Lesson No 4
Know the power of encouragement —
Rain and sun are to flowers as praises and encouragement are to the human spirit.
Many times I have sat quietly and watched mothers tending to their children's needs. Last week as I went to the park with my friend's family, I was privilege to hold their new born baby girl while they were playing with their oldest son. As I sat quietly on the park bench I had the opportunity to watch all those that had come to enjoy this beautiful spring day. A couple had just parked their car across the park and the woman soon came in the park to meet her friends. What followed really caught my attention. She went to the playground and grabbed a young man, he must have been around 8 or 9, and seemed to be quite upset at him. Even though I was too far to hear what she was saying, her verbal expression spoke volume about her feelings and how she was addressing this young man.
I felt so helpless as I sat on my park bench thinking what this poor kid must have done to deserve this kind of treatment in public. She dragged him to the man who was waiting by his car only to hear him scream at him. I was shocked. I felt the pain and deep humiliation for this poor boy who was being scolded in public.
I believe we go through life to learn and along the way, we learn to use our free agency that we may experience all that this life has to offer. Sometimes we may make take a wrong turn and get lost and need a friendly hand to get us back on track. I believe we all make mistakes. The way we approach this experience varies widely from people to people and culture to culture. If you could have seen the body language of that young man, you would have understood the pain he must have felt. He literally looked like he shrunk because his posture was now in protection mode as though he was getting prepare to defend himself.
We mostly learn by example. Maybe these parents don't know any better, which would be very sad, but I believe there is always a great example to follow and that is that of our Savior Jesus Christ. When faced with a difficult situation, I often ponder, "What would he do if he was in my shoes?" My answer sometimes really differ from my actions and it is then that I realize what a great opportunity for growth this is.
There is a great quote by William Arthur Ward that illustrate this principle that I would like to share with you.
“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.”
May we learn to see the best in people and learn to encourage them on a regular basis that they in turn, may become the best they can be.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Do more than is expected...
and then some (cont'd)
Lesson No 3
Keep your goals in sight —
Dream big dreams, but realize that realistic short term goals are the key to success.
Goal setting is a critical step in achieving success in your life. By setting goals, you will be able to accomplish all your tasks in a timely, organized manner. Planning out your goals can help you focus your efforts so that you can quickly reach your goals without becoming frustrated or sidetracked along the way. Goal setting can also give you the motivation you need to be successful, while building your confidence and self-esteem with every goal that you achieve. Confidence and high self-esteem will help you in life, no matter what project you undertake.
While setting your goals, make sure your specific target of performance are S.M.A.R.T., i.e. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely
Remember:
Goal setting is not about timing -- it's about decision. There's no better time than now to take control of your life. This life is not a dress rehearsal; it's the only one you've got.
Keep your goals in sight —
Dream big dreams, but realize that realistic short term goals are the key to success.
Goal setting is a critical step in achieving success in your life. By setting goals, you will be able to accomplish all your tasks in a timely, organized manner. Planning out your goals can help you focus your efforts so that you can quickly reach your goals without becoming frustrated or sidetracked along the way. Goal setting can also give you the motivation you need to be successful, while building your confidence and self-esteem with every goal that you achieve. Confidence and high self-esteem will help you in life, no matter what project you undertake.
While setting your goals, make sure your specific target of performance are S.M.A.R.T., i.e. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely
Remember:
- Make sure your goals are specific
- Choose a time frame for your goals; long or short term?
- They have to be measurable
- They need to be challenging, but achievable
- Last, but not least, make sure they are written for an unwritten goal is only a wish!
Goal setting is not about timing -- it's about decision. There's no better time than now to take control of your life. This life is not a dress rehearsal; it's the only one you've got.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Do more than is expected...
and then some (cont'd)
Lesson No 2
Respect all people —
The true measure of a person can be seen in how they treat someone who can do them absolutely no good.
How true! I remember an experience that happened to me in 1995, when I lived in Tunisia. I was working there as a representative for a wholesaler out of Montreal. After the holidays, when I went back to resume my position after spending nearly 5 weeks at home, I return to hotel where I was staying and was greeted as a Queen. I had never seen so many people be so happy to see me. From the moment I entered the dinning room, the Maître D came to wish me Happy New Year and most of the waiters followed his lead, deserting their clients as if they had seen a long lost friend. You should have seen the face of the guests in the dining room at that moment. I bet they were all wondering who I was!!
You see, my job as a rep is to make sure that my customer are always satisfied. In order to do so, I live by the "Golden Rule" which says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I have tried to live my life accordingly and it has proven to be the right decision for me. I quickly realized that the love those people showed me was a direct reflection of how I treated them for I have never seen them go out of their way like they did for me that day or for any other requests I had for them subsequently.
