Personal Develpoment Newsletter
How do you encourage?
What style do you use?
Here is one we often overlook.
At home, our lights went out!
Georgia Power had turned off our electricity!
My office phone rang.
My wife, Oleta was on the phone and … very upset!
“Didn’t you pay the light bill?” … she demanded.
I was stalling paying the Georgia Power Company bill because my income was not adequate to meet all of our financial obligations.
In 1964, when I went in business for myself as a commercial kitchen design consultant, we got off to a good start. My contacts were plentiful, and I had enough business to meet our financial needs.
But, after a while, I was running out of contacts …
and out of enough work to do …
and out of enough income to pay our bills!
My income declined so much it was not adequate to meet our obligations and many of our debts were over-due.
After Oleta’s call, I spent that morning figuring out how to get enough money together to pay the bill and …
I got the lights turned back on.
Then … I went home for lunch.
As we sat at the table, Oleta said,
“You have got to do something about this.”
“I’m trying … I just haven’t been able to find any new business.” I told her.
She said,
“There must be business … somewhere.”
I replied, “There is some new construction activity over in Mississippi. Maybe I could find something there.”
She said,
“Then what are you doing here!” …
got up from the table and left the kitchen.
In a few minutes Oleta came back with a suitcase …
a large suitcase … set it down and said …
“Come home when you get some business!”
When I came home, I had two new contracts to design kitchens for a hospital in Alabama and a country club in Mississippi.
And, I had a country club deposit check in my pocket!
Encourage One Another!
Oleta had done it again!
For 69 years, I have enjoyed the benefit of living with …
the world’s most wonderful encourager!
She knows how to encourage me, no matter what kind of encouragement I need.
Sometimes her encouragement is a pat on my back.
Other times it is a hug around my neck.
And, occasionally it’s …
a kick in the seat of my pants.
Everyone needs encouragement.
Anyone can be an encourager.
You can be an encourager!
Be wise.
Use the encouragement that fits the person’s situation.
Do it!
Encourage One Another!
--- Jimmy Collins
Like stories? My latest book Jimmy’s Stories is available on Biblio.com.
Career advancement principles are in my book, Creative Followership® also available on Biblio.com.
#encourage #leadership #followership
Resilience Motivational Speaker 20+ Years | I Help Leadership Teams Boost Morale & Zap Burnout | Trusted by Fortune 500, Including Coca-Cola, AT&T, Aflac, & Blue Cross Blue Shield.
4moWhat a powerful story! We all need an Oleta in our lives - someone who gives us that honest push forward. A little encouragement goes a long way. It's not just about getting kicked in the pants. It's about the chain reaction that follows. The reality is, we need people who will tell us the truth without sugar-coating it. The challenge is when you are in a leadership position, people often hesitate to be candid. Sure, your significant other might tell it like it is. But others tend to hold back. Kudos to you Oleta!