Write notes of encouragement

24. Write notes of encouragement.

A kind word given from the heart is always well received, and it may change the course of the person’s life, and even history. John Wesley wrote a letter to William Wilberforce four days before dying, and Wilberforce credited that letter with enabling him to endure all the failure and opposition until he finally ended the slave trade in England.

Only one out of twenty-five pieces of mail is personal correspondence, so a personal handwritten note is unique and powerful.

To apply this principle: Forget about being a perfect writer and focus on writing from the heart. Ask what you can say that will be an encouragement now as well as in the future. Take one hour today to write notes of encouragement to those who are closest and dearest to you.


From: 25 Ways to Win with People, by John Maxwell and Les Parrott.

The 30 second rule

2. The 30 second rule: Within the first 30 seconds of a conversation say something to encourage the other person.

Instead of thinking of ways to make yourself look good when you meet someone, think of ways that you can make them look good. Before you meet someone stop and think about what you know about that person and what he or she might need. Encouragement instills motivation.

To apply this principle: Forget about finding ways to make yourself look good; instead, find ways to make others look good. Ask what positive or encouraging thing you can say to each person you are going to meet today. Give everyone you meet the AAA treatment: Attention, Affirmation, and Appreciation.


From: 25 Ways to Win with People, by John Maxwell and Les Parrott.