The best part of my work is that I get to meet many different people every single day. Young and old, all sharing the same desire – to step up in life and do something positive with their gifts, abilities and passions. This isn’t one of my typical business blog pieces. This one is about life.
I am aware that many CEOs and such develop a ‘god complex’ of sorts. Where they become unapproachable; ‘untouchable’ in a sense. When I got to a certain level after almost 8 years of working as an unknown, I decided I will do things differently, and never have an aloof-tag associated with me. That means I get to meet many different people and learn from them. It does not matter what someone’s level of education is, or where they were born; everyone has experienced things that are different to what we have.
When you open your mind and choose to be a constant learner, you will progress a lot faster than if you choose to have a know-it-all attitude.
So I surround myself with different people. Whether people are selling second-hand clothes, or roasting corn by the side of the street, they all have value to add. These are people caring for their families. They have dreams and aspirations. They have goals for their children and themselves. But often we get so caught up in our day to day lives that we forget about them, not realizing that they make up the majority of our population. Our very own brothers and sisters, irrespective of color or beliefs.
We live in a world filled with negatives. Bad headlines make for great press. The worse a story, the more coverage it gets. This is sad, and we probably won’t change it. But we can try.
I saw something on Instagram where people were tagging #100HappyDays and pictures of things that made them happy. It got me thinking, what if I could make 100 people happy in 100 days. And that’s what I’ve been working on. I’ve been posting pictures on my Instagram and Twitter handles, and it’s been one of the most rewarding things I have done. Seeing someone smile because of a selfless act.
Truth is, it’s not really selfless. The joy I get from seeing a complete stranger smile beats staring at numbers all day. It has made life rewarding. And it’s not CSR or some fancy corporate title. It’s a journey of smiles; who doesn’t want that?
I have a challenge for you. Speak to people you do not normally have the time for. Find a way to make that person happy within your means, and make them smile. Then capture that moment. You do not have to post it on social media, you can keep it to yourself. But use it as a reminder that you made a stranger smile in a world filled with unpaid bills, worries, and stress.
I promise you, you’ll feel more rewarded than you can imagine.
