Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "One of the greatest compensations in life is that no person can help another without helping themselves." How true it is!
Mary Kay Ash was the inspirational founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Many years ago I heard her speak to a group of executives, and she told of her first sales job when she was in her early 20’s. She had been excited because she was attending her first convention, and was going to get to meet the top sales person of the company. At a reception, she made her way through the crowd, introduced herself, and asked th man to please share some of his secrets to success. And, do you know what he said…nothing. Absolutely nothing! He just walked away.
Mary Kay said it was a defining moment in her life, and she promised herself that if she ever enjoyed any success in her life, she would share it with others. Once she started her own company, she said, when she walked into a room she would pretend that everyone had a sign around their neck that said…MAKE ME FEEL IMPORTANT.
We all want to feel important, and one of the simplest acts of kindness, one of the simplest ways to make anyone feel important is to sincerely listen to what they have to say.
In my opinion, there is no real success, in any life, until they can discover the beauty of simple, random acts of kindness.
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5 users commented in " Mondays With Mac: Discover The Power of Kindness "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHaving my little story “Deliverance” published in a little book tilted “Doing Good For Goodness Sake” affirmed my philosophy:”Compassion needn’t cost anything more than the price one pays for learning how to give unconditionally.”
It was a simple act for me to extend my hand to the tired, bewildered, lost Japanese couple who had made their first trip to America. They were so grateful, so very grateful and the tin of Japanese cookies they sent me upon their return to Japan with the beautiful card that read: “We have heard of American hospitality but meeting you, it was the first time experiencing it.”
Though it’s been a few years now since I last saw the grateful Japanese couple as they boarded that cab for their ride back to their Las Vegas hotel I often think of them. And when I feel a little blue or perhaps a bit selfish I reach for the beautiful card they sent me with the “reassuring words.” Simple acts, though monumental in so many respects.
In a world that is rushed and so full of people looking for any sign of HOPE, it is very easy to get discouraged. I set out on a mission this morning to finds consisent ways to “ENCOURAGE MYSELF” along this journey. I enjoyed reading about Mary Kay. How true it is that we want to feel important. If we just display that one characteristic that Christ said will show we are Christians, LOVE, so may lives will be touched and no one will walkaway from us feeling less than important.
Thank you for sharing. I also enjoyed doing good for goodness sake, you see I have been challenged within the last 24 hours to do good for goodness sake and unconditionally, at that. Thank you so much and I appreciate this site.
I had the distinct pleasure and joy of training personally with Mary Kay Ash, and I can promise you that she lived her words of making others feel important. In a room with hundreds of other, she would take your hands in hers as she spoke to you, and her gaze never left your eyes. She was truly a legend and a pioneer and is sorely missed in the business world.
Wonderful story–it’s what it is all about!!
As a Mom, as a nurse, as a business owner, it is a story I shall keep in mind!!!
It is so truely amazing how in serving others we too infact get so much in return. When I was going through a difficult time in my life, this lifted my spirits in a way that I can’t even describe. I challenge everyone for the next week to commit to one “random act of kindness” per day. Whether it’s complimenting the cashier at the grocery store on their great service or thanking them for the smile. Picking up the tab for the car behind you at a drive-thru restaurant. Letting someone at a restaurant take the table that you have been waiting for when your name is called. Or give a gift certificate to a local restaurant to a family in need. Take a flower in to the receptionist at the doctor’s office. While none of these things are of any great significance, they might be the one thing that made that other person’s day or helped someone going through a difficult time. Let someone see The Lord’s love through you.
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