It was a Sunday morning in my hotel room and as I prepared to check out I had the television playing in the background.  This morning though I wanted something specific on the tube.  It was the Hour of Power with Dr. Schuller.   I was fortunate enough to catch the last 20 minutes and the topic was The Positive Power of One.  It sounds like an algebra equation and to a certain extent it is.  In a nutshell, the message was that each and every one of us has the ability to touch one person in our lives and create or have a positive impact on them.  How we choose to influence their lives essentially is up to us.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all made an effort to have a positive impact on someone’s life?  Maybe a family member, spouse, child or perhaps a complete stranger?  Someone we don’t know and may never see again.

I believe that everyone comes into our lives for a reason and we are in other people’s lives for reasons also.  They may do or say something that will impact our life and perhaps change the course of our journey here on earth.  Sounds very deep doesn’t it?  That’s because it is.  You see, when I first heard that statement, I didn’t think this could be true.  However, I took some time and actually listed all the people in my life that have had some influence on me in some way.  Of course, the obvious ones are my parents, my relationships with men and women, schoolteachers, managers and a couple of people I considered mentors.

All these people had and still have the ability to influence people’s lives.  They did for me.  I remember meeting a gentleman at a business conference.  We connected and discussed working on several projects together.  Even though our relationship lasted only a few short months as we both ended up moving out of the area, he said something to me that changed my perspective on how I saw things in life.  It was just a saying and yet it changed my thought process from that moment on.  And I must ad that it was a positive change.  

We all have the ability to be a positive force in someone’s life.  The Positive Power of One.  It’s a catchy phrase.  We need a bumper sticker with that slogan on it.  I’m reminded of the news about a woman who was caught on video at a department store beating her child in the back seat of her car.  How sad.  Has our life become so stressed and void that we can no longer be a positive influence even on those we love especially our children?  What if she were practicing the “The Positive Power of One” theory?  Maybe that whole situation would have evolved in a different way.  Actually, I know it would have definitely happend differently … not just maybe.  Do you suppose that each of us can make a difference to someone?  Why not give it whirl as they say.  What have you got to lose?  I think you will be pleasantly surprised as to how you feel knowing that you just made a huge difference for someone in his or her life.

“The Positive Power Of One” … lets all practice it daily, weekly, monthly and before you know it…it will spread and we will see a difference.  Remember what I said earlier about the equation, if we multiply our efforts, in no time at all, we will have touched more people in a positive way than you can ever imagine.  Go for it…

What you just read I wrote back in September of 2002.  Amazing how some things never change.  I feel as though more than ever before we need to put into daily practice The Positive Power of One.  We are bombarded on a regular basis by the news media of how depressing our economy is and how things are bad and the outlook is grim.  Now more than ever we need to inspire each other to greatness.  Now more than ever we need to reach out to our neighbors and encourage them and lend a helping hand.  There is no greater joy and reward that can be had than the satisfaction we can get in knowing we just helped someone.  And if you are waiting for an invitation from someone to assist, well then you just didn’t get it.  I didn’t get it. 

Doing something as simple as opening a door or saying thank you when placing an order or being aware of a woman who is pregnant and letting her go first.  Or just conceding in an argument because sometimes our love is greater than knowing we were right.  Offering a compliment especially when it’s least expected.  Smiling for no reason at all to a complete stranger (although be careful with that one) but you get the point.    Make a difference for someone else and it will make a difference in your life.  And if we all take the initiative, one person at a time, then The Positive Power of One will be doing its job.  Let’s start right now if we haven’t already. 

Oh, and if you’re wondering what it was that I heard from a business colleague all those years ago that change my perspective on things, stay tuned, I’ll write about that in my next blog.