Today is Tuesday, so this post is on personal impact.
If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I believe that powerful personal impact is a key to career and life success. You also know that I think that creating a powerful personal impact involves several things: how you dress; how you conduct yourself in social situations; common courtesies, like handwritten thank you notes; your reputation.
Today, I read a book (and yes, I did read the entire book today) called The Power of Nice by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval. Ms. Kaplan Thaler is the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of the Kaplan Thaler Group. Ms. Koval is the President of Kaplan Thaler. The Kaplan Thaler Group is one of the fastest growing advertising agencies in the US. If you know the Aflac duck, you know Kaplan Thaler’s work.
But I digress.
As I read The Power of Nice, I kept thinking “this is an amazing book. It really nails a simple, but powerful idea for building positive personal impact – and one that I have been neglecting on this blog”. Mss. (I believe this is the female equivalent of Messrs.) Kaplan Thaler and Koval end the book with these words:
- "...we hope we have been able to convince you that being kind and considerate is an equally valid – and we believe more effective -- way to get ahead rather than being selfish and cutthroat. So given that, why not take the nice route? Not only will it take you further in your career and in your life, but you’ll feel better about yourself…If you act with integrity, compassion and class…you will know, in your core, that you are a valuable and worthwhile person who can help change the world, one nice action at a time…If you take anything away from this book, we hope it’s the realization that there is untapped potential in even the smallest good deed, and that it can have a multiplier effect strong enough to change the world. Yes, a random act of kindness can help you become wealthier, healthier, and wiser. But, most of all, it will make you happier.”
Well said, Ms. Kaplan Thaler and Ms. Koval. Bravo.
There is tremendous power in just being nice. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Last Saturday, in preparation for the Spring season, I was part of a team conducting a clinic for high school rugby coaches, parents and student leaders. High school rugby is a club sport. Therefore, coaches have some recruiting problems that coaches of varsity sports do not have. In one of the brainstorming sessions on how to work with school administrators, one of the coaches said “make friends with the secretaries of the school Principal and the Athletic Director and Student Club Directors”. This prompted a reply from me that went something like this “Great idea. I always build strong relationships with administrative support staff. They're gatekeepers. I remember their names, and always chat with them for a few minutes whenever I call or visit one of my clients”.
I’m nice to administrative people – not because it helps me get what I want (it does), but because I like myself better for being nice.
This is the type of behavior Ms. Kaplan Thaler and Ms. Koval advocate in The Power of Nice. If you’re interested in improving your personal impact, get this 119 page, 10 chapter book. Read it, study it, carry it with you. More importantly, use the ideas that these two successful women suggest. You’ll be glad you did. I promise.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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