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The store is about to close and you can tell the cashier is exhausted after standing for eight plus hours. You hurriedly put your goods on the conveyor belt and a vivid image of your last visit comes to mind. You remember the cashier helper turning over all the goods so the bar code was easily accessible for scanning. You decide to do the same thing. As the cashier rings you up, you jokingly tell the cashier that you learned how to help her get home faster (by putting the barcodes face up.) She smiles, nods her head, and starts laughing. She says, “Thank you. This is quite helpful. It’s wonderful that more people are starting to do this.”
This simple act made two people’s lives go by easier and faster.
As you go through your day, where do you get frustrated that people don’t understand you? Where can you teach someone how to treat you?
Here are four tips to get you started:
1) Do not assume someone knows something or knows what you want.
Say exactly what you want. Never assume someone knows what you want. Clearly convey exactly what you want. If you want your salad dressing on the side and not mixed in, say so. The vast majority of people want the other person to be happy. Tell them how to do so.
2) Clearly convey expectations and deadlines.
“Expectation is the root of all heartache” – William Shakespeare
Expectations are a double-edge sword. (A) With no expectations, you will never have disappointments. Yet, (B) setting expectations too high, someone will never meet them. The key is for expectations to be mutually understood and conveyed. One way to do this is at the end of a conversation, summarize what your understanding is and confirm the path forward.
“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.” – Stephen Hawking
3) Listen.
Actively listen to what someone else is saying and talking about. Understand their intent and reasoning. If you have a different opinion, acknowledge their view and state why you think your option may have a different set of benefits.
4) Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you.
“You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.” Tony Gaskins
You’re the best role model to show others how to interact with you. Do you treat yourself with respect, appreciation, or understanding? If you don’t, how can you expect others to do the same for you?
Over the next week, pick one of these tips and implement it on a daily basis. At the end of the week, see if your interactions with others become smoother. You deserve to be treated well and so do others.
Wishing you an abundant, joyful and prosperous day!
Lora Polowczuk
Chief Energy Officer
© Priority Retreats International
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Ever had a bad day? Or, several bad days strung together? Its sucks, right? Whether it’s the jack-knifed tractor trailer causing a three hour commute home, train delays, a screaming kid on a flight or even food poisoning, these are all lackluster situations beyond your control. Yet, when you get home, you project your bad situation onto a loved one. You raise your voice, get angry, or complain as soon as you walk in the door.
Have you ever been on the receiving side of someone else’s bad day? Not fun, right?
It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to dwell on a situation that created upheaval in your life. Yet, few of us “take time to smell the roses”.
Instead of complaining or projecting your anger onto someone, ask yourself this.
What’s the opportunity in this?
A long commute may be the time needed to calm a brain that’s been overworked or overtaxed all day. It may be a time to practice some breathing techniques that calm you.
Food poisoning may be the universe telling you that your body really needs some rest.
What can you do to find the good on a bad day?
Listen for a kid’s laughter. Watch the leaves rustle in the wind. Notice beautiful flowers pop on an otherwise boring landscape.
How you choose to see the world is up to you. Today, what do you choose to see?
Wishing you an abundant, joyful and prosperous day!
Lora Polowczuk
Chief Energy Officer
© Priority Retreats International
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You never know who may walk down your path, into your life, or sit next to you at a restaurant bar. What happens if this person can connect you with exactly what you desire in your life right now? How do you respond to anyone?
First, do you even acknowledge the person sitting next to you? Or, are you so distracted by your phone that you don’t?
Here’s what I learned from meeting two extremely successful people last week:
(1) People want you to succeed! Can you clearly convey what you’re passionate about? Can you show excitement about it, and share vulnerability in what challenges you face?
By stating this, I was introduced to someone walking out of a room that could help me with the biggest challenge I currently face.
(2) Don’t be afraid to ask them a hard question. What was their biggest challenge and how did they rise above it? You may get some surprising answers. (see number 4)
(3) Highly successful people are “Go-Givers” not a “Go-Getters.” First, they give at the highest level. Then, they ask for what may help them.
(4) Highly successful people are overly prepared. Don’t walk into a situation by winging it. Take necessary steps to understand the details, be prepared in all possible situations to have the appropriate conversations. Yet, don’t be a perfectionist and waste time.
(5) Highly successful people listen and are sincere. In a conversation do you usually talk too much or can you clearly convey back to someone what you just heard?
Napoleon Hill said in his famous book, Think and Grow Rich:
“Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire.”
Be open to opportunities. You never know who you will meet one day.
Who do you choose to spend your time with? Do they raise you up to the next level in business, life and relationships?
Special Invitation: I invite you to join me on August 11-14th in Estes Park, CO to rise up to the next level. This retreat offers a small unique community with carefully selected individuals to transform your life and unlock your potential to reach the next level. Reply to this email to see if you’re a good fit.
Wishing you an abundant, joyful and prosperous day!
Lora Polowczuk
Chief Energy Officer
© Priority Retreats International
