Please repeat these four words out loud: "Maximum Impact....Minimal Touch" Recently one of my former students took time out of his busy schedule to share with me how understanding the meaning of those four words changed his life. I intend to lead you through a short series of action steps designed to help you put into practice this "maximum impact/minimal touch" principle for influencing others. HOW DO I DEFINE "MAXIMUM IMPACT"? I would like you to think about maximum impact this way: "The greatest help I can give to inspire, encourage or assist someone in becoming the person *I know* they can become -- in a way that doesn't kill me!" LET'S BEGIN List three people you know -- but not just anyone. These folks... *Must already listen to you -- at least to some degree. *You must enjoy them. *And, you must enjoy either helping them or growing together with them in some area of life. Write their names here --> 1. 2. 3. A QUESTION TO ASK "How could I touch one or more of these people in a small way?" And remember, keep these concepts in mind while reflecting on the answer to your question: *Inspiration *Encouragement *Assistance You could praise them for something done well, write a note, spend a moment helping them accomplish a task, or stop and listen for a while. However, allow me to add a few more ingredients to this unique recipe for influencing others. Four ingredients to be exact. 1. Fun 2. Meaningful 3. Believable 4. Simple The actions you decide to take should be fun for you, meaningful to you, believable in your eyes, and simple to accomplish. MAY THE BRAINSTORMING BEGIN List three ideas that fall within the guidelines just presented to you. 1. 2. 3. TAKE A SECOND LOOK Review your ideas. Which one of the three causes you the greatest measure of personal delight? Circle it. (Yes, right now!) SET A DATE The action you just circled: when could it take place? Month ____________________ Date ____________________ Day ____________________ THE PROVERBIAL BALL NOW RESIDES IN YOUR COURT You know what you *could* do. You know *when* you could do it. Will you pick up the ball and run with it or not? Yes or No? Circle your answer. I will assume you answered "Yes." WHAT JUST TOOK PLACE? During our short time together you decided to craft a plan for the purpose of inspiring, encouraging or assisting someone you care about. You designed a fun, meaningful, believable, and simple plan. And that, my friend, defines in very practical terms the meaning of --> "Maximum Impact....Minimal Touch" Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time Lee |