When I first met Dan Heidt, I'd already had years of experience speaking and training on the value of strong teams and customer care in business, but before I met Dan, I had no idea how deep the actual value and importance of it was until the first time we shared a stage for a large audience.  I was the opening keynote speaker for the day and anxious to hear Dan's lunch keynote.  His opening remarks shocked me, along with the rest of the audience when he said, "Not only are the principles Joan shared important for good business practices, they are critical for showing respect and can absolutely save lives!" He then went on to share tragedic incident after incident, that he personally helped with after the fact, which was when it became his mission to do even more to be proactive, helping to further prevent such devastation.  Let's each do all we can to be proactive!   

                    by Joan Endicott 

   Common courtesies and basic manners are not only critical for business success, but according to Dan Heidt's expert opinion and first hand accounts, he knows embracing those characteristics can save lives.                                

  One of the most important life-skills everyone needs to learn is how to engage the mind and heart before engaging the mouth.  The tongue is the most powerful muscle in the human body.  Before we say whatever comes across our mind, we need to think about how it may affect others. Unfortunately, some people don't care.  For the majority of us who do care, we want to make sure we don't participate in, either listening to, or relaying things that would be considered bullying, gossip, slanderous or prejudicial.

  Think for a moment about times in your life, either personally or professionally, when others have said things that made you feel you were the target for any of those categories.  Usually we can remember the scenario: where we were, who was there, what was said or done, but most of all - exactly how we felt at the time.  

   Just thinking about it can stir deep feelings again because when we've been wounded deeply, there's a lasting imprint on our heart and very soul that can offer even subconscious emotional, mental and physical reactions.

   Extreme things can happen when people are wounded time and time again from those they are around each day - at home, work or school.  Dan shared many stories with me that had to do with school and workplace violence.  One was about a young man who was taunted, teased and tormented by those in school.  Then when he got older and finally got into the work place, his co-workers continued the bullying through stares, whispering, laughter, even to the point that they left garbage on his desk, mean notes, calling him names and stating that they urinated on his keyboard.  Sadly, this was allowed to continue with nobody stepping up to stop it. (Even when things are done "anonymously", there are procedures that can be implemented to insure zero tolerance of such abuse.) 

  One morning the young employee came into work, sat at his desk as usual, emailed the employees who had taunted him, requesting they come to his work area. As soon as they were all there, he began shooting.  When he was done, he shot himself. He left a note that read, "I thought the bullying would stop after I was out of school - guess I was wrong. It's over now."   Hurt people hurt people.

   When we see another human being mistreated, it's all of our responsibility (and opportunity) to insure it stops - immediately!  If we don't do that, we're equally guilty of being part of the problem rather than being part of the solution.                                                       (Last week was Part 1)    

   (*To further promote authentic respect for others, Joan also offers 'Sensitivity Training' to businesses as well as speaking to all ages, including schools, all industries and venues.)