The Happy Jar

I just delivered a free speech. I am a great believer in free speech, but an even greater believer in paid speech. However, there are good reasons why someone like me would deliver free speeches. For instance, to support a charity or a cause I believe in. Or if the audience is full of people who hire speakers.

If you've ever spoken at a dinner or ran a workshop at a conference, you'll wince when I mention the dreaded "token of appreciation" presented to the speaker. In your head you think, "Oh no, not another T-shirt." I have my share of T-shirts, golf shirts, letter openers, books that do not interest me, sweets, ball caps, and pens. I don't need any more.

Sigh. I suppose that's the price of free speech.

Which brings me to my recent free speech, at the end of which I braced myself to face Dreaded Token. I was presented with a lovely gift bag brimming with colorful paper -- the perfect camouflage to conceal Dreaded Token until he was ready to pounce. Mercifully, Madam Group President did not make me open the bag in front of everyone.

As I was preparing to leave, I sneaked a peak inside the bag. To my surprise, there was a candy jar with dozens of tiny plastic smiley faces glued to the lid. Around the lid were foam-rubber multi-colored letters that read "Happy Guy". Wow! It was hand-made. Madam Group President took the time to craft a personal gift. How thoughtful. Dreaded Token, you have met your match. Meet Happy Jar.

If you have ever been a parent, valuing more the hand-made card your little daughter scribbles for you than any present she could buy, you know how I felt when I met Happy Jar. I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough to draw so I can feel that way more often.

In life, little things really do count. You might be tempted to dismiss them, but they are the seeds that grow up into the garden of your life. Not all little things are good, but yours can be ? if you are willing to make a small effort. Madam Group President could have handed me a T-shirt or a ball cap or leftover fruit cake from last Christmas. (Yes, I was once presented with left-over fruitcake.) But she invested her effort instead and I have something wonderful to write about today.

You can make someone's day just by making that same little effort. I sent an encouraging e-mail to lift a friend's spirits today. It worked. Those carefully chosen words brought her mood right back up. I'm sure you can guess how great that made me feel, too.

When Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the epic This Is The Place raved to me about the writing in my book, I felt on top of the world. (It's not the huge $75 royalty checks every three months that inspire authors to write.) She then raved to Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com and a dozen other book review web sites. Do I have to tell you how her little extra effort made me feel?

I know I am blessed to be surrounded by so many thoughtful people, but I also know that we reap what we sow. What are you sowing? Are you making the time to give a little extra to people around you? Are you sowing seeds of happiness in your garden of life?

With the right seeds and a little extra effort, you may find more Happy Jars in your life than Dreaded Tokens. And of course, let us not forget the magic words to keep those Happy Jars coming: "Thank you Madam Group President."

David Leonhardt is The Happy Guy. He is a motivational speaker and author of Climb Your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness. Buy the book at Amazon.com.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is The Happy Guy, and author of Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness.

Visit him at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com

David@TheHappyGuy.com

Latest News


BBC News

Gary Berntsen Thinks CIA Needs 'Leadership Not Management'
FOXNews - Jan 7, 2009
Also, the author of a new book — boy, is this timely — "Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide," Gary Berntsen ...
Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick AssociatedPress
Feinstein/Panetta: Senatorial Prerogative, "Intelligence ... Huffington Post
What Makes Someone Qualified to Serve? GovExec.com
Washington Post - San Jose Mercury News
all 2,559 news articles

Washington Post

Nuggets welcome Chauncey Billups' leadership
MLive.com, MI - 2 hours ago
But maybe most significant, he provides the kind of leadership that has catapulted the Nuggets to the top of the Northwest division standings. ...
Not just another game for Billups DetNews.com
Billups brings new attitude to Nuggets Rocky Mountain News
-- Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images NBA.com
The Canadian Press
all 369 news articles

Discover Magazine

Ford touts its leadership in in-car connectivity
CNET News, CA - 1 hour ago
During his keynote address at CES Thursday, Ford CEO Alan Mulally--along with several other Ford executives--emphasized that the car giant is interested in ...
Ford Announces Plans for Continued In-Car Connectivity Leadership ... PR Newswire (press release)
Ford Sync Upgrade Brings Turn-By-Turn Navigation, Coming To Every ... Gizmodo
Ford to globalize its SYNC technologies and services - Update RTT News
all 246 news articles

WELT ONLINE

Whatever sympathy the Hamas leadership might have deserved has ...
guardian.co.uk, UK - 17 hours ago
Whatever sympathy the Hamas leadership might have deserved has evaporated in this massive moral own goal. If this was not bad enough in itself, ...
Video: A Chance For Peace In Gaza CBS
Russian Gas, American Global Leadership, and Japanese Whalers Council on Foreign Relations
Hamas Leadership in Disarray The Weekly Standard
The Media Line - Washington Institute for Near East Policy
all 36,697 news articles

CBC.ca

Democratic leadership hurting Congress, people
Mid Columbia Tri City Herald, WA - 21 hours ago
Burris, D.-Ill. In the process, he led the Democratic caucus into a kind of parody of responsible leadership. Reid is legitimately scornful of Illinois Gov. ...
Obama honeymoon over? Gather.com
Obama eases up on economic timetable Sydney Morning Herald
Obama: No Pork In Stimulus Bill U.S. News & World Report
all 3,188 news articles

TVNZ

Jason Giambi must add leadership to his job description with Athletics
Boston Herald, United States - 21 hours ago
After years of questioning the intangible value of clubhouse leadership, generally defining it as nothing more than a productive player, Billy sees the ...
Giambi, A's ready to give it another go San Francisco Chronicle
all 770 news articles

Conference urges leadership
News-Journal.com, TX - 1 hour ago
Yordanos Refu speaks to students Thursday during the Longview International Baccalaureate Schools Youth Leadership Conference at LeTourneau University in ...
LeTourneau hosts youth leadership conference KLTV
all 2 news articles

The Southern Ledger

State Rep optimistic about change in House leadership
Azle News, TX - 16 hours ago
However it came about, the change in leadership style is something Geren is looking forward to. Straus, he noted, possesses an impressive business resume ...
Relative newcomer rises to House leadership Waxahachie Daily Light
Straus has earned the House's vote of confidence San Antonio Express
House roles may shift for South Plains legislators LubbockOnline.com
Houston Chronicle - Dallas Morning News
all 763 news articles

Missouri's senior starters figuring out leadership role
Columbia Missourian, MO - 4 hours ago
One obvious problem for the Tigers was a lack of leadership. Once Illinois sprinted ahead of Missouri, there was no one to bring the team together or help ...

World Financial Group Names Edward Mylett to Help Direct Field ...
MSNBC - Jan 7, 2009
resident and WFG Executive Vice Chairman Edward Mylett has accepted the newly created position of Director of Field Leadership. ...

Resources


    Sorry Currently Unavailable