Two types of people will not succeed: those who don’t do what is required of them and those who only do what is required of them. ~ Donald Wayne McLeod
Most of us understand that if we don’t do what is required of us we will not succeed; however, few realize that in order to truly succeed we need to do more than is required of us. This rings true in every aspect of our lives especially when it comes to building interpersonal relationships. In order to build the ties that bind we need to go above and beyond what others are willing to do. The following is a true story that shows just how easy it is to endear yourself to others.
Friends of mine had a daughter who had been critically injured in a car crash that placed her in a hospital for over four months. Roughly a month into her ordeal, after she had stabilized enough for visitors, I went in to see her. Her broken jaw was still wired shut and it was difficult to understand anything she was trying to say which made even a simple conversation very difficult. However she was adamant about pointing to the get well cards from well wishers that were hanging on her wall. With great effort she would point to each card and mumble the names of the people that had sent them. It was obvious they all meant a great deal to her. There were about 30 cards on the wall and the fact that struck me the most, as she was telling me the name of each sender by heart, was that I only heard one name twice – and it wasn’t mine.
After four weeks time thirty get well cards hung on her wall but only one person was conscientious enough to send more than one card. I did not say did not care enough to send more than one card. The fact is all the other card senders may have truly cared they just weren’t conscientious enough to show her by following up with another card. I looked around the room thinking the TV, window, blackboard, chair and walls had been and would continue to be her entire world until she was released. Who wouldn’t appreciate a continuance of cards just to break up the monotony? Who of us wouldn’t want to receive more than one card from others to let us know we are being thought of while injured and trapped in a hospital?
The lesson I learned from that experience is once is never enough. If we want to build interpersonal relationships with others, and if you are familiar with LISTEN UP at all you understand the importance of building interpersonal relationships, then we need to do more than is required of us. Of course we send that first card. We want people to know that we are thinking of them in their time of need (doing what is required of us) but how many times do we send that second, third or fourth card (doing more than is required of us). I do now.
Do you want to separate yourself from the crowd? Would you like to endear yourself to others? The next time you know of someone in the hospital send them multiple cards. Remember they are staring at the same four walls 24/7 and any connection from the outside world is more than appreciated. Believe me they see every card and they know who sent them; however, they don’t necessarily have to be in the hospital. In today’s fast paced world most surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis where the person recuperates at home.