When you have a caring mindset, making a difference in the lives of others becomes second nature. You move from being focused on “me” to being focused on “we”.
Each of us can make a difference every day. Choose to make that difference a positive one.
Ask yourself if you did something for someone else today without expecting something in return. If the answer is yes, congratulations! Make sure you repeat that behavior tomorrow and every day after that.
If not, take a step back and think about what you can do to make a difference going forward. Commit to developing a caring mindset.
Developing a caring mindset does not have to be difficult. In fact, having a caring mindset will make your life a lot less stressful. When you are straightforward, you are honest with yourself and others.
The more truthful you are, the more successful you will be. It is easy to remember the truth. It is hard to remember a lie. Sooner or later you will get caught if you stray from the truth.
When you are thoughtful, you listen and empathize with others. Being thoughtful means being empathetic towards others, even those you may not like.
Jealousy is a waste of time. It serves no purpose other than to make you miserable. When you are thoughtful, you share the joy of someone else’s success. Trust me. There is no greater feeling.
When you are accountable, you are the one who acts. You no longer wait for someone else to step in. You think deeply and act deliberately. You avoid getting caught up in pity or negative emotions.
Being accountable means committing to being part of the solution, not the source of the problem. Your resolve will get you through any situation or challenge. Resolve means you are passionate in your commitment to solve the problem or make a change. You’re not afraid of a challenge or change together.
Straightforwardness, thoughtfulness, accountability and having resolve can turn you into a star that shines bright and stands out. In other words, be the star that makes a difference in the universe.
Remember: good enough isn’t enough.
What have you done today to make a difference at home, at work and in your community?
One of the world’s pre-eminent experts on quality and process improvements, Subir Chowdhury is the #1 international bestselling author on SIX SIGMA philosophy. Hailed by The New York Times as a “leading Quality expert,” and by Business Week as “the Quality Prophet”, he is the author of 15 books. His latest book THE DIFFERENCE: When Good Enough Isn’t Enough (Crown Business, 2017) made it to the USA Today Bestseller list as well as National Bestseller in India. In 2017, India’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur established the ‘Subir Chowdhury School of Quality and Reliability’ – the first of its kind in Asia. He is the Chairman and CEO of ASI Consulting Group and helped his clients save billions of dollars.