Do you believe that you can change your world? Maybe you do and maybe you don’t.
For many, myself included, trying to change your entire world is simply too much, too big, too intimidating, and seemingly almost impossible to accomplish.
But what if there was a way to influence, to nudge, and to change at least one person’s day? If you could change enough individual’s days, that would be a start, and what would that look like?
I believe we can, I believe we should, and I believe I have found a small way to do exactly that.
It is with a collection of a few words each day.
In different forms I have been sharing “a small quote of the day,” with colleagues, family, friends, and more recently with groups on LinkedIn. It has been an interesting way to connect with people, it hasn’t always been easy. Some people question why I persist, I have to admit I sometimes wonder myself; especially after spending upwards of an hour late each night finding and posting more than a dozen individual quotes. When asked, I smile and tell myself it is a way for me to stay connected to people I know and used to know, and also by posting on LinkedIn, people I have never met.
I have been doing this for more than twenty years, although my approach has changed and evolved as time passed. What grew out of a Dale Carnegie lesson on the value of a person-centered comment began very quietly and very simply.
My first quote was on an old flipchart set just outside my office; one day I wrote out a favorite simple person-centered quote to encourage a person who I knew to be going through a difficult period in their life. Everyone who worked for us walked past my office and perhaps as many as thirty people noticed the quote as they came and went.
What was interesting, the person it was directed to privately thanked me for thinking of them and said it made a big difference in their day. What surprised me was that three other people also took the time to privately thank me for thinking about them and helping their days as well.
That was a turning point.
Encouraged, I thought this would be a small way to help those people around me and maybe help change attitudes towards me. At the time, I felt I had developed a reputation for being extremely efficient, but in a cold detached way, and I knew I wanted to change that perception. Doing this very small exercise, helped teach me to listen, to watch, to learn about the people I was responsible for, and most importantly to build connections. I am aware whatever I tried to do I would have to be genuine and the quotes used would have to be person-centered. I had no idea it would resonate the way it has.
Beginning that day and each day that I worked, I tried to write a different quote. Slowly, I developed some self-guiding rules. I tried never to repeat a quote. I found it amazing the number of incredible quotes that were available from every age and every continent, from Greek philosophers to today’s writers.
Another parameter that I set was to avoid quotes that were common or frequently used. I preferred more obscure and difficult-to-find authors. As I have learned more about diversity, inclusiveness, social equity, and a sense of belonging I have tried to embrace authors and poets who embody all four of those tenets. I have found it interesting to read and learn about the writers of the quotes and have found not only their words to be inspiring but also the lives they led and the examples they set.
From the time I began using quotes at work, I never revealed to whom the quote was directed, and after that very first time, I was always struck by how so many people appreciated this little collection of words. Maybe the most rewarding theme continued to be how many people appreciated them besides the person for whom the quote was intended.
Additionally, one wonderful surprise happened on the first day I was scheduled off, a co-worker wrote their own quote in my place, and that practice continued onwards.
I would have been thrilled just to continue posting daily quotes for those people I worked with; however, a change in ownership brought a change in culture and a different vision. The new vision was less about individual contributions and was more “top-down” and increasingly the new regime did not see the value of what I was doing. At first, it was subtle discouragement and then much more blatant. One day I arrived at work only to find the whiteboard which had replaced the paper flip chart years ago had disappeared.
Despite support from my co-workers, it appeared this particular small vehicle to encourage people and build culture was dead.
Several years before the disposal of my whiteboard, one of my children was experiencing their first serious relationship breakup while they were away at university. We talked on the phone and saw each other as much as we could; however, I thought a version of my daily quotes might help remind them that they were not alone, and as before, each quote was tailored to the way they said they were feeling, these were the first time I used the phrase, “A small quote for today.”
I tried to follow the same format as I had with my co-workers and always the message was about being supportive, uplifting, and as a reminder that not only would they survive but they would thrive. I have continued to send quotes daily as they grew, and experienced more ups and downs as well, it has been more than a dozen years.
At my workspace, as a very small way of rebelling and supporting those people I worked with, I frequently added a different motivational quote to my email signatures and continued to provide in-person pep talks as well as sending private quotes via email.
Regardless of whom I send “A small quote for today,” it has sometimes become difficult to find quotes they haven’t seen before; however, I continue with the same maxim to send them an individual quote that is person-centered for them. When I have asked whether they would still like me to continue, the answer is always “Yes.”
Over time I began sending quotes to other members of my family and added a dozen or so people to the list. Some of them are former co-workers, some of them are friends; and all of them a very special people with whom I feel fortunate to remain connected, even if it is just with a few small phrases.
“A small quote for today,” evolved and grew. A few years ago, I created a website dedicated to sharing information that had been shared with me. This information was directed at small and medium-sized organizations to help with business tips at first and then it began to focus as well on the social issues that affect the owners, managers, staff, clients as well as the communities that we share.
During the pandemic, like many people, I was not working so the creation of “Tools Everyone Can Use” at https://salestrainer.blog/ became my creative outlet to help people and to impart knowledge that had been generously supplied to me and sometimes learned the hard way. Each post was limited to something the reader could use immediately, with little or no cost; and always something they could read in five minutes.
The primary focuses were to help build culture in organizations, to build connectively, and awareness of everything from how to execute a sale to addressing social issues like homelessness, mental health, and addiction; all of which touch every organization and every community.
It was also during the pandemic that I was encouraged to join LinkedIn. It was through LinkedIn that I was able to find work in the Pandemic. At first, it was a volunteer position with the United Way. While working with them my knowledge and awareness of social issues combined with my business skills to foster ways to build even more connections and collaborations. My new boss, who is a perfect example of someone who embraces the practice of disruptive leadership, actively supported and encouraged me to share daily quotes, this time on the organization’s social media site for staff.
It wasn’t long before I began to share a “Small quote for today,” on LinkedIn. While unable to provide a specific person-centered quote for anyone in particular because of the breadth of LinkedIn’s reach, I still try to connect with people using quotes about social commentary, inclusiveness, diversity, and simple motivation.
I have used a variety of hashtags, but the most common has been #simpletruths. I have tried never to waver from simple, person-centered thoughts to help each person who reads them find something of value that might just help change their day.
I will never have a large following, nor do I expect one. What I hope I can do in a small way is to make a difference for one person, one person at a time works for me.
I appreciate and am grateful to everyone who reads and occasionally comments on what I write and post. I do admit after almost twenty years, I have likely duplicated some of the quotes, but I sincerely hope that I have helped, I know doing this has helped me change my world.
Thank you,
Paul.