What Everyone Wants More Than Anything
2001 Boaz Rauchwerger
In order to get what you want out of life, you've got to literally forget about what YOU want. You've got to mentally take yourself out of your shoes and put yourself in other people's shoes. Help enough other people get what they want out of life and you'll get what you want.
So, what does everyone else want? Every living person today wants the same thing. Everyone craves to feel important. This is the key to getting along with every person you'll ever meet. It's the secret to making the people around you feel good and is a key to getting them motivated.
Dale Carnegie, in the incredible book How to Win Friends and Influence People, stated that you can make people like you instantly by making them feel important and doing it sincerely.
I live in San Diego. Recently, as I was waiting to board a plane for a speaking engagement, I purchased a snack at the airport lounge. The man behind the counter seemed bored with his job. None of the customers seemed to be paying any attention to him. So I decided to change his day. As I came up in line, I said with a nice smile "How are you today?" He looked up, half-startled, his face beaming with a smile. I asked him how long he had worked there and he answered cheerfully. I complimented him on doing a nice job and I meant it. I thanked him for taking care of me and he joyfully bid me a good day. As I walked away I could hear him greet the next customer with enthusiasm.
I had simply made him feel important and I did it sincerely. You have the opportunity to do the same thing every day. Simply pay attention. Every day, everywhere. Look for opportunities to compliment and appreciate the people around you. By making others happy, you'll take a shorcut to motivating them and to becoming a great leader, parent, manager and friend.
A Call You Haven't Made
To continue the theme of making people feel important, there's probably a call you haven't recently made.
It could be to a son or daughter whose away from home. It may be your grandmother or another elderly person you know. It might be a dear friend with whom you've lost contact. It's anyone whose day would be brightened by a call from you today.
Why not get on the phone right after you finish reading this newsletter and call that person. It doesn't matter why you haven't been in touch. Just do it. Tell that person specifically why you have appreciated them in the past. Ask about what's happening in their life.
I recently suggested this at a board meeting of a large corporation. One of the executives called his grandmother that day. She was so thrilled that she spent the rest of the day calling other relatives to tell them of the call!
A Daily Affirmation of Importance
I pay attention and make others feel important every day.
Article reproduced with permission from Boaz Rauchwerger. You may reprint any of these articles in any publication or Web site so long as you credit Boaz Rauchwerger as the author and include this Web site address, www.Boazpower.com.