Douglas E. Lurton, who was a brilliant magazine editor helped many people succeed in business and in life. He always advised them, among other things, to make as many friends as possible. Once he even worked out a seven-day plan to win friends. He promised all who would follow it that they would not only have more friends at the end of the week, but that they would have a more pleasant week than they had ever known.
1. On the first day write a letter – write to an old friend or a new acquaintance. Make it a
friendly, chatty, personal letter.
2. On the second day smile at every acquaintance you greet on the street or at work. And try to say a few words of praise to at least one person.
3. On the third day say something kind to every close associate you see.
4. On the fourth day call up someone you have just met and would like to know better and extend an invitation to lunch.
5. On the fifth day find someone who is not very popular and pay a lot of attention to him or her.
6. On the sixth day carry on a conversation with a stranger – a waiter, a waitress, a bus driver, a cab driver or a neighbor. If possible, praise something that person has done.
7. On the seventh day encourage two people to talk about themselves. Say little about yourself. Get the others to talk.
I really suspect that if you do this seven-day plan and do parts of it continuously, you’ll meet lots of interesting people. Perhaps even a knight in shining armor.
About the Author:
Dan Miller, President of 48 Days LLC, specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.
Dan is the author of the New York Times best-selling 48 Days To The Work You Love, No More Dreaded Mondays and Wisdom Meets Passion. He has been a guest on CBS' 'The Early Show,' MSNBC's 'Hardball with Chris Mathews,' Moody MidDay Connection, and the Dave Ramsey Show. Dan has spoken at the White House Christian Fellowship, and is in high demand at national conferences speaking on aging and changes in the workplace as well as at universities and churches. Over 130,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter, his 48 Days Podcast consistently ranks in the top 3 under Careers on iTunes, and the 48Days.net business community is viewed as an example around the world for those seeking to find – or create – work they love. Book Dan to speak or check out 48 Days products at www.48Days.com.
Committed to personal priorities, Dan and his wife Joanne are approaching their 45th anniversary and have 3 world-changing children and 12 amazing grandchildren.
What does it mean to be fully alive in your work? Many of us are not yet doing what God put us here to do. Dan looks at the changing work models and outlines a plan for integrating your dreams and your passions into your daily activities. If you’ve ever buried your dreams in an attempt to be “practical” or “realistic,” Dan will show you how embracing those very dreams is the most practical way to enjoy life and achieve the success you’re looking for.
Disclaimer: Article originally appeared at 48days.com. Used with permission.
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