One of the earliest memories I have of my father is
from one of the family vacations we took
together. I was about seven years old at the
time, and we were driving somewhere in the southern
United States. My brother and I were in the
back of the car, with my mom and dad in the
front. It was mid-afternoon on a hot summer
day when my dad saw an ice cream truck and pulled
over.
As my father got out of the car, he saw a group of
five young boys sitting on the curb near the
truck. Four of the five boys were eating ice
cream. I watched as my dad went over to the
boy without the ice cream and said to him,
"Would you like some ice cream? I'll buy one
for you." The boy politely told my father
that he didn't want any. Sure, it was a nice gesture
on the part of my dad. But it wasn't a big
deal, right? Well. . . actually, it was.
My father's act of kindness toward a complete
stranger was imprinted on my mind that day.
And I believe that my own conduct has been
significantly shaped by that event. My dad made a
lasting impression on me in another way as
well. You see, social or economic status meant
very little to my father.
He didn't gravitate to those with fancy
titles. He seemed just as interested in
speaking to waiters and the people who swept the
floors. He respected everyone and looked down
on nobody. And again, my dad's conduct helped
to influence the way that I deal with people to this
day.
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Here are a few things to consider if you want to
make a lasting impression and be a positive
influence on others:
1. Recognize the paradox. We don't usually
make a lasting impression when we're trying to do
so. Rather, it happens when we're just living
our lives and doing what may seem like ordinary,
everyday things. Sure, there are some who make
an enduring impact through great achievement or by
being a celebrity. But lasting impressions are
not reserved for famous people like Oprah Winfrey or
Michael Jordan.
They're available to you and me - every day, every
moment. As I look back, I can't remember a
time when my dad sat down with me and said,
"Here's how you should treat
people." I simply observed how he lived
his life. So, too, people are watching your
life, whether you realize it or not. This is
true in all the life roles you play - be it parent,
child, employee, business owner, etc.
2. Live each moment consciously. While we
can't plan those encounters or situations that will
create lasting impressions, we can be more aware of
our behavior and the potential influence it may
have. Too often, we live our lives on
"automatic pilot," that is, we do things
out of habit without realizing the effect our
actions might have on others. In many of these
instances, our behavior does not match what we
declare to be our values. For instance, you
may think that you are "open-minded" and
then catch yourself being intolerant of someone with
different viewpoints.
Starting today, right now, realize that every
interaction you have is precious. As author
Dan Millman often says, "there are no ordinary
moments." With this in mind, you can
consciously choose, for example, to be honest, kind
and to give your best efforts at all times.
So, the next time you're about to do something, ask
yourself: What action would I take right now
if I knew my behavior would have a lasting effect on
someone? This isn't about being perfect.
There will always be times when we behave in ways
that we're not proud of. Yet, as you realize
the impact of your day-to-day conduct, you'll find
yourself making different choices.
3. Appreciate the ripple effect. It's hard to
fathom the consequences of the lasting impressions
we make. When my father asked that young boy
whether he wanted some ice cream, he was affecting
me--as well as everyone who would eventually come
into contact with me--forever! Isn't that
incredible?
Yet, it's not an exaggeration. My dad's act
helped to shape my character, which in turn affects
the way that I have dealt with people in the 40
years since that event. Furthermore, the
people who I have met may have been affected and
have passed along those values to others they have
met. It's an endless cycle. Thus, there
are no small acts in this world. One simple
act can truly change the course of humanity.
In the end, you're going to make many lasting
impressions, whether you want to or not. It's up to
you whether the messages you send are positive or
negative. As you go through your day today,
give a little extra consideration to how you speak
and how you act. You just may be making an
impression that will endure for generations.
© Jeff
Keller. Jeff is the President of Attitude is
Everything, Inc. For more than 15 years, Jeff
has delivered presentations on attitude and
motivation to businesses, groups and trade
associations throughout the United States and
abroad. Jeff is also the author of the highly
acclaimed book, Attitude is Everything. For
more information, go to attitudeiseverything.com
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