Tweet

The Face Of The Season

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: I think a major reason our clients hire our caroling group is just that... we get them to smile. We are, of course, cleverly entertaining and wittily amusing. But we also consider it our personal responsibility to bring the real spirit of the season to everyone we meet. And that tends to make people smile....

The Face Of The Season

If You See Someone Without A Smile, Give Them One It's Christmas every day of the year at our house. My singing friends know this, because they've been to countless rehearsals at our house, and they've seen the decorations we've left up all year long, for years on end. But it isn't just the decorations. Truth to tell, we left those up out of laziness (mine)... but decided they were also a good reminder to keep the spirit of the holidays inside us all year long.

I am lucky enough to get to spend many hours this Christmas season singing with the world's finest caroling group, The Original Dickens Carolers of Colorado. This week, I was singing for a small group of people when I was reminded of a year-round Christmas practice adopted by my fabulous wife: Get People To Smile. She takes it as a personal challenge when she meets someone with a sour disposition - she is determined to get a smile out of everyone she meets, every day. Talk about inspirational leadership!

This is not typical attorney behavior, perhaps, but she's yet to be disbarred for it.

I think a major reason our clients hire our caroling group is just that... we get them to smile. We are, of course, cleverly entertaining and wittily amusing. But we also consider it our personal responsibility to bring the real spirit of the season to everyone we meet. And that tends to make people smile.

Whatever you're doing this holiday season, don't be a grinch. You might own your own business, and you might be stressed trying to make your year-end numbers. So what? Make it your mission to get people to smile, and watch what happens to business! You might see people working on their health and vitality at the gym (okay, this might happen more after New Year's Resolutions kick in), and it's quite possible you'll see some grumpy-looking faces on the treadmills and ellipticals. Flash those folks a big smile! Not only will you feel better, you might get them to smile back... and that'll make them a tiny bit healthier. You might be doing anything at all: hopping onto the bus, walking through a store, rinsing out your mug in the company break room. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, take on the mission described by the old saying: if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.

The world is gloomy enough these days. From the wars and strife to the train wreck that is the global economy, we all have plenty of excuses to be grumpy. But let's rise above all that. Ask yourself whether you've smiled at enough people today. Really. And if you're a little behind, well, no time like the present to start catching up.

I'm smiling as I write this. It's making me feel more joyful. And isn't that what Christmas should be about?

I hope you smiled as you read this!

Related Articles
  Is Your Peak Season Right Around the Corner?
  The Spirit Of Giving
  How To Survive Tax Season
  Creating The Perfect Holiday PR Pitch: Tapping Into The Billion $ Spending Season
  Christmas Carols can help you manage holiday stress!
  2009 Hottest Christmas Gift Idea
  Your Gratitude Affects Attitude
  Mud Season. Not.
  53 Playing As One- Teambuilding NFL Style
  Autumn is Approaching - Take Rest!
  What will YOU do Differently to Succeed?
  The Law of Rhythm And Your Home-Based Business
  Use Your Off Season - How To Get Ready For The Shopping Season
  Tax Tips for the Home-based Business Owner
  Marketing Strategies: Seven Tips to Thrive This Holiday Season
  Review of Bookkeeping Practices
  Wrapping it Up!
  This Holiday Season - Heed MADD's Message
  Christmas Shoppers Is Your Site Prepared
  You Are Not Your Performance

Article Tags: entrepreneurship, health wealth and happiness, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility



Related Forum Posts
The "Young" Apprentice - I think a cool new idea for "The Apprentice" would be to have all young contestants, rather than just selling sex (e.g. Season 6 in Los Angeles) or using celebrities for ratings. Maybe every applicant for the show would have to be between the ages of 15 to 18 or 18 to 22, since there've been seasons where younger contestants have been stereotyped and discriminated against for their age and limited business inexperience (e.g. Lee Bienstock in Season 5). So why not make the stomping ground fair? Why not have an Apprentice Season where only talented youngsters fight over a job with Trump? I mean, it gets kind of boring hearing the contestants say "I'm older and have more business experience than so and so.... and that's the reason you should hire me Mr. Trump." That's a ridiculous argument because many youths are smarter and more successful than people even twice their age.
Apprentice - You're right Kevin - Season 1 was the best - but I'm a sucker for business television shows so I'll watch the next Apprentice!
LinkedIn Useless - I've been on LinkedIn for about a year and have found it useless. I've upload a few contacts and have some friends conneted to me but no business has come from it and most of the requests I made got stopped somewhere along the way. Face to face networking is the best way!
Re: What's the rule on using emoticons? - I use the Smiley Face a lot when communicating with subscribers and affiliates. So far, I don't think I've gotten into any "trouble" for it. I do, however, agree on avoiding other types as we never know how one could interpret it.
ATTN: Everybody How About . . . . . - ATTENTION EVERYBODY . . . . We should have a Evan Carmichael Networking event. Physical networking event. Belly to Belly.....In person . . .Face to face Anybody out there agree? Barry


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Your Local Small Business Online Marketing Funnel

What To Do With a Troublemaker?

Stay Employed In A Down Economy

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.