Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
This post is about a specific compliment that could encourage someone for years, not just two months.
When booking a group of cabins on Princess Cruises my go-to agent is Tasheca. She’s diligent, resourceful, helpful, hardworking, productive, and pleasant. Last week at the end of one of our conversations I told her, “Tasheca you are the very best at what you do.”
At the church where I serve, Chris is our business administrator. He’s diligent, resourceful, helpful, hardworking, productive, and pleasant. I recently said to him, in front of our team, “Chris, you are the very best at what you do.”
I admire people who do their job well, workers who are among the best at what they do. When a trim carpenter, surgeon, travel agent, house cleaner, or waitperson, excel at their trade it’s because they have diligently worked at it. No one drifts into excellence.
One of the highest compliments you can speak to workers who excel is: “You are the very best at what you do.”
I realize that saying “you are the very best” is an overstatement. Technically, there can only be one “best” in the world at any specific trade. But in this case, it’s okay to exaggerate because everyone knows it’s hyperbolic but it’s a meaningful and kind exaggeration.
Don’t use this phrase flippantly or casually. Use it sparingly and only if it’s true and you are being genuine. We do people a disservice when we issue an undeserved compliment. And don’t use the phrase to manipulate people.
We should be generous in handing out compliments and words of affirmation. They don’t cost us a thing but can make a large and positive impact. We have an unlimited amount so giving them doesn’t deplete our supply.
In the next 24 hours, make someone’s day. Tell those who are deserving, “You are the very best at what you do.”
This scientist will help you live a better life
I have recently “discovered” the extremely talented and brilliant Andrew Huberman. He’s a neurobiologist, ophthalmologist, and professor at Stanford. He hosts the top health podcast in the U.S. He has a gift for making complicated topics easy to understand. Choose from many engaging topics at hubermanlab.com