As the article title indicates, I’d like to discuss a brand new virus that every person on earth would benefit from being infected by.
Of course, when a person is infected with a virus, two things are typically true. ONE - they exhibit nearly identical symptoms to the individual who was their “infector”. TWO - It won’t take all that long before they will almost certainly infect numerous others with the exact same virus, thereby causing them to display very similar symptoms all over again. 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 “Pay it Forward” Bug
You’ve probably heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once in your life. The fact that this phrase is so widely recognized is likely due to you having heard of or seen a movie which was filmed 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 meant 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 certainly not 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” should not always have to involve the giving of money or assisting with physical labor, although, often, it does. A much simpler approach to the “pay it forward” model is explained in detail on my new website WhyTheCards.com, but below is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.
Appreciation & Encouragement Make a HUGE 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 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 an excellent wage).
By Schwab’s own testimony, he was offered this incredibly hefty 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 use that powerful idea of encouragement and appreciation and apply it in a strikingly simple way which can quickly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of people and turn them into chronic encouragers, always looking for ingenious ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.
As Simple as Sending a Postcard
The vast majority of people would probably be amazed to discover what a powerful impact a simple greeting card can have on an individual who’s 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 an exceptionally good day. For example, just a note 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 you know. Congratulate them for a recent graduation or just tell them you’ve been thinking about them.
You could even send a note to suggest that you should get together for dinner sometime soon or to encourage them not to make dinner this Friday since you’ll be preparing it for them. Even better, use your card as a way to encourage them to pay the good deed forward and help someone else. As unlikely as it may seem, assisting someone else is often one of the most effective ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that should never be your primary motivation for helping).
Many people could stand to receive a reminder that they are truly special and have value. That they have talents that not a single other person has which could be used to help people. No matter how old or young they are, how sick they might 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 need not even take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean alot and might be just what the doctor ordered.
Tags:
honest man,
infector,
knave,
new virus,
pay it forward