Jun 30, 2008
Who do you influence people on a daily basis? You can’t say you have no influence. You have friends, family, co-workers and even people who you pass by on the street or in a shop. I am so blessed that I work in a field everyday of my life with the ability to change the world around me. If you know me you might be thinking that due the fact that I am professional speaker and I run a summer camp that it’s easy for me. Truth is that you are right… sort of.
I do get to get up every morning and speak to 85-150 people every day, impart some wisdom, share in great conversations and high five some brilliant young leaders. Beyond that though I try and influence people every single day everywhere I go! By influence please understand I don’t mean getting people to conform to my way of thinking. What I mean is that I want to create a positive feeling where ever I am.
It feels good. I was in a store just the other day and I was joking with the staff, we were all laughing and smiling. I didn’t know any of them personally, but we all celebrated together for a few minutes. As I was leaving with my purchase the salesperson behind the counter said…
“Thanks for making our day!”
I stopped, smiled and returned the complement…
“Thanks for adding to mine!”
You too can do this every day. How we act, talk and carry ourselves each day influences those around us every moment of our lives. So before you set out today, stop and think. Ask yourself this question (and please answer it here in the STUpendous BLOG!),
“How will I influence people in a positive way today?”
Have an influential day!
Posted by Stu Saunders in Learning and Growing Motivation on Jun 30, 2008 at 5:54 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
Comment posted on Jun 30, 2008 at 7:30 am by Hillary Newkirk (YLCC Member)
“How will I influence people in a positive way today?”
I just started training for a new job. A new job that pays well, has less hours then I’m used to, but seems to be loads of fun. I will be Chief Instructor with a team of staff to be responsible for for about six weeks. Right now all three seniors who were chosen for this position and all of our instructors are training. During this time, I am a role model for them. They look up to myself and my 2 fellow seniors for guidance on how to act, life choices and more. Today I will be a good example and show them how they can one day be in my shoes. And how they can gain experience in this field of work.
Great blog Stu, I miss you!
x Hill
Comment posted on Jun 30, 2008 at 11:10 am by Angela Cacciavillani (YLCC Guest)
People influence us on a day to day basis but we need to have the power and potential to recongize those tiny acts of kindness
You inspire and infulence me everyday
To be a better person
Not just to others but to myself
You have infulenced me in a positive way and you do it words, actions and praise and for that I thank you
A
Comment posted on Jun 30, 2008 at 11:13 am by Carolyn C (YLCC Member)
Wow, so maybe I haven’t mentioned this yet, but my new job is as a Starbucks barista in downtown Vancouver—my first “conventional” customer service job. Though it’s temporary, I love this job and I’m so glad it’s become part of my summer adventure away from home. In many ways, working at Starbucks reminds me of being a camp counsellor, but with more coffee and less paint!
One of the first big differences I noticed between working at a coffee shop and working at YLCC, however, is that there are my contact with each customer is so much briefer even than the week (at least) I got to spend with every camper.
Life is about moments: teachable moments, special moments, fleeting moments! Sometimes all it takes is one moment to change the course of someone’s day, for better or worse. This is as true at camp as everywhere else in life, but working this often fast-paced job has thrown this reality into sharp relief for me. Customer service happens in thirty seconds or less! I have just that fraction of a minute to be helpful, kind, and hopefully inspiring of the same in return. Sometimes it’s easy, when a beloved regular comes in with a smile on her face. Other times, it takes patience, ingenuity, and some old-fashioned stubbornness to crack a tough nut.
Last Friday, I worked a long and very difficult shift, with an unfortunate number of oopses along the way. Everyone, staff and customers, was just a little tense and stressed out. I was so disappointed at the end of my day because I felt like I’d been so busy being frustrated that I hadn’t put any of my genuine self into the job.
I’ve had a shift every day since Friday and every single day I have focused on enjoying myself, being positive, and sharing that with every single person who walks in the door. We’ve had other heavy days, but I haven’t gone through one of them feeling like I did that Friday. In turn, I’ve had happier customers, happier coworkers, and a happier self.
A cup of coffee may seem like a small thing, but every time I hand off a perfect latte or iced tea to someone who feels like they’ve been greeted and served like a real person, I know that I might be contributing to the best part of their day, or at least their afternoon.
This summer has taken me away from home and family (and that includes you, Stu, and all the YLCC-ers reading this!), but it’s also given me a wonderful opportunity to see how the attitude and skills I have developed with the help of camp can absolutely thrive out in the “real” world, giving me the chance to make a positive impact with every moment I encounter.
-Carolyn, the long-winded
“listen: there’s a hell of a good universe next door; let’s go”
e.e. cummings
Comment posted on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:41 am by Pamlamb (YLCC Member)
Today I will influence people by simply being positive, I will not drag my feet around camp, I will always have a smile on my face, I will offer a high five or a hug or a hi and most importantly I will show what being a member of the YLCC family is all about!
--PamLamb
Comment posted on Jul 2, 2008 at 4:22 am by Maria (YLCC Guest)
I try to smile. Sometimes when I’m deep in thought people will ask me, “Maria, what’s wrong?”—nothing! I’m just thinking and apparently I look angry when I think… So my way of positively influencing people around me is by smiling always and also by not complaining. Life is too good to complain about anything.