If we all just do the little things with excellence, we’d have a lot more joy in our daily lives AND we’d get so much accomplished!

It appears that we have spawned an entire generation of people who, by and large, don’t really “get” the concept of taking pride in the little things like your word and your work.  You Boomers know what I mean, right?  Doing a good job for the sake of doing a good job.  Arriving at a meeting at 10am because you SAID you’d be there at 10am, that sort of  “little” thing.

One lesson that should be taught in every “career prep” class in the world is this:  Today, you can set yourself apart from the crowd by doing your job with a good attitude and by keeping your word.  Simple.  Build on those two basics and you’re destined for success.  Or at least you’ll have a better chance at actually keeping a job.

When you think about it, much of the demise of humanity has its roots in our failure to keep our commitments to do the little things.  Eve initially agreed to follow the rules for Garden Living, but then decided to listen to a smooth talking snake-in-the-grass.  In the brief history of our country, we see how our gradual move away from our commitment to Godly (not religious) values has resulted in what appears to be a gradual move toward the absence of any values at all.

Hold it.  This is getting too complex.

Just for kicks and giggles, take a moment to think about the little things you can do well and how they can impact the world around you.  Here’s a short list to get you going:

• Park in a space without taking up the space next to you
• Return the shopping cart to the store or at least to the corral in the parking lot
• Squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom (oops, that’s just for me)
• Acknowledge the person who serves you (in any way)
• Say  “thank you” to the person who serves you (in any way)
• Smile at the people you pass on the street
• Remember to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• Listen carefully to what a 3 year old has to say

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
Mother Teresa

Let’s pay attention to those little things.