What Did I Say? What Did I Do?

Last night, as I settled into bed, something remarkable occurred to me.

In the last 24 hours, three times, in three different ways, people told me how much something I did or said meant to them.

How much they appreciated me.

How much they learned from me.

How much something I said impacted them.

How much something I did mattered.

I realized in that moment how fortunate I am. Most people never get to see or hear what happened to others after something you said or did for them or to them. They never know the impact of their actions.

Here’s what I learned.

People Value My Help

We engaged in a conversation related to networking. As each attendee began to speak, I asked them to share how we know each other. Since this was our first get-together, I thought this could be a fun way for others to learn a bit about one another.

In each case, they shared not only how we know each other but also shared stories about a word of kindness or encouragement, an offer of support, an introduction, a helping hand, a story of resilience I gave them that resonated.

That was completely unexpected! They willingly offered their stories of how something I did or said (and in some cases, more than a decade ago!) made a difference in their lives.

• Helped them gain clarity to make an important decision.
• Helped them connect with other people that turned into a long-time friendship or a job.
• Helped them acknowledge that someone really does care about them.
• Helped them regain confidence and find the courage to take the next step.

My Story Inspires

I had lunch with a woman I met at a local chamber event a year ago. She reminded me of a story I shared about why I left my corporate executive role to coach, teach, write, and speak.

My story resonated with her strongly. So strongly, in fact, that it inspired her to leave her current employer and find another role in a company that values its employees more. She is thriving there!

Wisdom is Best When Shared

As I was just about to put my phone down, I heard a ping. I could not resist. I checked my phone and saw a comment on a recent LinkedIn post I made announcing my new book, Cementing Change: Cracking the Code for Communications That Work. Here’s an excerpt of his comment:

“You might be surprised how many times the folks you worked with find that the best advice they got on a topic was from you.”

This comment is from a man I did not work with often.

This comment showed just how much my work mattered.

This comment revealed that sharing my experience and wisdom made a difference.

This comment made me misty, to the point of needing to grab a tissue.

Watch What You Say and Do—It Matters

Three different situations.

Three different groups of people – long-time friends and colleagues, new acquaintances, people I interacted with only on occasion.

Three times in 24 hours.

What a gift learning about how those three interactions mattered was to me!

I realized in that moment just how grateful I am to those who shared that with me.

I realized in that moment just how blessed I am.

I immediately wrote those three situations down so I wouldn’t forget them.

As I reflected on just how meaningful hearing these accolades are to me, it reminded me to remind you that everything you do or say matters to others.

You can serve as an example of how to behave either way. You get to choose.

What will you choose today?

To your prosperity!