Make Yourself Unforgettable

You may be good. You may even be great. But are you UNFORGETTABLE?

Whether you’re competing for a candidate, a contract, a client, a job, or anything else of value, there’s nothing more critical to your success than your ability to stand out as a uniquely qualified, valuable, appealing individual — someone whom other people really want to work with, work for, know, and help.

It used to be that a top-notch education, exceptional talent, and a positive attitude were enough to distinguish a person as truly exceptional. If you had all three, you were pretty much guaranteed an open road to wealth and achievement.

But what is it that will make you stand out today, when everyone seems to be offering those advantages?

The surprising answer can be found in this brief true story:

Ted drove a truck for a small family-owned manufacturing company, and his wife was about to have a baby. Complications arose during the delivery that resulted in a $20,000 hospital bill. His wife and baby were healthy, but Ted had a major financial crisis on his hands: Fine print in his insurance coverage seemed to indicate that the bill would not be covered.

As Ted had no means of paying the bill out of pocket, he went to see Warren, the owner of his company, in the hopes that he might be able to intercede with the insurer. Warren listened to Ted’s problem and promised to call the insurance company himself to find out why Ted’s expenses weren’t covered, and what could be done about it. A few days later, Warren let Ted know that he had spoken with the insurance company and cleared up the confusion. The hospital expenses would be fully covered, and Ted wouldn’t be receiving any more bills.

Ted thanked Warren profusely for his help and never forgot the way his boss went to bat for him. It wasn’t until Warren’s funeral, years later, that Ted learned the truth. The insurance company hadn’t agreed to cover Ted’s bill. So Warren had paid it himself.
Now, Warren could have dealt with this situation in any number of ways that would have marked him as a good boss. What he did do elevated him to an entirely different stature.

There’s only one way to describe a person like Warren. He was a CLASS ACT.

Class acts are the kind of people who make tough challenges seem easy and big problems seem small. They stay cool, calm, and collected, no matter what the circumstance. They get the job done extremely well, but they do so without arrogance, braggadocio, or any need for praise and recognition (although they always get it!).
Class acts can be counted on to play the game of life at the highest levels … and inspire everyone around them to do the same. They feel good about themselves … and they make other people feel good about themselves as well. Class acts are able to lift themselves up … without ever tearing anyone else down.

In turn, class acts receive the respect and admiration of virtually everyone they meet. People want to be associated with them. People bend over backwards to help them. People leap to their defense. People line up to spend time with them and part ways with them feeling positive and energized.

Educated, talented, motivated people are a dime a dozen these days. But class acts? They’re a rare breed. You can spot them right away. And you never forget them.

Which is why if someone identifies YOU as a class act, you will have a tremendous advantage over everyone else you’re competing with — even people whose other, more concrete, qualifications and experience may surpass yours!


From Dale Carnengie: Class Act System