Dec 04

It
is a truism of life--whatever we give out comes back
to us, multiplied. Which brings me back to the beginning
of this message....

In
the hurly burly of the holiday crush, if you want to
experience some genuine joy, all you need do is take
a few moments to spread some joy around yourself.

Maybe
it's time to call an old friend who needs calling. Or
to forgive what needs forgiving. To let a family member
hear some healing words. Perhaps write that note that
needs writing. Smile an accepting smile at the next
disabled person you encounter. Or maybe to just relax
in the moment with someone older who'd love your undivided
attention for a few minutes, as all living things thrive
on attention.

Of
course, you may ask, what does all this have to do with
effective marketing, the usual subject of these Bullets?

Nothing,
really.

And
everything.

As
Malcolm Forbes was fond of saying, "In all thy
getting, get understanding."

It's
vital for all of us to understand that our prospects
and customers are people, too... and people like
to connect with others who are unafraid of showing a
little humanity, of taking some time now and then to
share a laugh, feel some warmth, express some sympathy,
do a favor, help a charity, be a friend. Whatever your
product, however impressive your expertise, people will
never care how much you know until they know how much
you care.

Every
now and then, toss a few pebbles of caring into your
pond of contacts. Those ripples of friendship will spread
and unfailingly return to you in waves of appreciation
and loyalty.

Especially
at this time of year, we all need to rediscover, like
Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," the giddy
delight of perpetrating on unsuspecting humanity some
random acts of kindness, some senseless acts of joy.