During one of my small group training classes last week a client stopped at one of the stations and straightened up the dumbbells that had been scattered all around. She might have used fifteen seconds of the exercise time, to take the time to straighten up the weights. When she moved on the next person came and was able to easily find the weights she was looking for.
When I witnessed this moment I was reminded of an interview for my podcast with Dr. Arn Anderson who owned a Veterinary clinic. I had asked Dr. Anderson when looking back at his life how he would measure it to be a successful life. His answer was simple, “Leave it better than you found it”.
What would our world look like if we each took maybe fifteen seconds to stop and take the time to make it better than we found it?
Would we ever notice the fifteen seconds later in the day we spent to make it a little better?
Would we make a difference for the person who came behind us that we made it better for?
What if the person behind us made it a little better for the next person?
Can you see the ripple effect?
I challenge each of us to take Dr. Anderson’s advice and to leave the world a little better place than we found it. To do that it may take as little as seconds or it could take as long as years. The point is simple, always ask ourselves in any situation, “How can I leave it a little better than I found it?”
My hope is that I leave you a little better than I found you.
Your Friend,
Aaron