365 Days of Living the Dale Carnegie Principles
Day 41. May 5, 2011
As I walked into the office, I was very tempted to growl, grumble or at the very least mumble at anyone that dared talk to me first thing in the morning. I have too much to do and not enough time.
But as I walked to my desk I was thrown off. There was a plate on my desk… with quiche!
Apparently—the way to my heart is my stomach. (Odds are nearly all of you are aware of this detail by now). My mood lightened and I thanked my co-worker for generously making one of the world’s best quiches for me to enjoy.
The Dale Carnegie principle I applied toward my co-worker is from How to Win Friends and Influence People:
Principle 2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
The Dale Carnegie principle my co-worker employed on me is from How to Stop Worrying and Start Living:
Create happiness for others.
I sat down at my desk admiring the features of the delicious and very unexpected breakfast. It was warm—which means my co-worker had to time things just right with my arrival. It was homemade— not something that came out of a box from the freezer. It had a flaky crust, fluffy eggs and ham. Yummy! Once I considered all these points—I was able to thank my co-worker in an appropriate, sincere way.
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can ease the tension of a difficult or stressful day. Look for opportunities to do this for your coworkers and you will create a happier more productive environment. Also be aware and appreciative when people are considerate enough to do the same for you.