, my sunny pen pals, that gives me the courage to set a new goal of bringing you another year of sunshine. This morning, I'll writing to say:
Thank you.
I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be a part of your life. My goal is to be helpful, even if it's only by making you smile with a reminder that it's Friday. Perhaps today's Sunny Note can also serve as a reminder for each of us about the importance of setting goals.
Let's ask ourselves, what would I like to achieve by this date next year? And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Choosing goals that are important to you is one of the most essential things you can do in order to live your dreams." Les Brown
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly from me by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, September 17, 2010
"A" for Effort
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Last week Ursula Burns reminded us that working isn’t all about the cash. This morning I’m reflecting on one of the things that’s often as motivating as money, and that’s appreciation.
It’s human nature for us all to want to feel appreciated. But more importantly, all of us have the opportunity to show appreciation to others. At home and on the job, when you see someone do something well, simply take a moment to:
Applaud.
It's painless to applaud a person’s efforts or make a positive comment that shows you noticed. These small gestures, which cost nothing, are worth a lot. On the job, one doesn’t have to be a manager or in charge in order to show appreciation for others. We’re all in it together and we each have the power to change lives, one compliment at a time.
Smart business owners figured out long ago the value of making sure employees know they’re appreciated. Basically, the less they appreciate their people the more they have to pay them to achieve levels of performance or loyalty that showing appreciation would have helped cultivate.
I’m fortunate to work within an organization that appreciates its employees, and I know I couldn’t accomplish my work without the efforts of the people around me. But too often in the world hardworking people doing great things seem to go unnoticed or unacknowledged. So today I invite you to join me in saying “Great job!” to the next person you encounter who appears to be doing just that.
You’ll make them smile – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “When someone does something well, applaud! You will make two people happy.” Samuel Goldwyn
Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Happy Friday! Last week Ursula Burns reminded us that working isn’t all about the cash. This morning I’m reflecting on one of the things that’s often as motivating as money, and that’s appreciation.
It’s human nature for us all to want to feel appreciated. But more importantly, all of us have the opportunity to show appreciation to others. At home and on the job, when you see someone do something well, simply take a moment to:
Applaud.
It's painless to applaud a person’s efforts or make a positive comment that shows you noticed. These small gestures, which cost nothing, are worth a lot. On the job, one doesn’t have to be a manager or in charge in order to show appreciation for others. We’re all in it together and we each have the power to change lives, one compliment at a time.
Smart business owners figured out long ago the value of making sure employees know they’re appreciated. Basically, the less they appreciate their people the more they have to pay them to achieve levels of performance or loyalty that showing appreciation would have helped cultivate.
I’m fortunate to work within an organization that appreciates its employees, and I know I couldn’t accomplish my work without the efforts of the people around me. But too often in the world hardworking people doing great things seem to go unnoticed or unacknowledged. So today I invite you to join me in saying “Great job!” to the next person you encounter who appears to be doing just that.
You’ll make them smile – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “When someone does something well, applaud! You will make two people happy.” Samuel Goldwyn
Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can Visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly by email each Friday.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sunny Face
Good morning,
Hurray for Friday! Even when it’s not the end of the work week, Friday still makes me smile. In fact, smiling is the topic of today’s Sunny Note – because it’s good for business and good for our health.
When we get up in the morning, putting on a smile is as important – or more important – than anything else we wear. It’s worth the effort to…
Put on a happy face.
I was recently talking with a friend who’s dealing with a lot of challenges at home and at work. The weight of the world seems to be on his shoulders and yet he puts on a smile every day. Does he feel like smiling? No! But he smiles anyway and that simple act improves his career, his life and the lives of the people around him.
Smiling is so important that it’s official policy at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Livonia, where their training presentation includes this three-step slide:
Hurray for Friday! Even when it’s not the end of the work week, Friday still makes me smile. In fact, smiling is the topic of today’s Sunny Note – because it’s good for business and good for our health.
