This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
SUCCESS CARD 9: Say Yes & Give More
Say Yes
When your attitude is at its lowest is often the best time to say yes to things you've said no to before. Give yourself new challenges. Do something to distract you from your current state. You could even want to call someone back who had asked you to participate in something that you previously declined. You can change your mind without a lengthy explanation. You can say, Joe, y'know, I've reconsidered, and I would like to help you with the girls' basketball team. Do you still need an assistant coach? You can approach your boss again, Diane, last week you asked me to consider learning the new database program; is it too late to get in the class?
Here are some other activities you might want to consider saying, yes to:
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Agree to be on the board of your association.
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Try team leadership.
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Take on extra responsibilities in a new area at work.
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Babysit a neighbor's children or pets.
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Go on the company's outward-bound adventure.
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Sign up for the management class your training department offers.
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Sign up for a class in a new area of interest: art, writing, photography, and so on.
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Treat yourself to a new kind of cuisine.
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Partner with someone on a time-share basis.
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Barter your services for another's (legal help for painting a room, for example).
Give More
Swami Satchidananda, a spiritual teacher, was once asked to explain the difference between illness and wellness. To answer, he silently walked to a chalkboard and wrote the word illness and circled the i; then he wrote the word wellness and circled the we. There is a "we" in wellness. Feelings of caring, love, and connection keep us well. To avoid too much self-focus, give more. Here are some ways you could give:
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Take your kids to the zoo.
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Sign up to be a docent.
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Write a column for your school newsletter.
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Host a networking group in your home.
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Spend more time with an elderly parent.
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Volunteer for the company picnic committee.
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Donate an hour of your professional services to a worthy cause.
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Volunteer to teach an after-school children's class.
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Kathleen's Move Overhearing two co-workers talk about her ego was a wake up call for Kathleen; in official meetings everyone smiled and interacted respectfully, but obviously this was not the case in the parking lot afterward. Driving home, Kathleen decided that she was becoming too focused on money and advancement. When she sorted through her mail that evening, the inspiration came with her church newsletter. People were needed to teach tennis to underprivileged children in a summer camp program. She played tennis well, and although she had never considered herself much of a teacher, she signed up. The next month, at the two-hour training session, she made an incredible realization; for the past two hours, she hadn't thought about the week's quota once. |
A "halo effect" comes with volunteerism. Being in the right place at the right time produces unexpected positive results in other aspects of your life. More than half of all adults in the United States volunteer three to four hours a week. Of those who don't, 68 percent say they would if asked. Why wait for someone to ask you? Seek causes and groups of which you'd like to be a part. Call the chair of a committee or the organizer of an event to get started. Watch your attitude adjust accordingly.