Another Service Thursday

Welcome back to Service Thursday.

Today’s challenge is both simple and easy.

Let me tell you what I experienced yesterday – quite by accident.

There’s a lady in my office I only see from time to time. We’ll call her Heather.

Heather started working with our company about 5 months ago. The woman is a professional at customer service, and always dresses really nice.

I was walking down the row of cubicles where she sits, and I walked right past her. I stopped, and backed up.

“Heather,” I said, “did you change your hair?”

She smiled demurely and nodded.

“I love it! It looks really good on you like that!”

I continued on.

Not long after, I got an IM from one of her teammates telling me that Heather was on cloud nine. All because I happened to notice something she had changed.

But, like I said, she always dresses nice, and all she had done was try on a new hairstyle. It was almost an accident that I happened to pass by and notice.

It was that – the fact that I noticed what she’d changed – that put her over the moon.

The compliment was sincere, and she accepted it as such. She knew I wasn’t being facetious, sarcastic or saying something nice “just because”.

Sincerety goes a long, long way.

When Heather left for the day, she came and found me and she was still beaming. She thanked me for noticing, and said my comment made her day.

Here’s your challenge:

Find two or three people today who you normally don’t interact with and give them a sincere compliment.

Remember, sincerity is the key. You don’t want people thinking you’re shallow or sarcastic. If you compliment someone on something you genuinely don’t like, they’ll know. That’s not the goal.

Be sincere and they’ll feel the sincerity of the words you speak, because there will be real sincere feelings behind them.

Now that you know the challenge, go and do.

Go be nice to a few folks (not that you’re not already nice – I know you are).

Is there someone who has accomplished something you admire?

Is there someone who does what they do with exceptional kindness or efficiency?

Is there someone who has helped you or someone else through a difficult time or situation?

Remember the people who don’t get much attention.

The harried barrister at your favorite coffee shop.

The janitor who cleans up after you.

The person who has the thankless job of delivering your mail.

You know who I’m talking about.

Have fun with it, but do it.

Today.

And as always, I’m asking you to pass it on.

Digg this. Stumble this. Link this. Post this.

But wait until after you’ve completed your challenge.

James

It's Service Thursday!

Welcome to Service Thursday

Do you want to feel good today? I don't mean, "I got my espresso and cinabun so it's gonna be a productive day" good. I'm talking about the kind of feeling that makes you feel as though you've made a difference. The kind of inner-peace that comes from knowing you have a real honest-to-goodness purpose in life.

I'm talking about the feeling that comes from serving someone else.

Today, September 18, 2008, marks the first Service Thursday.

It's a pretty simple concept, really - a "bite sized" idea if you will.

All I'm asking you to do is find one person, family or organization and do something nice for them today.

You can smile at someone who you can tell has just had it with life. You can be their shoulder to cry on; their sounding board.

You don't have to solve their problems (though you know you would if you could). Sometimes it just helps to have someone hear you out.

Be that person.

Or, you can stop and ask a "street person" if they would like lunch. You don't have to spend a lot of money, maybe five, six bucks. Get them a dollar burger and a soda. How about a sandwich? Maybe you can intersperse some encouraging words when you take their order. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover that in their history, you share something in common.

Be the one who makes their life just a little easier.

Or, after you load your own groceries in the car, you can hang around for a few minutes just to see if someone else has a load they're having a hard time with. Ask them if they would like help. They may say no. They may be suspicious of your motives. That's okay. Smile if your offer is declined. Move on and find someone else.

Be the person who at least offered to help.

You get the idea.

One of my very favorite quotes comes from an ancient wise leader named King Benjamin.

He said: "When you are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of your God."

I take that to heart.

Service projects don't have to be weildly and time consuming. Sometimes, people just need to know they're not alone in the world. They need to know someone cares and is interested in their humanity.

Be that person.

And, remember, Service is the Action Form of Love!

James