Russ Dalbey's Blog

One of my managers really surprised me the other day. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so floored, but I was.

He shared some great ideas with me that are so simple yet so valuable, I’m shocked by how powerful they were. I’ll share with you what Jed, one of my department managers, came up with in just a minute.

As you probably know, I’m not a college graduate with all sorts of higher education and graduate degrees. I’m more of a “school of hard knocks” kind of guy. While I can say I’m very fortunate to be successful now, I’ve definitely suffered some ups and downs in the past, and I’ve learned lots of practical “know-how” in both corporate and personal life along the way.

Learning the note business from the ground up and building the Dalbey Education Institute has forced me to learn many practical life lessons.

And, I’m sad to admit – I’m no spring chicken anymore. It’s been a while since anyone’s asked me for my ID before serving me a glass of wine! Just being around for a few decades has a way of building wisdom and knowledge too.

But sometimes, because our hectic lifestyles has us so distracted with “the important stuff,” we need a little reminder on the things we already know in our hearts – for someone to point out the obvious. If you’re like me, you’re constantly running around, trying to get four things done at once. No wonder it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture.

That’s why I think what Jed expressed to me and the other employees at our company is so powerful. Take a look at this easy list of tips for happiness and success, and see if some – if not all! – of his suggestions couldn’t immediately make your life better.

—–Original Message—–

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 5:05 PM
Subject: Read if you’d like…

Life has been pretty good to me lately. I love my work, I have the greatest group of friends, and I am in good health.

In that, I thought I would share some of the things that have truly helped me get to where I am today. Some are simple, some are obvious, but I think they are all worth keeping in mind each day.

1. Smile as much as you can. It makes you more approachable, it improves your self-confidence, and it just generally makes you feel better.

2. Never settle! It can be scary to give up something that is “good enough” to try something better, but in my opinion, the potential regret of never trying is the scariest of all.

3. When people ask how you are, don’t say, "fine," "all right", or "OK." Say something really upbeat like "always well!” "I couldn’t be better" or even "super fantastic!" You will be surprised at how this simple thing makes a huge positive effect on how people respond to and perceive you.

4. Never pass up an opportunity to make someone’s day a little brighter. It often takes such little effort, but it can truly make someone’s day.

5. Be as generous as you can be. One way or another, it will come back to you ten-fold.

6. Dress for success. Always over-dress before you under-dress. It will change the way both others perceive you, as well as the way you perceive yourself.

7. Be honest, and be ethical. This is the best way to win over friends, colleagues, clients, and anyone that you come across. What it all boils down to is that all relationships – personal and business – are about trust and respect.

8. Exercise and drink lots of water. You will feel better, you will have more energy, and you will need less sleep each day, effectively giving you more time in each day!

9. When you appreciate something someone has done for you, let them know. Don’t assume they know you are grateful for their assistance! It will make them more inclined to do it again in the future, and it will create or strengthen your bond with that person.

10. Try to learn something new each day. Maybe it’s just a new word, maybe it’s a fact about an old friend, or maybe it’s just something you never noticed before.

What do you think?

There’s nothing there that costs a lot of money to do, or will take a huge commitment to pull off. These are things that all of us can take to heart to improve our lives, in business or in our personal relationships – starting right NOW.

One last thought – the tip that Jed put on his list last is possibly the best one.

Remember at the beginning of this blog, I said, “one of my employees surprised me”? Well, I think I was so taken aback because I’d momentarily forgotten that anyone – even someone many years younger than me – can teach me something new or useful. And considering I’m in the business of helping to educate and teach people every day, it was a particularly appropriate and eye-opening lesson for me.

So Jed gets my sincere appreciation (#9!) for his help in making clear what is really important. Thanks again my friend – and I’m sure everyone else who reads this will thank you too (#5!).

Warmly,

Russ
Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
The Dalbey Education Institute

Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business