What A Wonderful World

Lucky (Part 5)

There is a road that I drive frequently that is nearly magical as spring comes into full bloom. The leaves of green beginning to pop, buds on dogwood trees swollen and near ready, not to mention azaleas starting to show color in yards, pansies in full bloom, all punctuated by bright yellow daffodils. The skies are often cloudless, an almost surreal blue creating a background for nature’s canvas. This road changes my mood and perspective with awe at the wonders of the world that surround us each day.

I love spring, not just for the beautiful colors Mother Nature delivers from her palette but, perhaps even more, because people begin coming out of hibernation. Not just for protection from the cold but as the earth warms and flowers bloom, it seems that spirits and optimism do too. The greetings seem more spontaneous, from the friendly wave to stopping for a minute to chat and exchange a few pleasantries.

The song made famous by Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World” comes to mind. The lyrics are simple and remind us that beauty, and how wonderful our world is, are certainly in the eye of the beholder. We choose the road we drive to work and whether or not we will notice the small things along the way. Whether those small things are people out and about, nature in bloom, changes in places that we pass every day.

The same is true as we walk into the door where we work. Paying a genuine compliment to someone who has a great smile or really looks great may change their day and perspective on the world. As business leaders, it is our job to help create the environment and mood that may set the tone for everyone else’s work day. Putting a flower in a vase on the desk at the front door, cookies on the break room table or even a smiley face at the end of a note or email may make all the difference in someone’s day.

Companies who are either virtual or have a lot of people working virtually can also change the environment from time to time with simple things. Consider changing your voice mail greeting, change the way you answer your phone and/or the signature on your email. Most of all reach out to a neighbor or someone new and as the songs says, offer a hand shake and a “how do you do”.

I guess that a part of my being born lucky is that I see something beautiful each morning that sets my mood to experience my wonderful world.