Personally Yours: Adding Your Signature Of Beauty To The World Around You

Author: Lee Wise
Copyright Date: 2003
Word Count: 885 w/bio
Characters/line: 60

"Personally Yours"
Adding Your Signature Of Beauty To The World Around You
© Lee Wise 2003 All rights reserved

VISITING BEAUFORT...

If you are fortunate enough to visit a small town in
Beaufort, North Carolina, you will soon discover its
uniqueness.

Beaufort is a waterfront town, and one of those places
you could term as "charming." It is rich -- both in its
history and the natural beauty of a seaside atmosphere.

I would term it "nice."

Nice in the relaxing sense.

Nice like savoring the flavor of a fresh, delicious tuna
sandwich with your special someone while allowing the
calming presence of a beachfront view remind you one more
time of what it means to "take time to live."

PERSONALLY YOURS BY THE SEA

You could pass it by and not see it.

The sign is not huge by any standard. A few words painted
on a wooden marker: "Personally Yours By The Sea."

The size of the sign might easily be an indicator of the
size of the gift shop it is advertising. In a word: small.

An area less than the measurements of an average living
room houses the contents of "Personally Yours By The Sea,
Ltd." Should you discover this somewhat hidden treasure,
upon entry you would no doubt receive a warm Southern
greeting from Laura Lee.

Personally Yours By The Sea is a place of transformation.

You give Laura Lee a blank picture frame, for instance,
and she will transform the frame into a personalized gift.

By combining a thought or two of your own with Laura Lee's
handiwork, the frame becomes a uniquely designed souvenir
or present created for the sole purpose of causing someone to
experience a moment of joy each time it is viewed.

THE POINT

What was a blank picture frame becomes a *personal
expression* of beauty for you or someone special to you.

It just takes...

Some time.
A personal thought or two.
And a dash of creativity.

You might say that we each own a store -- not too unlike
the one in Beaufort. We are the sole proprietors of our
own "Personally Yours" establishments.

As storeowners, we have the power to use our resources in
whatever ways we choose. We, like Laura Lee, may add our
unique "signatures" to the lives of those we influence.

Day by day we can design and distribute moments of delight,
encouragement and hope to people.

IT ALL ADDS UP

Laura Lee has been personalizing her gifts for about
fourteen years.

Fourteen years!

Allow your mind to wander for a few brief seconds. How many
individualized expressions of happiness have been crafted
over the years from Laura Lee's tiny shop in Beaufort, North
Carolina?

And...

In how many different places around the United States -- or
even the world -- do you think these unique gifts can be
found? (I can name at least two states that I know of
for sure!)

Fourteen years.
And no doubt multiplied hundreds of customers.

That's a lot of smiles for a lot of people :)

It also reveals the value of...

COMPOUND INFLUENCE

We know the value of compound interest. Consistent
investments -- even of relatively small amounts of money --
made over a long period of time can add up.

Consider the "compound influence" we can have in the lives
of people.

Our influence can "travel" -- just like the personalized
gifts purchased from a small waterfront town in North
Carolina have traveled to the homes, places of employment,
and vacation hideaways of many people in a variety of
different locations.

WHAT'S THE SECRET?

Consistency --> That's the secret of compound influence.

Some time
+
A personal thought or two
+
A dash of creativity

*Repeated again and again over time*
=
"Compound Influence"

I know this is not a new concept. It is not unique and
certainly doesn't qualify as brilliant.

But the determination to take small, consistent steps of
action in order to delight the hearts of others according to
the unique motivations and gifts we have been given is both
*needed* and *valuable* in our world.

And with that in mind, maybe each of us should ask...

"HOW'S THE STORE?"

Do I have too much unused inventory?

Am I allowing my gifts, talents and abilities to lie
somewhat dormant in the back room of my heart?

Or...

Is my inventory being consistently used to brighten the
lives of people?

Am I utilizing the tremendous value of compound influence
by consistently adding my personal "signature of joy" to
the people in my world?

Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,

Lee

P.S. Why not spend a moment or two and take an inventory--
an inventory of your strengths, gifts or abilities?

You don't have to list all of them -- just a few.

Once the list has been made, ask yourself this question:
"How can I use one or more of these gifts I have been given
to create a moment of joy for someone I care about?"

Just a thought :)

-------------------------------
Lee is a seminary administrator, has a part-time business
at home, and writes two motivational ezines: "A Beautiful
Moment In Time" and "Hope For Daily Living." Permission
is given to distribute article. This paragraph must be
included. Email: Lee@seariches.net
Link: http://www.seariches.net