This is a Virus that You WANT to Infect People With

23 Aug, 2009  No Comment

As the heading of this article suggests, I’d like to describe a brand new virus that every person on earth would benefit from being infected by.

Of course, when an individual contracts a virus, 2 things are typically true. ONE - they display nearly identical symptoms to the individual who infected them. TWO - It will not take long before they will almost certainly infect at least a hanful of others with precisely the same virus, thereby inducing them to exhibit very similar symptoms. These two characteristics of a typical virus are exactly what I’d like to discuss with you here regarding a brand new virus that could potentially “heal the world” (or at least a large part of it).

The “Paying it Forward” Bug

I would be willing to bet that you’ve likely heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once or twice. The fact that this particular phrase is so widely recognized is likely due to you having heard of or seen a movie that was released nearly 10 years ago, bringing the book “Pay it Forward” to the big screen. In the movie (and the book that preceded it), the phrase “Pay it Forward” was intended to mean that an individual should, when a good deed was done for them, pay it FORWARD to three new people, as opposed to paying it BACK.

However, this “pay it forward” idea is nowhere near new (nor was it at the time that the book was authored). It actually pre-dates even the well respected Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” with the following words:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […”> meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It’s also valuable to understand, in my opinion, that “paying it forward” shouldn’t always have to involve the giving of money or doing physical labor, although, in many cases, it does. A much simpler approach to the “pay it forward” model is described in detail on my new website WhyTheCards.com, but here is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Appreciation and Encouragement Can Make a BIG Impact

Back in the early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie was in need of a president for the newly formed United States Steel Company. To fill the important position, he decided on Charles Schwab and offered him a starting salary of $1,000,000 per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (during a period when $3,000/YEAR would have been very good pay).

According to Schwab, he was offered this incredibly lucrative salary because he was very effective in his dealings with people.

Said Schwab, “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The purpose of WhyTheCards.com is to take that powerful idea of encouragement and appreciation and apply it in a really simple manner that can quickly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of individuals and turn them into chronic encouragers, consistently looking for ingenious ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.

As Easy as Sending a Postcard

Many people would likely be amazed to discover what a significant impact a simple greeting card can have on an individual who’s just had a tremendously hard day or is wrestling with a serious personal or family tragedy - or even on a person who’s just had a really good day. For example, just a card to point out something special about their personality that really makes them stand out. Thank them for something kind they did for you or someone you know. Congratulate them on a recent success or just let them know you’ve been praying for them.

You could even send a card to suggest that you get together for coffee this Friday or to let them know not to make dinner this Sunday since you’ll be preparing it for them. Even better, use your postcard as an opportunity to encourage them to pay the good deed forward and help someone else. As illogical as it may seem, assisting someone else is often one of the best ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that should never be your primary motivation for helping).

Most people could use a reminder that they are truly special and have value. That they have gifts that not a single other person on earth has which could be used to help people. It does not matter how young or how old they are, how sick they might happen to be, how difficult their life may currently be, how many mistakes they may have made, they STILL have alot to offer, but nobody will know that unless they actually offer it. It doesn’t have to take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean the world and might be just what the doctor ordered.

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An Infectious “Disease” You WANT to Infect People With

31 Jul, 2009  No Comment

As the title of this article indicates, I’d like to describe a new virus that every individual you know would benefit from being infected by.

As you are probably already aware, when a person is infected with a virus, two things are typically true. ONE - they display nearly identical symptoms to the individual who infected them. TWO - It doesn’t take all that long before they will very likely infect numerous other people with precisely the same virus, thereby inducing them to display very similar symptoms. These two viral characteristics are exactly what I’d like to discuss with you here regarding a brand new virus that could potentially “heal the world” (or at least a large part of it).

The “Paying it Forward” Virus

You’ve likely heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once or twice. The fact that this phrase is so well known is likely due to you having seen or heard of a movie which was released nearly 10 years ago, bringing the book “Pay it Forward” to the big screen. In the movie (and the book that inspired it), the phrase “Pay it Forward” was intended to mean that a person should, when a good deed was done for them, pay it FORWARD to three new people, as opposed to paying it BACK.

Of course, this “pay it forward” idea is nowhere near new (nor was it at the time that the book was penned). It actually pre-dates even the well respected Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” with the following words:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […”> meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It’s also useful to recognize, I believe, that “paying it forward” shouldn’t always have to involve the giving of financial assistance or assisting with physical labor, although, in many cases, it does. A much simpler approach to the “pay it forward” model is explained in detail on my new site WhyTheCards.com, but below is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Encouragement & Appreciation Make a BIG Difference

Back in the early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie needed someone to head up the newly formed United States Steel Company. To fill the important position, he chose Charles Schwab and started him at a salary of ONE MILLION DOLLARS per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (during a period when a $3,000 ANNUAL salary would have been very good pay).

By Schwab’s own testimony, he was offered this tremendously lucrative salary because he was very effective in his dealings with people.

Said Schwab, “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The entire premise of WhyTheCards.com is to take that powerful idea of encouragement and appreciation and apply it in a really simple way which can quickly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of people and convert them into chronic encouragers, always looking for ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.

As Easy as Sending a Postcard

Most people would likely be surprised to discover what a powerful impact a simple postcard can have on a person who has just had a tremendously difficult day or is wrestling with a serious personal or family tragedy - or even on a friend who’s just had a really good day. For example, just a card to point out something special about their personality that really makes them stand out. Thank them for something nice they did for you or someone else. Congratulate them for a recent promotion or just tell them you’ve been praying for them.

You could even send a note to suggest that you’d like to get together for lunch this Thursday or to let them know not to make dinner this Thursday since you’ll be preparing it for them. Even better, use your postcard as a way to encourage them to pay it forward and help someone else. As illogical as it may seem, helping someone else is often one of the most effective ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that should never be your primary motivation).

Most people could stand to receive a reminder that they are truly special and have value and that they have talents that not a single other person on earth has which should be used to help people. No matter how young or how old they are, how sick they might happen to be, how stressful their life may currently be, how many screw-ups they have under their belt, they STILL have alot to offer, but nobody will know that unless they actually offer it. It doesn’t have to take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean the world and might be just what the doctor ordered.

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