Adventures in Awesome Living

by Sunil Bali, Chief Energy Officer, 21-08-11

When I speak to a group, I often ask how many of them feel over-appreciated.

Despite putting the question to thousands of people over the years, I’ve yet to see a single person raise their hand.

Just before we went on holiday, my wife and I had a garden party. The subsequent texts, e-mails and phone calls – all of which were gratefully received – showed that a great time was had by all. In fact, most attendees used the phrase "great party". However, one couple’s feedback was conspicuous by its absence.

When we arrived back last week there was a hand delivered, hand written note from the couple lying on the doormat which simply said, "Thank you for being such magnificent hosts."

Great appreciators personalise their appreciation and focus on the person rather than the situation.

One of my coaching clients, a senior manager, recently wanted to reward one of his temporary administrators, Rachel, for working past midnight. At the end of the evening he thanked Rachel for going the extra mile and discovered that she had forfeited the opportunity to go to the cinema with her friends.

As they walked out of the building that night, he also discovered that Rachel was studying Journalism and Film Studies and her dream job was to become a film critic for a leading newspaper.

So rather than buy Rachel a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates, he bought her a 3 month unlimited pass to her local cinema which cost the same, but was received with a shriek of delight and the very broadest of smiles.

 

Quotes

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated - William James

People may take a job for more money, but they often leave it for more recognition - Bob Nelson

Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom - Theodore Rubin

Don’t worry when you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition - Abraham Lincoln

 

Humour

New Words

Intunition – Mentally hearing a song begin seconds before it plays on the album.

Indigestures – The half-hearted protestations you feel required to make when someone else offers to pay for the bill.

Accidue – The small pile of broken glass, metal and other debris that remains at the scene several months after a road accident.

Aquadextrous – Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes.

Frust – The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

Comeondowns – Depression resulting from knowing all the answers to a big prize game show while confined in your living room.

Alfred Hitchcook – To stab continuously at a block of frozen vegetables to make them cook faster.

Carperpetuation – The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of thread at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

To your success,

Sunil