Friends

I've realized in the last few days what a blessing friends are. I've also realized that they are in greater abundance than I really thought.

Isn't it amazing how we plod along in life, sometimes feeling like we are on our own, journeying alone, and then someone enters our journey and says something or does something, even something really small and of little significance to them, yet has great impact to you?

In my classes I often refer to Moments of Truth, a phrase coined by Jan Carlsson of SAS Airlines. It essentially means that every moment we have with other human beings is an opportunity to create impact; to have meaning; to affect someone: it's a Moment of Truth. From a business perspective it is creating a scorecard. When you deal with someone, or meet them for the first time we evaluate the interaction based on what we see, hear and intuitively feel. (Yes, I know, there's no place for intuition in business.. NOT!). We create a positive, negative or neutral Moment of Truth based on our interaction. And we then react to them based on that.

So think about this: In the last day what interactions have you had? How did you greet and interact with each of these people? What impact did it have on them? We so often underestimate the impact of what we do. Is there someone you know could use a positive Moment of Truth right now? Take action on it. These acts of kindness, no matter how small it may seem to you have huge impact.

And remember those acts of kindness others have shared with you.

A friend told me that she looks forward to my emails. Quite honestly that floored me. Maybe in some little way this has some impact on you. Anyway, she inspired me to get back to the computer, and I'm thankful for that.

So, dear friends, I hope this creates a positive Moment of Truth for you.

Always know you are loved and cared about, and there is always a friend only a phone call away..

Anne Rose
June 2004