By Zig Ziglar
“The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.” Corrie Ten Boom
I love the story told by Glen Van Ekeren in his book, The Speaker's Source Book. It was a hot, humid day in the middle of Kansas City. The eight-hour shift seemed especially long for the veteran bus driver. Suddenly, a young woman, apparently upset about something, let loose with a string of unforgettable, not to mention unrepeatable, words. The bus driver, looking in his overhead mirror, could sense everyone around her was embarrassed by the string of profanity. Still mumbling, the angry passenger began to disembark a few blocks later. As she stepped down, the bus driver calmly said, "Madam, I believe you're leaving something behind." She quickly turned and snapped, "Oh? And what is that?" "A very bad impression," the bus driver responded.
It has been generally recognized as truth that our first impression of a person is one we will hold for the longest time, and the last impression we have of that person is held almost as long. It has been said that we generally make up our mind within a matter of seconds of meeting a person as to whether or not we're going to like them or even trust them. Those few seconds are important and will affect our decisions regarding that person for a long time.
One of the best ways to make a good first impression is with a smile and a pleasant demeanor. Yes, the first and last impressions are important, but over the long haul it's trust and character that determine the length and extent of most relationships. Think about it. Make good first impressions - make good last impressions, and in between be the right kind of person. You'll collect an awful lot of friends and admirers. Take that approach and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
