Mental WOD 17: Sweat the Small Stuff...Sometimes

Never neglect the little things.
Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think; it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities.

You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.
—Og Mandino

Small, seemingly insignificant acts are powerful agents of change and growth. Contrary to the phrase, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” small actions do add up, say Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, authors of The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference. In fact, small actions can change careers, relationships, well-being and the impact people have on the world.

I have taken the principles and recco'd them. For the original reasons why go to THIS POST on successmagazine.com

⇒ ADD VALUE.

You are what you repeatidly do. Before you start your day, think about how you can add or do more for you, your family, health, savings, personal growth, etc..., learn something new, or improve your skills and performance. Repeat the process daily and you will reap rewards.

⇒ TAKE ONE EXTRA MINUTE.

  Whisper words of encouragement to a friend or co-worker. CALL OUT someone who is slacking. Don't leave something unfinished.

⇒ TEACH, DON’T PREACH.

  It is often said that, "More is caught then taught". Be the example by your actions, not your words.

⇒ BE 4 AGAIN.

Ask small questions. Don’t be afraid to ask why and why not. If you admire someone’s success, be nosy about why they achieved it. Ask for the specific steps they took and how they reached their goals.

⇒ ENLIST A FRIENDLY CRITIC.

  Sometimes we are so hard on ourselves that we can't truly see who we are in reality. Recruit a friend to give you an honest look at YOU. Most times you know who you really are and just need a PEP TALK.

⇒ OFFER TO DO SOMETHING EXTRA REGULARLY.

It can be as modest as giving your spouse a break by offering to walk the dog or helping a coworker get a rush project to FedEx. Once is good, often is much better. The effects can last longer than you think.

⇒ MAKE A HUMAN CONNECTION.

Whether it’s chatting with the bank teller, the woman behind you in the movie line or the person at the coffee counter, small talk is a lost art, especially when everyone is communicating by BlackBerry or Facebook. Small personal exchanges can brighten the day, help change your perspective, even spark a business deal or great love story.

⇒ MAKE SMALL IMPRESSIONS.

Look for ways to insert a positive impression, no matter how small, into every encounter. Pay a compliment, bring extra treats to the dog park, hold the elevator for the straggler in the lobby, or keep and share an extra umbrella in your office. Something I have learned through my wife is, writing thank you cards. It is such a small and POWERFUL form of GRADITUTE.

P.T.S!!!