When we get up in the morning, putting on a smile is as important – or more important – than anything else we wear. It’s worth the effort to…
Put on a happy face.
I was recently talking with a friend who’s dealing with a lot of challenges at home and at work. The weight of the world seems to be on his shoulders and yet he puts on a smile every day. Does he feel like smiling? No! But he smiles anyway and that simple act improves his career, his life and the lives of the people around him.
Smiling is so important that it’s official policy at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Livonia, where their training presentation includes this three-step slide:
- STEP #1 – Smile
- STEP #2 – Make other people smile
- STEP #3 – Repeat as necessary
When times are tough it’s more important than ever to smile – and make other people smile – as often as possible.
This morning I’m sending you a smile and wishing you a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly each Friday or read prior Sunny Notes at http://www.clarity.tv/.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, July 30, 2010
Enjoy The Race
Good morning,
It’s Friday and that’s reason to smile! Last week’s Sunny Note encouraged big goals, because the bigger our goals the more we’re likely to achieve. Yet as we’re pursuing our dreams, let’s not forget that while the destination is important:
The journey matters most.
In business and life, it’s easy to get so focused on the finish line that we forget to enjoy the race. Enjoying the race is especially important since some finish lines won’t be reached. We might change direction, reevaluate our priorities or – sorry to mention the morbid truth – drop dead before we get there.
Inevitably, big goals involve big hurdles to overcome. That’s just part of the journey. And maybe we’ll reach the finish line, maybe we won’t. Either way, if we enjoy the race, compete with integrity and learn from the hurdles along the way, then no matter what – we are winners.
So here’s to the journey – and a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. LeGuin
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly each Friday or read prior Sunny Notes at www.clarity.tv.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
It’s Friday and that’s reason to smile! Last week’s Sunny Note encouraged big goals, because the bigger our goals the more we’re likely to achieve. Yet as we’re pursuing our dreams, let’s not forget that while the destination is important:
The journey matters most.
In business and life, it’s easy to get so focused on the finish line that we forget to enjoy the race. Enjoying the race is especially important since some finish lines won’t be reached. We might change direction, reevaluate our priorities or – sorry to mention the morbid truth – drop dead before we get there.
Inevitably, big goals involve big hurdles to overcome. That’s just part of the journey. And maybe we’ll reach the finish line, maybe we won’t. Either way, if we enjoy the race, compete with integrity and learn from the hurdles along the way, then no matter what – we are winners.
So here’s to the journey – and a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. LeGuin
P.P.S. Thank you for sharing Sunny Notes with others. New readers can visit This Link to add an email address to receive Sunny Notes directly each Friday or read prior Sunny Notes at www.clarity.tv.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
Stand Up
Good morning,
Happy Friday! It’s often said that “Reputation is everything.” Today’s sunny note invites us to ask ourselves this question:
What do I stand for?
Perhaps it’s honesty, kindness, perseverance or something else entirely. To stand for something we must stand up for it, even when the going gets tough. The characteristics that define us are those we exhibit consistently, not just when it’s convenient.
America stands for freedom, and the brave men and women of our armed forces stand up for it every day. They fight for freedom at the most difficult times in the most difficult places. This weekend we extend to them special thanks as we celebrate our country’s independence.
Each of us stands for something – or many things – that make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. That’s why it’s worth asking ourselves, or even asking someone else from their observations, “What do I stand for?”
Let’s stand up – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting ASunnyNote.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
Happy Friday! It’s often said that “Reputation is everything.” Today’s sunny note invites us to ask ourselves this question:
What do I stand for?
Perhaps it’s honesty, kindness, perseverance or something else entirely. To stand for something we must stand up for it, even when the going gets tough. The characteristics that define us are those we exhibit consistently, not just when it’s convenient.
America stands for freedom, and the brave men and women of our armed forces stand up for it every day. They fight for freedom at the most difficult times in the most difficult places. This weekend we extend to them special thanks as we celebrate our country’s independence.
