The golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is a well known saying. Whether you are a religious person or not, this rule, also known as the Ethic of Reciprocity, sets a standard that most people strive to follow. Simply put, we should strive to treat other people as we would wish to be treated ourselves.
According to William James, a philosopher and psychologist often times referred to as the father of American Psychology, “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” Personally, when someone pays me a complement about my work it makes me feel like the time, sweat and tears I’ve spent on the project was well worth it. Furthermore, when someone thanks me for my time, for instance, when my hair stylist thanks me for coming to her salon to get my hair cut, it not only makes me feel good … it makes me want to come back.
So, as business owners, co-workers, bosses, friends, siblings, parents, et cetera, we should all strive to make the people around us feel appreciated. It will strengthen the bonds of friendship and comradery; trust and respect; and loyalty and commitment. As skin care professionals, it is our business to make our customers feel beautiful – on the inside and out. By nature we are nurturers, and it is important that we share this gift not only with our customers but our co-workers and family as well.
Our magazine strives to provide a multitude of tools that inspire and encourage each of our readers in their endeavors. Within each issue we accomplish this through articles and columns that cover a wide range of topics; however, there are also auxiliary departments within our magazine that provide extra morsels of beneficial information. One such department is Closing Thoughts (pg. 129). This editorial section is where our readers are given the opportunity to have a voice. Each month we ask a question, and each subsequent month we provide the responses from our readers. In our May 2012 issue, we are asking the question, “How do you show appreciation to your clients, staff, family, friends, et cetera?” So, let me hear from you! How do you let your clients know you appreciate their business? How do you let your co-workers known you appreciate them? How do you let your boss know you appreciate them for more than just your paycheck? This is your chance to share your thoughts and views with your peers, so … let your voice be heard! Please e-mail me at amckay@dermascope.com; I look forward to hearing from you.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy~
Best regards,