A week later, I was to train a new employee that was arriving in Tunisia to replace me and since it was a slow season in Hammamet, we took a rood trip to the South of the country to go and discover what our customers were experiencing. During my stay at the Abou Nawas Hotel, I had become somewhat of a well-know figure because I took the time to greet everyone. From the doorman to the Director of the hotel, I made sure that they all knew who I was. I had befriend the Director of Financial Services and when he transferred to the South, he invited me to go and visit him at the hotel in Jerba. When we arrived at the hotel I inquired about him and he came to meet us in one of the restaurant of the hotel. We sat down and talk about our holiday. I was great to catch up with him. At the end, he asked for the bill. I watched him as he signed the receipt and was surprised that he had to do so. Jokingly I said "Doesn't he know who you are?" His reply astounded me. He said "I have no need of him, so he doesn't need to know who I am!" I was floored by that reply. More than that, I was furious with him. What ensued was a long discussion about human relationship. Obviously we were not seeing eye-to-eye in this situation and I made sure he understood how I felt about his "Better than thou" attitude. When I came back to Hammamet, I was so happy to see my doorman who greeted me with a huge smile and a "Welcome back Nadia". I felt like I was coming home. What a great feeling it was for me to feel so welcome in a far way land.
Respect — everybody deserves it. Don't ever forget it!
Respect all people —
The true measure of a person can be seen in how they treat someone who can do them absolutely no good.
How true! I remember an experience that happened to me in 1995, when I lived in Tunisia. I was working there as a representative for a wholesaler out of Montreal. After the holidays, when I went back to resume my position after spending nearly 5 weeks at home, I return to hotel where I was staying and was greeted as a Queen. I had never seen so many people be so happy to see me. From the moment I entered the dinning room, the Maître D came to wish me Happy New Year and most of the waiters followed his lead, deserting their clients as if they had seen a long lost friend. You should have seen the face of the guests in the dining room at that moment. I bet they were all wondering who I was!!
You see, my job as a rep is to make sure that my customer are always satisfied. In order to do so, I live by the "Golden Rule" which says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I have tried to live my life accordingly and it has proven to be the right decision for me. I quickly realized that the love those people showed me was a direct reflection of how I treated them for I have never seen them go out of their way like they did for me that day or for any other requests I had for them subsequently.
A week later, I was to train a new employee that was arriving in Tunisia to replace me and since it was a slow season in Hammamet, we took a rood trip to the South of the country to go and discover what our customers were experiencing. During my stay at the Abou Nawas Hotel, I had become somewhat of a well-know figure because I took the time to greet everyone. From the doorman to the Director of the hotel, I made sure that they all knew who I was. I had befriend the Director of Financial Services and when he transferred to the South, he invited me to go and visit him at the hotel in Jerba. When we arrived at the hotel I inquired about him and he came to meet us in one of the restaurant of the hotel. We sat down and talk about our holiday. I was great to catch up with him. At the end, he asked for the bill. I watched him as he signed the receipt and was surprised that he had to do so. Jokingly I said "Doesn't he know who you are?" His reply astounded me. He said "I have no need of him, so he doesn't need to know who I am!" I was floored by that reply. More than that, I was furious with him. What ensued was a long discussion about human relationship. Obviously we were not seeing eye-to-eye in this situation and I made sure he understood how I felt about his "Better than thou" attitude. When I came back to Hammamet, I was so happy to see my doorman who greeted me with a huge smile and a "Welcome back Nadia". I felt like I was coming home. What a great feeling it was for me to feel so welcome in a far way land.
Respect — everybody deserves it. Don't ever forget it!
Do more than is expected...
and then some
Lesson No 1
Build relationships of trust —
Relationships are the glue that hold everything together. The quality of the relationships you build will later determine the stability of your team. By taking the time to really get to know the people you work with, you may gain a better insight on how to relate to others in a way that makes them comfortable to tell you things they usually wouldn't share with a stranger.
You would be surprise to hear what others never take the time to listen once you refrain from speaking and take the time to listen instead, intently, purposely to the person you are talking to. Don't get caught up in multitasking while prospecting — for you would then loose the ability to pick up on the clues they are dropping unconsciously for you to help them on their journey.
From a Christian perspective, I would like to add something that has changed my life forever. Somebody once gave me a magnet for my fridge that says "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" — Hebrews 13:2
My life has been tremendously blessed by angels who have touched my life and changed it forever. May your heart be open to greatness that you too may be able to receive the increase.
Build relationships of trust —
Relationships are the glue that hold everything together. The quality of the relationships you build will later determine the stability of your team. By taking the time to really get to know the people you work with, you may gain a better insight on how to relate to others in a way that makes them comfortable to tell you things they usually wouldn't share with a stranger.
You would be surprise to hear what others never take the time to listen once you refrain from speaking and take the time to listen instead, intently, purposely to the person you are talking to. Don't get caught up in multitasking while prospecting — for you would then loose the ability to pick up on the clues they are dropping unconsciously for you to help them on their journey.
From a Christian perspective, I would like to add something that has changed my life forever. Somebody once gave me a magnet for my fridge that says "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" — Hebrews 13:2
My life has been tremendously blessed by angels who have touched my life and changed it forever. May your heart be open to greatness that you too may be able to receive the increase.
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