3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® MAKING OTHERS FEEL SPECIAL

Everyone wants to feel special even if they won’t admit it. The primary way to make others feel special is to acknowledge them. We like to be acknowledged for our accomplishments whether at work, in school or at home.

1. TELL THEM YOU APPRECIATE THEM. Use hand written notes or say in person that you appreciate them. Don’t expect people to be mind readers. If they deserve appreciation then tell them. If you feel it, share it. Research has shown that appreciation is more important than monetary rewards. Get in the habit of appreciating others. Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

2. AWARD THEM BY SURPRISE. Unexpectedly take them to breakfast or lunch. Throw a surprise party with family and friends. Put their picture on the lobby wall. Send flowers, a singing telegram or give a gift as a token of appreciation. Publicly acknowledge them for their accomplishments when they don’t expect it.

3.BE GENUINE. Appreciation that is not genuine will fall flat on its face. Don’t try to fake making others feel special. They will see right through it and your efforts will be counter productive.

HUG YOUR KIDS TODAY michelle nichols author of Hug Your Kids Today

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Jeffrey Benjamin speaks with Michelle Nichols author of Hug Your Kids Today: 5 Key Lessons Every Working Parent. Her book is for professional working parents with school-aged children. It focuses on five key lessons about working, parenting and life that author Michelle Nichols learned in the last 10 years since the sudden death of her son, Mark, at age 8 ½ years old from brain cancer. She challenges the idea of “work-life balance” and instead, recommends “family first and work a close second.” The lessons include the importance of hugs, seeing the positive, laughter, faith, and daily hugs. Readers have said the book made them laugh, cry and think.

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3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

The more people you know, the more opportunities you have. You have incredible access if you are networked with a good mechanic, investor, realtor, financial planner, doctor, engineer, teacher—anyone! Here are 3 habits to help increase and strengthen your personal network.

1. PICK A NETWORKING GROUP. Get involved with an organization that fits your personality. You can get involved with a civic or community organization such as The Red Cross, Humane Society, Rotary, or whatever. There are also business specific networking groups, in person or online. Choose one. Become a member. And, participate!

2. GO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION. You can just sit there among a group and wait for people to come to you, but that is not effective networking. You have to take responsibility to strike up a conversation. Remember to keep it positive and focus on the other person instead of yourself. This tool applies to all group functions whether it is a dinner social event, party or standing in line at the grocery store.

3. STAY IN TOUCH. Grab a business card or at least make sure you get their first and last name so you can record or data base who they are. You can send them “nice to meet you” cards or holiday cards, emails, phone calls or personal meetings. You can make it a point to speak with them at networking functions or eat lunch or get coffee together. There is an unlimited amount of ways to stay in touch.

TEACH YOUR KIDS LIFE LESSONS annamarie squailia author of The Hidden Swan

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Jeffrey Benjamin speaks with AnnaMarie Squailia. Author Finalist in the Children’s Educational category National Best Books of 2008. Her book, The Hidden Swan, is a tool for parents to teach their children about the many different aspects of life. Building good communication skills between a parent and child is one of the most important aspects of raising children.

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“Respect a man, and he will do the same.” John Wooden

3 REAL LIFE HABITS FOR SUCCESS ® CREATING RESPECT

We can all agree that respect is one of the building blocks of great relationships. How do we create respect with people? We can improve all of our relationships with one word: respect.

1. FOCUS ON GIVING RESPECT. The more respect you give the more you get in return. Unfortunately, we get caught in the trap of waiting for others to show respect before we give it away. Look for ways to demonstrate your respect for others throughout the day such as: listening to them, not wasting their time, complimenting their work, and being polite.

2. PROMOTE AN ATTITUDE OF EQUALITY. People who treat others as inferior imply that they themselves are superior. Everybody wants to feel valued, which means nobody likes to feel less important than another person. Acting superior communicates a poor message to your customers, coworkers, family and friends. An attitude of equality conveys respect for others, which in turn increases the probability that respect will be reciprocated.

3. DO WHAT YOU SAY. A great way to lose the respect others have for you is to do one thing and say the opposite. If you tell someone you are going to be at an appointment and you do not show, you lose respect. If you say you will handle a project but you don’t handle it, you lose respect. Match your walk with your talk.