David J. Pollay's Blog

Monday Morning Momentum™ - Be a Day Starter™

Monday, May 12, 2008
Click here for an introduction to Monday Morning Momentum.

Be a Day Starter™
This week’s focus: At home

My wife, Dawn, usually wakes up before I do. Sometimes she wakes up by alarm, and other times by the gentle tugging of one of our two little girls, Eliana (5) and Ariela (4). Then around 6:30a.m., it’s my turn. This is how I wake up: Dawn hugs me and whispers good morning until I wake up. It’s a beautiful way to begin a day; I am loved awake. Dawn starts my day.

And then I continue the cycle. I step out of bed and head upstairs to my little girls’ rooms. I quietly walk into their bedrooms and wake them up with a big hug. It is one of my favorite parts of the day. I start their day.

How do you wake up in the morning? What is your first interaction of the day? What do you do and say when you first see someone in the morning?

Be A Day Starter in Your Family

If you’re not already beginning your day as warmly and positively as you can, be a Day Starter for one week: When you wake up in the morning express your love with your words and your actions.

If you normally complain right after you get up, express your love first. If you have to begin your day with a cup of coffee in the morning, do it after you have hugged and kissed everyone (And if you don’t normally hug and kiss your family, let me know what impact it has on your life when you do.). Suspend your normal wake-up habits for one week. Be a Day Starter at home.

Be A Day Starter with Your Roommates

If you live with roommates, be the first to greet everyone. Be the first to smile. Make the coffee. Offer to make their breakfast when you make yours. Demonstrate your interest in them. Start their day.

Be A Day Starter if You Live Alone

And if you live alone, call someone you care about. Email a kind note to a friend. Exercise with friends, or grab a cup of coffee with them. Start someone’s day.

Invite Your Family and Friends to Join You

And if you want your family or friends to join you on your journey, send this post along to them.

Have a great week, and let me know how it goes.

Monday Morning Momentum™

Welcome to Monday Morning Momentum!

Each Monday I lay out a simple momentum plan for you to follow: I help you focus on one thing each week that will increase your momentum in your career, business, and life.

Momentum makes life better.™

Thanks for being here.

David J. Pollay

What Does Your Badge Say?

Last year I was shopping in an office supply store.  I stepped up to the check-out counter when it was my turn to pay.  The clerk behind the cash register was wearing a name badge that said, “Dane.”  And below his name read, “In Training.”

I said, “Dane, how’s your training going?”  He stopped.  He looked to his left.  He looked to his right.  Then he leaned into me and said, “I’m not actually in training anymore.” 

I started laughing!  “What?!,” I said.  “Then why are you wearing a badge that says, “In Training?!”  Here’s what he said:  “When I was in training I learned a lot more, and people were friendlier to me.” 

As I left the store and slowly walked out to my car I thought, “He’s right.  You do learn more and people are friendlier to you when you’re in training.”  Here’s why.

When you declare to the world that you are in training and that you want to learn, you become a student.  And when you tell the world that you are a student, people want to help you.  They want to teach you.  You are essentially telling other people that they have strengths, knowledge, skills, and experience that you believe are valuable and that you appreciate. 

So now I think of Dane when I catch myself acting as if I “know” something.  Rather than prove what I know to everyone, I listen and try to see what I can learn. 

People want to help people who want to learn.  So now I say to myself when I head out from home, “David, are you wearing your ‘In Training’ badge today?”

How about you?  What does your badge say?