Looking a little deeper into the whole business of adding value, since that’s the bedrock of the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, I stumbled upon a thought about appreciation.
One of the most powerful ways you can create value for people is simply to appreciate them. Notice the things they do that make a difference, no matter how small, and point them out. Say “Thank you,” and mean it.
The word appreciate, which means “to esteem or value highly,” comes from the Latin appretiare, which means “to set a price to.” (Appraise derives from the same root.) Over the centuries it came to mean both “an expression of one’s estimate of something, usually favorable” and “to rise in value.”
Interesting: when you appreciate people, you appreciate. And when you don’t, you depreciate.
You want to increase your own worth? Appreciate.
I’m becoming increasingly aware that:
Our capacity to appreciate another, to dignify a unique soul, is directly correlated with our ability to look in the mirror with a sense of joy. To esteem another is to esteem oneself. To esteem oneself can give rise to an appreciative spirit and lasting impact in the world.
Thanks so much for all you give – from one Go-Giver to another.
WOW – Not only is John’s posting excellent (as always) . . . Dan’s is a tremendous commentary about this very important topic. Thank you for sharing, Dan. John, I think you’ve gotten something started! 🙂
Bob
Ah John and Bob – I need to introduce you to my good friend, Scott Ginsberg, aka “the nametag guy”. He and I recently chatted about “leaving people in love with themselves” and the uniqueness of people and their experiences. When you approach someone as being uniquely wonderful and set about to discover what makes them so you often reflect back to them a more valuable vision of themselves than they had before they met you. And you’ve nailed it here, John, how better to add value to a relationship than to add value to the very essence of the other person in that relationship? Scott’s blog on the subject is at https://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-are-people-changed-after-having.html. I think it will resonate with you and I hereby introduce three of the most inspirational people I know: John and Bob, meet Scott – Scott meet John and Bob. Enjoy!