Far
more often than any of us like to admit, our actions are driven by an inner
desire to impress other people. This
desire is often reflected in the brand name products we use, the bars and
restaurants we frequent, the houses and cars we buy and the careers we choose.
But
are name brand products, fancy bars, beach houses and BMWs really that
impressive? What about a person who
holds an elite position in a career field they dislike? Some of these things might capture our
attention for a minute or two, but they won’t hold it for long.
Why? Churchill implied that tangible possessions are not as impressive as intangible qualities.
Consider
the following questions:
· S/he
drives a European car, but can s/he truly afford it?
· S/he
owns a big house, but is it a loving household?· S/he makes a lot of money, but does s/he enjoy what s/he does for a living?
You
get the idea. Whenever the answer to
questions like these is ‘no,’ the subject who initially appeared to be
impressive no longer is.
Now
take a moment and imagine a person who loves what s/he does for a living,
smiles frequently and bleeds passion in every breath. Would s/he impress you? Would it matter that s/he wasn’t a
millionaire?
Here
are 28 dignified ways to impress everyone around you and on self-study,
yourself. If you practice these tips on
a regular basis, they won’t just impress others, they’ll help you become a
better person too.
1. Be
authentic. Be true to yourself. – Judy
Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a
second rate version of somebody else.”
Live by this statement. There is
no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes. The only shoes you can occupy are your
own. If you aren’t being yourself, you
aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing.
And ask yourself this: If you
don’t like who you really are, why should anyone else like you?
2. Care about
people. – If you don’t genuinely care about people, they won’t care about
you. The more you help others, the more
they will want to help you. Love,
compassion and kindness begets the same.
3. Make others
feel good. – People will rarely remember what you did, but they will always
remember how you made them feel.
4. Be honest and
take ownership of your actions. – Nobody likes a liar. In the long-run, the truth always reveals
itself anyway. Either you own up to your
actions or your actions will ultimately own you.
5. Smile often. –
Everyone likes the sight of a genuine smile.
Think about how you feel when a complete stranger looks into your eyes
and smiles. Suddenly they don’t seem
like a stranger anymore, do they?
6. Respect
elders. Respect minors. Respect everyone. – There are no boundaries
or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected. Treat everyone with the same level of respect
you would give to your Grandfather and the same level of patience you would
have with your younger Sister. People
will notice your kindness.
7. Call people
by their name. – People love the sight and sound of their own name. Look for their nametag at a restaurant, grocery
or drug store. Be courteous in both oral and written communication.
8. Say “Please”
and “Thank you.” – These two simple phrases make demands sound like requests,
and they inject a friendly tone into serious conversations. Using them can mean the difference between
sounding rude and sounding genuinely grateful.
9. Excel at what
you do. – I am impressed by great writers, bloggers, artists, motivational
speakers, Internet entrepreneurs, computer engineers, mothers, fathers,
athletes, even elected or appointed politicians, etc. There is only one thing they all have in
common: They excel at what they do (although some politicians, well don’t get
me started there.) There’s no point in
doing something if you aren’t going to do it right. Excel at your work. Excel at your hobbies. Develop a reputation for yourself, a
reputation for consistent excellence. It will reward you.
10. Help others
when you’re able. – Churchill was right. In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone
else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you –
something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less. Everyone values the gift of unexpected
assistance and those who supply it.
11. Put a small
personal touch on everything you do. – Think of it as branding your work. If you’re funny, add a little humor into
it. If you’re an artist, decorate it
with illustrations. Whatever you do,
customize it with a little personal touch of ‘you.’
12. Over-deliver
on all of your promises. – I usually say, “Give
100% even if you only have 80.” Some people make promises they are just
barely able to fulfill. They promise
perfection and deliver mediocrity. If you
want to boost your personal value in the eyes of others, do the exact
opposite. Slightly under sell your
capabilities so that you’re always able to over-deliver. It will seem to others like you’re habitually
going above and beyond the call of duty.
13. Get organized.
– How can you get anything accomplished if you aren’t organized? You can’t.
Make a regular habit of organizing your living space and working space.
14. Do your
research and ask clarifying questions. – Don’t be that clueless dude in the back
of the room who just nods like he knows what’s going on. Prepare yourself by doing research ahead of
time. And if something still doesn’t
make sense to you, step up and ask questions. The people involved will respect your desire
to understand the material.
