How Memorable Are You?

When I was looking for a topic to talk about today, and with Father’s Day just gone, this just struck a chord. How memorable are you? What do you want to be remembered for in your life? What do you do that makes a difference to other people’s lives, that when you are gone, the memory of you lives on? Memories of life and events can shape the way you act and think so how do you make sure you are remembered in a good way?

I think the best way to do that is to treat others as you would like to be treated. Always put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to have some empathy and compassion. As a person and also in business, there are 6 key things that stand out above all others:

1. Attentiveness: live in the moment and listen to what people are saying. So many times we find our minds racing ahead to what we are going to say next and we don’t actually listen to what the other person is saying. Be there, be engaged and listen carefully,….then respond.

2. Personalisation: everyone is different and everyone has different issues and circumstances that control their lives. Being aware of other people’s backgrounds, what they do for a living, how many children they have etc, make a point of finding out a bit about the people you interact with day to day. This personalises their experience and their relationship with you and makes them feel valued.

3. Recognition: give recognition where recognition is due. Praise someone for a job well done, for a great achievement, for an excellent result. So many times a feeling of failure can creep in when we see others around us doing well, but we need to recognise that their achievements are testament to their hard work and dedication. Use their great results as motivation for ourselves to do better and to get out there and kick goals.

4. Appreciation: Be grateful everyday for what you have in life. Express your gratitude to those around you and show your appreciation for the role that they play in your life. “Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you have and you will attract more good things.” The Secret. People love to be appreciated and feel that they are valued.

5. Education: commit to life-long learning. Strive to be better and learn more by reading, study something new, and undertake personal development. We can also help others by teaching them things that we know. When you were at school did you have a teacher that was memorable? Was it someone who taught you lessons (good or bad), that helped shape who you are today? Good teachers are memorable because of the world of knowledge that they open up for us, and by how they teach us with respect and commitment.

6. Value: There are many ways to add value to someone’s life and not necessarily in monetary terms. We can do this by offering support both emotionally and physically. Also by connecting with a person through honesty, trust, integrity, loyalty, consistency and respect. If you can add value to a person’s life and show them that you care, you will create a memorable experience.

I would like to think that I am making a difference. Firstly, through our music programs, encouraging a love of music and teaching children and adults how to create that music for themselves. Helping them to add value to their lives by developing a sense of community, passion for music, and giving children a purpose in life. Secondly, through my passion for Arbonne, I am educating people so that they can make informed decisions regarding the products and chemicals to which they are exposing themselves daily and helping others to create a better life that they could previously only dream of.

I sometimes feel that the difference that we make in the whole scheme of things is very small, but if I can positively affect those around me in some way, then I have made a difference and for this I will be memorable.