This is a Virus that You Should WANT to Spread

by admin on August 25th, 2009

As the article title suggests, I’d like to discuss a brand new virus that every individual you know would benefit from being infected by.

As you are probably already aware, when an individual is infected with a virus, 2 things are generally true. ONE - they show the very same (or very similar) symptoms as the individual who was their “infector”. TWO - It will not take too long before they will very likely infect at least a hanful of other people with the exact same virus, thereby causing them to exhibit very similar symptoms. These two characteristics of a typical virus are precisely what I’d like to discuss with you here regarding a brand new virus that has the potential to “heal the world” (or at least a large part of it).

The “Paying it Forward” Bug

Chances are you’ve likely heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once or twice. The fact that this phrase is so well known is likely due to you having heard of or seen a movie which came out nearly 10 years ago, bringing the book “Pay it Forward” to the big screen. In the movie (and the book that preceded it), the phrase “Pay it Forward” was intended to mean that a person should, when a good deed was done for them, pay it FORWARD to three new people, as opposed to paying it BACK.

Of course, this “paying it forward” ideal is nowhere near new (nor was it at the time that the book was penned). It actually pre-dates even the well respected Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” with the following words:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […”> meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It’s also useful to recognize, in my opinion, that “paying it forward” shouldn’t always have to involve the giving of money or doing physical labor, although, in many cases, it does. A much simpler approach to “paying it forward” is described in detail on my new website WhyTheCards.com, but below is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Encouragement & Appreciation Can Make a HUGE Difference

Back in the early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie needed someone to head up the newly formed United States Steel Company. To fill the important position, he chose Charles Schwab and offered him a starting salary of ONE MILLION DOLLARS per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (during a period when a $3,000 ANNUAL salary would have been an excellent wage).

According to Schwab, he was offered this tremendously lucrative salary because he was very effective in his dealings with people.

Said Schwab, “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The entire purpose of WhyTheCards.com is to take that powerful idea of encouragement and appreciation and apply it in a strikingly simple way which can rapidly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of individuals and turn them into chronic encouragers, always looking for ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.

As Easy as Sending a Postcard

Most people would likely be surprised to discover what a positive impact a simple card can have on a person who has just had a ridiculously hard day or is wrestling with a serious personal or family tragedy - or even on a friend who’s just had a really good day. As an example, just a card to point out something special about their personality that really makes them unique. Thank them for something kind they did for you or someone you know. Congratulate them on a recent promotion or just tell them you’ve been praying for them.

You could even send a postcard to suggest that you should get together for dinner sometime soon or to tell them not to make dinner this Monday since you’ll be making it for them. Even better, use your postcard as an opportunity to encourage them to pay the good deed forward and help someone else. As unlikely as it may seem, helping another person is often one of the best ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that should never be your primary motivation for helping).

Many people could stand to receive a reminder that they are truly special and have value. That they have talents that not a single other person on earth has which should be used to help people. No matter how young or how old they are, how sick they might happen to be, how stressful their life is right now, how many screw-ups they have under their belt, they STILL have alot to offer, but nobody will know that unless they actually offer it. It need not even take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean alot and might be just what the doctor ordered.