Skiilight Blog
Archive for October, 2008
A great list
I love lists. They’re all over the internet and quite often find themselves at the top of Digg. This one is from Megan Casey, which I found through Seth Godin’s blog. The original is here (but copied and pasted below): http://blogs.squidoo.com/squidblog/?p=276
“People online are real people.
If you send a nasty email, there’s a real human being on the other end who gets it.
If you flame in a forum, you’re wasting real people’s time.
If you spam someone, you’re really only making yourself look bad.
If you write IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS it sounds like shouting.
If you want something to happen your way, try asking instead of demanding.
If you give, you’ll probably wind up getting, too.
If you blog just to pick fights, don’t be surprised when people don’t trust you.
If you collaborate, say thanks.
If you’re independent, say no thanks.
If you like someone, tell them.
If you don’t, walk away from the computer.
If you’re giving feedback, lead with just one good thing.
If you’re getting feedback, realize that the person must care a lot to have sent it.
If you goof, apologize.
If you apologize, mean it.
If you smile, mean that too.
If you don’t like something, don’t do it.
If you do like something, spread it.
But far far more important:
Give people a break.
The break you probably deserve yourself.
People are out to do good, 99% of the time.
You probably are too.
Say thanks out loud and a lot.
Try making someone’s day.
Chances are they’ll make yours in return.”
Megan’s list seems so simple, but sometimes people forget what they learned in Kindergarten and interaction takes a nose dive. Conducting business and interacting with customers (and friends and family and so on…) in an honest an sincere way is the best way to build a brand people will want to talk about.
The learnings of our childhood, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” don’t apply to business. You’d better give them something nice to say or else they will, without a doubt, tell everyone the bad things. You never get a second chance – well you know the rest.