Each of us stands for something – or many things – that make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. That’s why it’s worth asking ourselves, or even asking someone else from their observations, “What do I stand for?”
Let’s stand up – and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting ASunnyNote.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
Friday, March 19, 2010
A Kind Word
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Dare I say it? Spring is HERE. Never mind the fact that we'll probably get a little more snow. The bulbs peeking their heads out in our front yard assure me it's Spring. On this fine morning, here's my thought for the day.
Do we really know what impact our words or actions have on others?
Most of the time, the answer probably is no. Today it's on my mind because earlier this week I heard Roxanne Emmerich share the following story during her seminar presented by The Yes Network.
One day an elderly gentleman walked into a bank. He was greeted by a teller who was very nice to him. The next day he came back and told the teller, “Yesterday I came in to withdraw money because I wanted to buy a gun to take my own life. But when you were so nice to me, it gave me hope that life was worth living after all and I decided not to. So I wanted to thank you.”
What a powerful reminder that every interaction we have with another person creates an impact for better or worse, and most often we’ll never know how small or great that impact might be. Life is full of excuses we could point to for being a grouch, but this incident underscores the importance of rising above our own frustrations to help spread joy.
Smiles are contagious; I hope you find lots of reasons to smile today and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. If you're interested in seeing a lot more notes and ideas I collected from this week's Yes Network seminars featuring Roxanne Emmerich and Dan Coughlin, you're welcome to visit this link. I'm providing you this information with the permission of Yes Network president, Michael Jeffreys. Because I regularly attend the seminars, Mr. Jeffreys recently invited me to start writing reviews of the seminars to share with the network's members. It was fun and challenging trying my hand at this for this first time and I'd love your feedback or suggestions if you're so inclined. Mr. Jeffreys also offers complimentary workshops that can take place at your business, networking group or association meeting. For more information, you can visit YesMidwest.com.
P.S. "There are givers and takers in life. Life always seems to work better for the givers." Roxanne Emmerich
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Happy Friday! Dare I say it? Spring is HERE. Never mind the fact that we'll probably get a little more snow. The bulbs peeking their heads out in our front yard assure me it's Spring. On this fine morning, here's my thought for the day.
Do we really know what impact our words or actions have on others?
Most of the time, the answer probably is no. Today it's on my mind because earlier this week I heard Roxanne Emmerich share the following story during her seminar presented by The Yes Network.
One day an elderly gentleman walked into a bank. He was greeted by a teller who was very nice to him. The next day he came back and told the teller, “Yesterday I came in to withdraw money because I wanted to buy a gun to take my own life. But when you were so nice to me, it gave me hope that life was worth living after all and I decided not to. So I wanted to thank you.”
What a powerful reminder that every interaction we have with another person creates an impact for better or worse, and most often we’ll never know how small or great that impact might be. Life is full of excuses we could point to for being a grouch, but this incident underscores the importance of rising above our own frustrations to help spread joy.
Smiles are contagious; I hope you find lots of reasons to smile today and have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. If you're interested in seeing a lot more notes and ideas I collected from this week's Yes Network seminars featuring Roxanne Emmerich and Dan Coughlin, you're welcome to visit this link. I'm providing you this information with the permission of Yes Network president, Michael Jeffreys. Because I regularly attend the seminars, Mr. Jeffreys recently invited me to start writing reviews of the seminars to share with the network's members. It was fun and challenging trying my hand at this for this first time and I'd love your feedback or suggestions if you're so inclined. Mr. Jeffreys also offers complimentary workshops that can take place at your business, networking group or association meeting. For more information, you can visit YesMidwest.com.
P.S. "There are givers and takers in life. Life always seems to work better for the givers." Roxanne Emmerich
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
MetroMichigan.com
Friday, February 12, 2010
Encouraging Words
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Brrrrrrrr. But hang in there - only 36 days ‘til Spring. Meanwhile, let’s touch on a topic that seems almost as obvious as snow is cold.
People respond better to encouragement than criticism.
That's just the way it is. Nevertheless, this simple but important principal is often overlooked at work and – yes – at home, too.
