More small stuff to not sweat

My last post focused on the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Here’s a few more of the book’s principles.

“Smile at strangers, look them in the eye and say hello.” Carlson says there’s a parallel between our attitude toward strangers and our overall happiness.

“In other words, it’s unusual to find a person who walks around with her head down, frowning and looking away from people, who is secretly a peaceful, joyful person,” he says.

It seems these days that most people go through life trying to avoid as many people as possible. You can take great strides toward being successful in life and in business if you’ll just make the effort to connect with people. That connection starts with eye contact and a smile.

“Become a better listener.” Carlson says effective listening goes beyond the urge to finish someone else’s sentence. “It’s being content to listen to the entire thought of someone rather than waiting impatiently for your chance to respond,” he says.

One key to business is helping other people solve their problems. The way to find out if they have a problem is to listen closely to them.

“Develop your own helping rituals.” Carlson says little acts of kindness help us remember how good it feels to be kind and helpful.

The adage is true that if you help enough other people reach their dreams, you’ll certainly reach yours. Focus on helping people whether or not it’ll help your business. As my mentor, Michael Dlouhy likes to say, “Be a mentor with a servant’s heart.”

All these principles are keys to forming relationships, which are the backbone of a strong business.

Steve DeVane

Don't sweat the small stuff in your business

One of my favorite books is “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and It’s All Small Stuff,” by Richard Carlson. I found it one day while I was browsing in a bookstore. It was one of those times when I knew I had to have it when I saw the title.

The title came from an experience Carlson had with another author, Wayne Dyer. Seems Dyer had endorsed one of Carlson’s earlier books. Carlson had told a publisher he’s ask Dyer if he’d endorse another one. He asked but never heard back from Dyer. When the book came out, Dyer’s old endorsement was on the new book.

Carlson’s agent told the publisher to pull the books off the shelf. Carlson wrote Dyer a letter of apology. In response, Dyer wrote Carlson a note saying there are two rules for living in harmony — (1) Don’t sweat the small stuff, and (2) It’s all small stuff. Dyer told Carlson to let the quote stand.

Over the years, I pick Carlson’s book up and read some when I get frazzled or uptight about something. It includes 100 chapters, each with a life principle. Here’s a few of my favorites.

Ask yourself, “Will this matter a year from now?” Carlson suggests that when you’re facing an issue consider whether it will seem as important in a year. The exercise often gives perspective, he says.

Let others have glory. Carlson says it’s enjoyable and peaceful to resist the tendency to tell something about yourself in response to someone else’s story. When you listen and ask for more information about the other person, both of you will feel more relaxed and the your need for glory will be replaced with quiet confidence.

Resist the urge to criticize. Carlson says a person who is criticized with either retreat in shame or attack in anger. Being critical accomplishes nothing and contributes to the distrust in the world, he says.

These principles can also apply to our network marketing business.

We often spend lots of time focusing on issues that won’t matter in the long run. We spin our wheels on minor issues that aren’t helping our business grow.

If we focus on helping others succeed, our business with increase because our relationships with our partners will be stronger.

By building up and not criticizing our colleagues in our business and those in other companies, we’ll become trustworthy people others will want to join.

Next time you’re frantic about some issue you’re facing, remember the two rules for living in harmony. They’re good principles for business, too.

Steve DeVane