I also met with a few ladies who are interested in getting an exhibit together for early 2010 that will be a display of photos of the Creole Nature Trail! I am very excited about this, because it's an important tourist draw for this area and I want to contribute in any way that I can! The meeting was a little premature in my opinion, in that they didn't have all of their ducks in a row yet (it was their first meeting!), but I suggested some ideas that they thought were good.
Also, I mentioned a "Ghost Hunting" exhibit in yesterday's post. I have new details that have developed since then. The exhibit is tentatively titled: "Ghosts of our Fathers." Also, after meeting with a few people about this exhibit, I have decided that we will probably host some kind of Halloween costume party / fundraiser during this exhibit, entitled "Fire and Brimstone." Let me know what you think of this in the comments, or if you have any suggestions for other events / names.
Unrelated to the museum itself (except that I watched it at my desk): After watching Gary Vaynerchuk's presentation at Big Omaha, I am beginning to question my impact on the world around me. I realize that realistically, I don't have much impact on the big wide world, or even on the nation itself, but I wonder how much influence I have on my local community. I would like to think that my social programs reach a good cross section of the population in the immediate area, but if I'm honest with myself, it's not as much as I would like.
Special programs are ok, but I want to be the guy who is remembered for something special, like Mr. Rogers, for example. I admire the way that he was able to make anyone around him feel like they were the most important person in the room. I want people around me (not just my friends, but the whole community) to know that they're unique in their own ways, and that I admire them for that. I have friends who can't compose an eloquent letter, or even speak clearly, but they can do many things that some of us can't, like fix their own vehicles, or mow their own grass. (I use these examples because I can do neither of those things very well.)
One of the ways in which I do this is by encouraging people that I know. I help with "recreation-time" during the children's program at my church, and I notice that a lot of the kids like me (or at least pretend they do) ever since I started praising them when they kick a ball, or run to a base. I make it a point to be the first to say "Wow, way to go! You really did a great job on that," or offer my hand for a high five. This is a very simple example, but I do this in every aspect of my personal life, from my job to my friendships. After a few years of doing this, I find it very hard to criticize someone publicly, except in a joking or sarcastic manner.
It is my belief that this method makes people want to perform at their best, and builds them up on the inside. More than that though, it changes YOU! I'm finding that the more I praise others, the more I see the good in myself! I could go on and on about this, but I'm not going to.
If you don't do this already, I challenge you to try using encouragement in the workplace today. Instead of telling someone they have made a mistake, praise them on the one thing they did right FIRST, then suggest the correction.
I wish this post were funnier... It turned out more serious than I wanted it to.
I will close with an advertisement I designed a while back:
I am available if you happen to need a tagline at short notice.
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