There are many things that we keep track of these days. Some have monetary value, some have egotistical value and some have a value that is more intrinsic. It may not gain you a reality show, an award or additional zeroes to your net worth, but the value is real none the less.
The office I worked for in San Diego had a monthly award. It was called "Super Producer". Your first award was a small plaque with a bar that hung underneath it. After that, each time you earned that award, you were given another bar to hang underneath the bar that came before it. I admit, I wanted those awards. At the time, I thought they validated my worth. I actually became the first person in my office to run out of room because the bars hung all the way down to the floor and I had to start a second row.
But now as I look back, I see that recognition really had no lasting value. But I can tell you about something that did.
One of my clients was a gruff sheriff's deputy. He was selling his house to split the proceeds in the divorce. He was the one in charge. He made the decisions. The ex wife would soon come to my office and sign whatever he had already signed and go on her way. That is until the close of escrow.
Back then, I had a portable cassette Walkman stereo with an external speaker. In it, I had a cassette tape filled with music clips. No singing, just upbeat music that would last about 35 seconds. Then it would be followed by another similar clip. Each morning, I would get to the office way before it opened, and record the voicemail on my office extension, "Hi there! This is Rocky Dickerson of Century 21 May-West Realty. Today is Sunday, June 7th. I can't get to your call right now, but if you'll leave me your name, number and complete message at the sound of the tone, I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Thanks so much for calling, make it a great day."
Yes, I would record one for each day and each had different background music. Wondering what happened to that ex wife? Let me tell you.
At the close of escrow, when she came to pick up her check, she asked to speak with me. So, we went to a private office and she told me her confession. It seems that gruff sheriff's deputy had been abusive to his wife for may years. That is why she filed for divorce. But those years of abuse took their toll. This woman now felt unworthy, and unlovable. She felt like she was a loser in life. Then, one day she called my extension when I wasn't at my desk. She got my voicemail instead. That enthusiasm of my daily message gave her hope, gave her energy and made her feel like maybe, just maybe today COULD be a great day. From that point on, she would call me every day at a time she felt that I would not be there just so that she could hear my message. For all I know, she may have done that for months or years later.
My point is this: you never know who is having a rough day. Maybe a health crisis, maybe a breakup, maybe a bill they don't know how it can be paid. That kind word that you can give them can make a world of difference.
Truth is that years later, I published a website of true life love stories and true life stories of miracles. After I published it, I ended up getting emails from all over the globe from people that told me those encouraging words helped to keep them from giving up hope or kept them from taking their own life. (That website is now at https://lvrocky.com
Today, where will you extend a compliment, a kind word, a gesture to show value in someone else? Even better? Can you find ways to make grand gestures of kindness and never even take credit for it?
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