Which Fruit Bowl Are You?

I chose you... to produce fruit that will last...

John 15:16, The Bible, New Living Translation

One of your most important resources is the people that you know and influence.

People are actually central to your being successful in reaching your goals.

As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar often quotes, “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

Every day we come into contact with different people, and we always leave an impression – good or bad.

First impressions really do count, and every interaction is an opportunity.

You never know the impact you might have on someone by the way you treat – or mistreat – them.

You know what it’s like when someone crosses you. You go into a shop, a restaurant or some other place of business, and you experience terrible customer care. The sales attendants are rude, the service is slow, the food is awful, they mess up your order – whatever.

If you’re like most people, you may not make a huge fuss, lodge an official complaint or ask to see the manager, but you can be sure that the next 10 people you meet will hear every last detail of what those nasty people did to you! 

And anytime the name of that business comes up in conversation in the future, you will gladly recount the details of your horrible experience – only now it will be the highly exaggerated, somewhat modified version, as tends to happen with numerous retellings and the passage of time!

It’s much better to make friends than gather enemies.

And remember – there are no little people. Every person counts. The Bible tells us to show hospitality even to strangers because some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).

Be especially thoughtful to those who serve you in some way. There’s a website out there that names and shames celebrities who are good tippers and those who are stingy! (Don’t even ask me how I know this!).

What kind of taste will you leave in the mouths of the people you meet today?