A Lasting Impression.

In my life so far I've come across so many different types of people. From those who are significantly important to those who are barely known somebodies however in most cases I always seem to encounter that one individual who stands out from the crowd and leaves a lasting impression.

Here are 4 lessons we can learn from an individual who leaves a lasting impression:

1. They remember your name
Whenever you are introduced to a person, the first question you might ask is 'what is your name?'. Isn't interesting that of all the questions to ask, that is the first. To me that leads me to believe that there is something in a name that gives people a sense of identity, significance and importance. Remembering someones name gives that person permission to be themselves around you, it makes the conversation much more personal and it leaves a mark. As author Dale Carnegie states "remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language".


2. They find something to compliment you about
When I used to catch the train to and from school I always noticed a sign that said 'if you see something, say something'. It was obviously a project being undertaken to let people know how they can be involved in the fight against terrorism threats, however i think we can apply this same principle to our own lives. If you see something positive about a person, say something! It's not going to hurt to say something positive about someone, be it complimenting they're fashion sense, facial features, accomplishments etc. We often stop ourselves from saying such things but what we fail to realize is that it's the little things that no one notices that can make a persons day.


3. They show genuine interest in what you're saying
I know we've all had an experience in a conversation where we seem to be doing okay for the first half but there comes a point where we just don't know what to talk about anymore. It can be awkward, embarrassing and even damaging to the flow of conversation. The next time that happens, why not let the other person talk about what their passionate about and become genuinely interested. Quit trying to think of ways to talk about yourself and give your whole attention to them. There are a multitude of lessons you can learn from those experiences and you might even discover some new passions that you both can relate to.


4. They make it a priority to say 'bye'
In a recent conversation I had with a friend who just became a leader in youth ministry I wanted to know what that role exactly involved. It began with the usual expectations of being punctual, attending meetings and living a life of example however he then mentioned one thing to me that i was surprised about. He said that one of the expectations from his leader was that they were not allowed to leave the program/meeting without first saying bye to him. This honestly was something new to me but as i began to think about it, it made sense. When someone says bye to you it shows that they respect and honor you as a leader and that you play a significant role in their life. Saying bye shouldn't be based merely on favoritism, popularity or position but should be an area in which we treat everyone equally despite of that. Our bye should become for us a priority, not just an option.


So when it comes to your life and encountering new people for the first time, are you a person that they will forget or are you a person that will leave a lasting impression.


ps bazz