With all the economic news, pressures, choices, decisions, problems, hassles, responsibilities, and woes in your own small business, who has time to pick up the phone and give someone else a shot in the arm?

Can you make the time to give some laughter and encouragement to some other business owner, who like yourself, is doing everything they know to “make the thing work”?

Today’s lesson is simple: Do unto others what you wish they would do for you!  You will surprise yourself with how you feel when the good deed is done.

In case your brain feels frozen or you simply have not cultivated the habit, here are some suggestions:

• Go for a walk around the block. Stop in at a local retailer and purchase anything.  Tell them THANKS for bringing this convenience to the neighborhood. 
• Go for a coffee drive and find a business you have never visited before. Go into the business. Spend 10 minutes of your time and truly pay attention and notice. What can you learn?  What do you like?  Tell someone who works there what you like.  Leave; no purchase necessary.
• Go into your Facebook account.  Find a friend you have not communicated with for months, or years!  Send them a quick email through the system.  Let them know you thought of them.  Ask them about their business or life.  Tell them one thing about yours.
• Think of someone you know in business who does a good job at what they do. Write an email, Facebook post, Twitter post, or LinkedIn recommendation.  Broadcast to a few or a thousand how much you appreciate this business and why. Include a link to their website.  (Don’t ask the recommended business for a favor in return.  Let the “good karma” work for you instead.
• Send someone a referral.
• Invite a business owner to join you at an event, networking function or lunch.

As you can see, a rocket science PHD is not required. 

Get out of yourself – Give to someone else.

You don’t need to take a lot of time. 2 min – 30 min should suffice.  But the journey out of your business challenges and into the role of the encourager, offers tremendous travel benefits only the explorer will ever know.

Harmony

PS. Need some encouragement yourself? 30 Minute Money may be just the ticket for you! Check it out.