Take some time to say thank you

For some reason in the past few weeks I've gotten more e-mails than ever from students thanking me for writing this blog and writing my book. The emails have come from people all over the country - yet the one that stood out the most was from someone who graduated from my high school.

She graduated three years after me, but she's been following this blog for a few years while attending community college and was just accepted to Columbia. I was so excited for her and so overwhelmingly thankful she'd shared  this with me. 

These messages do more for me than I can adequately express. Often we go through our lives and don't know if we're really making a difference, if what we do really matters. And sometimes all it takes is one 'thank you' to lift someone up for months, even years. 

You may think the people around you and the people who've helped you know how you feel about them, but you'd be surprised on what a difference it makes when you tell them.

Too often people go out of their way to complain or criticize (i.e. see YouTube or news article comments) and in general it seems there is too little effort spent on appreciating people.

I know it sounds quaint, but I believe there is significant beauty in putting more "thank you's" out there in the world. 

So the next time you read a great article or book, contact the author and tell them how much you appreciated their work. 

The next time someone is really friendly to you at a store, make a note of their name and tell the manager. 

And take some time this year to send a short thank you note to anyone who helped you this year in any way (like a professor, perhaps? *wink *wink). Trust me - you will make their day, and probably make yours too.

Thank you!!

As tomorrow marks Thanksgiving it also marks almost three years since I started this blog.

I'll never forget writing my first post, dreaming that it could one day turn into a book. That dream would have never come to fruition without you.

I want to thank you for reading this blog, for following me on this journey, and for being the kind of person who wants to fight for your own success in college and beyond. 

College is tough for everyone, but it's especially hard if you come from a low-income or underprivileged background. You guys are breaking those barriers every day, and you're the reason why this work is still exciting. 

I get so many e-mails from those of you who are fervently trying to succeed and care more about your education than many probably give you credit for. I just wanted to take this Thanksgiving week to remind you how awesome you really are.

Thank you for being the kind of person who wakes up every day and works hard. Thank you for trying. Thank you for not giving up. 

Keep going, and enjoy your Turkey Day tomorrow. :)

Sincerely,

Isa

The magnetism of thank you

It doesn’t take much of an in-depth research session to assert that people complain. 

Go on any site that offers reviews of restaurants, hotels, rental car agencies, clothing stores, or even scan the comments section of a news article or editorial. 

Chalk it up to human nature; give credit to the anonymity of the Internet.

Ultimately, regardless of cause, in our society, the vitriolic nature of complaints tends to manifest itself physically. 

But, here is the catch, part of understanding success, part of what can allow students to move ahead, to break glass ceilings placed above them, is to understand that the cultivation of positive relationships paves the path to progress.

So here is the opportunity for you to distinguish yourself – to distinguish yourself in the realm of networking, relationship building, and honestly, determining how memorable you are in the eyes of those around you. 

Say thank you.

Always.

Say thank you to the people who do something for you, to those who inspire you, to those who offer the simplest or most complex favors.   

Because the reality is that even those who are fantastic, terrific, and dynamic in our lives don’t hear the words “thank you” nearly as much as you might imagine. 

I issued a challenge yesterday about waking up early in the morning to bring energy to your life. 

And today I am issuing a second challenge – the challenge to say thank you – vocally, digitally, or even through a hand-written note – to someone in your life. 

Say thank you to your friends. They need to hear it.

Say thank you to your professors – not mid-course, not even before the final exam, but after the final class, after the grade is posted. Let it come from a genuine place – send an email, let them know that you appreciated the knowledge they offered you.

And watch the effect this has when you are asking for a recommendation letter when you transfer or graduate.

Most importantly, more than anything, say thank you to your professional mentors – anytime you hear someone speak at a class, conference, or event, go up to them and say thank you – get their business card, email them detailing how you took the advice that he or she offered.

Because there is a reality – gratitude is powerful.

Your gratitude can make you magnetic to others.

Say thank you without expecting anything in return – it can be surprising how gratefulness and genuineness can change how you view certain situations around you. 

And you might be surprised how that little display of gratitude can change the way that others view you.