An Infectious “Disease” that You Should WANT to Infect People With

As the title of this article indicates, I’d like to discuss a brand new virus that every person on earth would benefit from being infected by.

As you likely already know, when an individual contracts a virus, 2 things are generally true. ONE - they display nearly identical symptoms to the individual who was their “infector”. TWO - It will not take long before they will very likely infect numerous others with the exact same virus, thereby causing them to display very similar symptoms. These two viral characteristics are exactly what I would like to elaborate on here regarding a brand new virus that could potentially “heal the world” (or at least a large part of it).

The “Paying it Forward” Bug

You’ve probably heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once or twice. The fact that this particular phrase is so widely recognized is likely due to you having seen or heard of a movie which was released nearly 10 years ago, bringing the book “Pay it Forward” to the big screen. In the movie (and the book that preceded it), the phrase “Pay it Forward” was intended to mean that a person should, when a good deed was done for them, pay it FORWARD to three new people, as opposed to paying it BACK.

However, this “pay it forward” idea is certainly not new (nor was it when the book was penned). It actually pre-dates even the illustrious Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” in the following manner:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […”> meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It’s also important to understand, I believe, that “paying it forward” shouldn’t always have to involve the giving of money or doing physical labor, although, often, it does. A much simpler approach to “paying it forward” is described in great detail on my new site WhyTheCards.com, but below is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Encouragement and Appreciation Make a HUGE Difference

Back in the early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie needed someone to head up the newly formed United States Steel Company. To fill the important position, he chose Charles Schwab and offered him a starting salary of ONE MILLION DOLLARS per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (during a period when $3,000/YEAR would have been a very good salary).

According to Schwab, he was offered this tremendously hefty salary because he was very effective in his dealings with people.

Said Schwab, “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The entire purpose of WhyTheCards.com is to take that powerful idea of encouragement and appreciation and apply it in a really simple manner which can quickly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of people and turn them into chronic encouragers, constantly looking for new ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.

As Easy as Sending a Card

Most people would probably be surprised to discover what a powerful impact a simple greeting card can have on a friend who’s just had a ridiculously hard day or is dealing with a serious personal or family tragedy - or even on a person who’s just had an exceptionally good day. As an example, just a postcard to point out something special about their personality that really makes them valuable. Thank them for something kind they did for you or someone else. Congratulate them for a recent success or just tell them you’ve been praying for them.

You could even send a note to suggest that you should get together for lunch this Friday or to encourage them not to make dinner this Sunday since you’ll be making it for them. Even better, use your note as a way to encourage them to pay it forward and help someone else. As unlikely as it may seem, helping another person is often one of the most effective ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that really shouldn’t be your primary motivation for helping).

Many people could use a reminder that they are special and have value and that they have abilities that not a single other person on earth has which could be used to help people. No matter how young or how old they are, how sick they might happen to be, how stressful their life may currently be, how many screw-ups they have under their belt, they STILL have alot to offer, but nobody will know that unless they actually offer it. It doesn’t have to take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean the world and might be just what the doctor ordered.