Recently at my apparel company, Celiac Cutie, we instituted a pay-it-forward giveaway. So instead of tagging fifteen of your closest friends to secure your spot for some swag, all you had to do was tag one person. The catch was, this person had to be a positive and bigger impact on your life and you had to tell them why they make an impact in your life. That’s it!
To date, this giveaway was the most active we’ve ever done with stories pouring out like sweet chocolate sauce! And it occurred to me, the themes in these comments, for the most part, are pretty much a playbook on how to be a good friend!
Interesting Read: How to Overcome Self Doubt
How to Make an Impact in 4 Ways
So you’ve been wondering how to make an impact and influence people for the better? So here goes, four simple ways to make a great impact on the people around you, and at the same time, transform lives.
Stay positive.
The number of times this was mentioned was overwhelming. Things like, “She is always so positive” or “They can always cheer me up when I’m down” were consistently repeated. It doesn’t mean that you can’t deal with your own down days but focusing on the positive in EVERY situation has a powerful effect on how you make it through your life and how those around you do the same.
Work hard.
It seems like working hard would only benefit you but to be honest, this was one of the biggest traits mentioned. You don’t have to act like you have a perfect life. In fact, those who don’t and are real about their battles while OVERCOMING them, become a huge source of inspiration to those around them.
Offer Resources
When someone is going through something like an auto-immune disease that affects their food choices, taking the time to find a new restaurant or pick up a product for them means the world! But it’s not just applicable to your friend with Celiac – no matter what challenges your loved one has, you can simply make a huge difference by staying on the lookout for something that might make their life a little easier (bonus point for showing up with it)!
Be there.
Overwhelmingly, the number one thing entries listed was emotional support. “He’s always been there for me” and “She just listens to me when I’ve had a bad day”, showed up over and over and over. This incredibly powerful way to impact someone else’s life is simply about showing up and listening to someone else. You don’t have to solve the problem, you don’t have to share your similar experiences, you just have to take some time and do little things. In a world where our attention spans are quickly evaporating, spending time just listening seems to mean more than ever.
Go on Your Way and Change People’s Lives!
Whether you’re a copywriter by profession like me or small business owner or even a stay home Mom, you can make a positive impact in the lives of people around you. So, what are you waiting for? Go on your way and change the world!
If you want to read some of these amazing stories, head over to www.instagram.com/celiaccutie. Until then, try implementing a few of the suggestions above and don’t be surprised when someone nominates you as the person who changed their life!