You’ve probably run into people who seem to think, consciously or unconsciously, that complimenting a person deters them from doing better. However quite the opposite is true: positive feedback encourages a person to earn more positive feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with encouraging people who know that finding fault is easy, but providing encouragement, although more challenging, is more rewarding.
Inevitably, all of us encounter the need to elicit more desirable results from people around us – our employees, coworkers, bosses or family members. Instead of going straight for corrective criticism, a more effective approach is to say something nice first. It’s respectful; and there's always something to compliment – if we don't see it then we’re simply not looking closely enough.
Today’s sunny note invites you to join me in a little sunny challenge, to compliment someone, anyone, who you wouldn’t otherwise have complimented. Let’s lead by example and hope it’s contagious.
Regardless of how often you already do this, the challenge is to compliment at least one more person than usual today. Who knows – it might be the only kind word they’ll hear all day.
And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
Happy Friday! Brrrrrrrr. But hang in there - only 36 days ‘til Spring. Meanwhile, let’s touch on a topic that seems almost as obvious as snow is cold.
People respond better to encouragement than criticism.
That's just the way it is. Nevertheless, this simple but important principal is often overlooked at work and – yes – at home, too.
You’ve probably run into people who seem to think, consciously or unconsciously, that complimenting a person deters them from doing better. However quite the opposite is true: positive feedback encourages a person to earn more positive feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with encouraging people who know that finding fault is easy, but providing encouragement, although more challenging, is more rewarding.
Inevitably, all of us encounter the need to elicit more desirable results from people around us – our employees, coworkers, bosses or family members. Instead of going straight for corrective criticism, a more effective approach is to say something nice first. It’s respectful; and there's always something to compliment – if we don't see it then we’re simply not looking closely enough.
Today’s sunny note invites you to join me in a little sunny challenge, to compliment someone, anyone, who you wouldn’t otherwise have complimented. Let’s lead by example and hope it’s contagious.
Regardless of how often you already do this, the challenge is to compliment at least one more person than usual today. Who knows – it might be the only kind word they’ll hear all day.
And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
Friday, November 27, 2009
Returning Thanks
Good Morning,
I hope you enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving. In the spirit of the season, I’m feeling very grateful this morning for you and everyone in my life, and I’ve been chewing on this food for thought: often the people who are closest to us, the ones we depend upon most, are the people we forget to thank.
When a stranger holds the door for us as we enter a building, we automatically say “thank you,” but when a loved one does something we’ve come to rely upon every day, how easy it is to take his or her efforts for granted.
More than 1,500 years ago, St. Ambrose said, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” And more recently, Mother Teresa pointed out that “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”
I once dated a guy who got annoyed with me for saying “thanks for calling.” He said I shouldn’t thank him for something he’s going to do everyday anyway. But I disagree - because I don’t think I can say “thank you” enough, especially for the things that family members, friends and coworkers do everyday - anyway.
No success is ever achieved without the help of others. So whether I’ve said it too often, or not often enough, thank you. And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us,” Albert Schweitzer.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
I hope you enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving. In the spirit of the season, I’m feeling very grateful this morning for you and everyone in my life, and I’ve been chewing on this food for thought: often the people who are closest to us, the ones we depend upon most, are the people we forget to thank.
When a stranger holds the door for us as we enter a building, we automatically say “thank you,” but when a loved one does something we’ve come to rely upon every day, how easy it is to take his or her efforts for granted.
More than 1,500 years ago, St. Ambrose said, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” And more recently, Mother Teresa pointed out that “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”
I once dated a guy who got annoyed with me for saying “thanks for calling.” He said I shouldn’t thank him for something he’s going to do everyday anyway. But I disagree - because I don’t think I can say “thank you” enough, especially for the things that family members, friends and coworkers do everyday - anyway.
No success is ever achieved without the help of others. So whether I’ve said it too often, or not often enough, thank you. And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us,” Albert Schweitzer.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
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