Ten Power Phrases for Positive People, by Rich Devos

The Omniquest book for last term was, Ten Power Phrases for Positive People, by Rich Devos featured a lot of really helpful notes about how to live better and have better interactions with people in both your professional and personal affairs. There are a lot of the phrases in this book may seem common knowledge but just because we are aware of these things, doesn’t mean that we understand their importance. For instance admitting when you are wrong and expressing sincere apologies. This may seem simple enough but one would be surprised at how often something so simple can be the reason for a breakdown of a relationship. In the business environment you truly cannot afford to miss opportunities because your pride keeps you from doing the right thing.

There was a chapter on "Saying Thank You", it seems simple enough, right? Wrong, too often we ignore the people who helps us the most, because “it’s their job” or “we’re too busy to notice them” or whatever the reason may be. I have always seen the value of saying Thank You and even a small gesture to show thanks. When I worked as an Intern at Ford Motor Company, I gave my supervisor, my co-workers and the internship program advisors thank you cards and notes. After I graduated from high school, I gave out thank you cards to all my teachers and my mentors and my family members and to just about any and everyone who has had an impact on my life. The second year of my internship with Ford I directed at ceremony to give honor and thanks to Bill Vaughn the Internship program director. I can see how doing these simple and a lot of times really inexpensive things have helped me have better relationships with people. In the book Devos states that, “People like to be thanked and they need to be thanked! The well of kindness can dry up when we fail to acknowledge the givers of gifts. Some people contribute significantly because they believe in a cause or from the goodness of their hearts. It takes relatively little in return to thank them.” I agree with that quotation, many people give because it’s in their heart to give not for recognition but for that very reason they deserve to be recognized.