15. Share
knowledge and information with others. – Be a resource to those around
you. If you have access to essential
information, don’t hoard it. Share it openly. Don’t listen to those
who only believe that information is power.
Information by itself is worthless and cannot solve
problems.
16. Be positive and focus on what is right. – Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad. It just depends on your perspective. And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should. Either you succeed or you learn something. So stay positive, appreciate the pleasant outcomes, and learn from the rest. Never a failure, always a lesson. Your positivity will rub off on everyone around you.
16. Be positive and focus on what is right. – Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad. It just depends on your perspective. And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should. Either you succeed or you learn something. So stay positive, appreciate the pleasant outcomes, and learn from the rest. Never a failure, always a lesson. Your positivity will rub off on everyone around you.
17. Listen
intently to what others have to say. – Eyes focused, ears tuned, mobile phone
off. In a world that can’t move fast
enough, someone who can find time to listen to others is always appreciated.
18. Be faithful to
your family. –It creates a healthy foundation for everything else you do.
19. Learn to
appreciate and love Mother Nature. – Those who truly appreciate and love the
natural world surrounding us typically exhibit the same high regard for all
humanity. It’s a positive way to live,
and it’s something people will notice easily.
20. Invest time,
energy and money in yourself every day. – When you invest in yourself, you can
never lose, and over time you will change the trajectory of your life. You are simply the product of what you know. The more time, energy and money you spend
acquiring pertinent knowledge, the more control you have over your life and the
more valuable you will be to everyone around you. Lifetime learning.
21. Perform random
acts of kindness on a regular basis. – Pay for a stranger’s coffee in line at
Starbucks. Buy the office receptionist
flowers just to say, “Thank you.” Help
an elderly lady with her groceries. Buy
a soldier or sailor in uniform a drink, lunch or just say “Thank you” when you
see them at the airport. There’s nothing
more rewarding than putting smiles on the faces around you.
22. Compliment
people who deserve it. – Go out of your way to personally acknowledge and
complement the people who have gone out of their way to shine. Tell their Boss. Everybody likes to hear that their efforts
are appreciated.
23. Speak clearly
and make eye contact. – Most people have a very low tolerance for dealing with
people they can’t understand. Mystery
does not fuel strong relationships and impressiveness. Also, there’s little doubt that eye contact
is one of the most captivating forms of personal communication. When executed properly, eye contact injects
closeness into human interaction.
24. Make yourself
available and approachable. – If people cannot get a hold of you, or have
trouble approaching you, they will forget about you. Your general availability and accessibility
to others is extremely important to them.
Always maintain a positive, tolerant attitude and keep an open line of
communication to those around you. Instill
it in your subordinates.
25. Be
self-sufficient. – Freedom is the greatest gift we have. Self-sufficiency is our greatest
freedom. And self-sufficiency is quite
impressive too. In the business world,
it’s one of the primary dreams that inspire people to give-up their day jobs to
pursue entrepreneurship.
26. Exploit the
resources that you do have access to. – The average person is usually
astonished when they see a physically handicap person show intense signs of
emotional happiness. How could someone
in such a restricted physical state be so happy? The answer rests in how they use the
resources they do have. Stevie Wonder
couldn’t see, so he exploited his sense of hearing into a passion for music,
and he now has 25 Grammy Awards to prove it.
27. Be a part of
something you believe in. – This could be anything. Some people take an active role in their
local volunteer fire department, some find refuge in religious faith, some join
social clubs supporting causes they believe in, and others find passion in
their careers. In each case the
psychological outcome is the same. They
engage themselves in something they strongly believe in. This engagement brings happiness and meaning
into their lives. It’s hard not to be
impressed by someone who’s passionate about what they’re doing.
28. Stand up for
your beliefs without flaunting them. – Yes, it is possible to stand up for your
beliefs without pushing them down someone else’s throat. Discuss your personal beliefs when someone
asks about them, but don’t create offensive attacks of propaganda on
unsuspecting victims. Stand firm by your
values and always keep an open mind to new information.
Of
course, the coolest thing about this list is that everything you need to
impress everyone around you is already contained within you. So listen to the wisdom of Churchill, and stop
trying to impress people with the possessions you own and start inspiring them
with who you are and how you live your life.
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