Last week I thought a lot about lasting impressions. I attended events every day where I was impacted by the imprint that people had made on the lives around them.
I went to a benefit dinner for an organization preventing child abuse. The volunteers make a tremendous difference in the lives of the children and their families. In addition, the chef from Le Bec Fin was the chef for the evening. His restaurant in Philadelphia had made an incredible impression on me years earlier.
I attended a 60th birthday party for a friend. Each person had a special memory of how the honoree had touched their lives.
Since it was the week of Passover and Easter I was reminded of the way Moses and Jesus changed civilization by their actions and beliefs.
In our busy lives we rarely find the time to step back and think about the imprints we are leaving. What impressions are you making? What’s the impact you are having- on others, in the community, in your organization? Leaders often are not aware of their impact. They do not realize how much the imprints they leave affect the people whose lives they touch.
Start to recognize yours. They can be either positive or negative and often can last a day or a lifetime. It can be from the smile you give to the words you share. It can be from the tone in your voice to the plan you create or the organization you assist.
What’s the impression you’re leaving?