“Goodwill is the only asset that competition cannot undersell or destroy.”

Marshall Field

We’ve all been in a position, whether at work, on the field of play, or at a social event where we witnessed someone on the receiving end of ill-will, coldness, antipathy or even open hostility. (Especially when things don’t go the way that person wants.) Or how about when someone was constantly taking inventory of all of your faults?  Ask yourself this, how did those things make you feel?  Were there any lasting or residual effects?

I know none of us have ever done those things to others (hah!), but maybe you’re related to someone who has (don’t point).  We all know that we should treat others as we want to be treated, but maybe someone likes being berated and therefore berates others.  Not very likely, but ask this question, “Will that person ever reach Peak Performance?”  I don’t know, but I do know that we should shower those around us with LOVE & GOODWILL, whenever possible, for purely selfish reasons.

What!? Yes, that’s right.  No matter how you phrase the law of planting and harvesting, it’s still a law, and it’ll take you out if you are on the wrong side of it.  I’ve heard it said, “You reap what you sow!”; “What comes around, goes around!” and my all-time favorite, “The Karma bus might run slow, but it always makes all the stops!”  However it’s phrased, it’s a law, just as sure as the law of gravity.

Today, whenever you come across someone that drives you nuts, instead of taking inventory of all their faults, take out a piece of paper and start a list of everything good about that person.  Once you’ve written down, “they have nice shoes”, continue the list by writing down the exact opposite of those faults that drive you nuts, and begin to compliment that person on displaying those good things, even if they aren’t…..yet.  As Dale Carnegie used to say, “Give a person a compliment that they have to live up to, and they usually will.”

Love & Goodwill, or simple courtesy & kindness, cost you nothing but pay huge dividends.  There is no better investment out there based on the ROI (return on investment).

Boo Yah!