The “Three Foot Rule”

Many people think they have to have letters like “M.B.A” or “Ph.D” after their name in order to succeed.  Now, I’m not putting down higher education, but there are some very simple things that we can do to increase our chances of success.  One of them is developing a “Three Foot Rule”.

This is probably the easiest and most profitable habit you’ll ever start.  And by profitable, I don’t just mean financial profit, although that’s certainly there.  I mean happiness profit.  I mean piece of mind profit.  I mean joy profit.

Starting right now, whenever someone comes within three feet of you, smile at them.  That’s it.  Seminar over.  You may have been expecting something more complicated than that.  If you were, you, like me, were taught that life is complicated.  We were duped.

Life is easy.  Taxes are complicated.  Trigonometry is complicated.  Dealing with a jackass boss who has the leadership skills of Attila the Hun is complicated.  Life is easy.  Life just is.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to get all group hug, warm and fuzzy with you.

We all are so much more alike than different.  We want to be appreciated, respected, loved and we want to have fun.  A smile starts each of those things.  Smile at people.  Not a weird smile.  Just a sincere “I hope you’re having a nice day” kind of smile.

It may go nowhere, and that’s okay because you don’t have some ulterior motive for smiling.  You’re just acknowledging people.  Few people do this.  You’re letting people know that you’re aware that you’re sharing the same space.  You’re respecting them.

If a conversation starts, great.  If not, that’s fine, also.  Do this for the next thirty days.  And then sixty days and then ninety days.  This is a life habit that will serve you well.  I bet that if you and I reconnect a few years or a few decades down the road, we’ll be able to tell each other some amazing stories of friends we’ve made, people we’ve comforted and lives we’ve touched.  And that’s worth the small effort of a smile.

And make sure you’re doing this on Social Networking sites, also.  Take the extra second to connect with the people on the other end of your screen.  Let them know that you’re friendly.  You can’t see it through your screen, but I’m smiling at you.  We’re within three feet of each other right now.  🙂

Photo by Nicola Albertini