Sun, March 07, 2010 - 10:55:53

A Small Investment

Grace Groner was, by all accounts, an everyday woman.  Having never married, she lived a modest life, alone in a small cottage in Illinois and worked for many years as an administrator at a local technology company.  But Groner had one big secret—and it had more than a little to do with the power of small.

After Groner passed away in January at the age of 100, her alma mater, Lake Forest University received the surprise of a century.  Grace Groner had bequeathed them $7 million.

No, this wasn’t an instance of “little mistakes spell disaster.”  The sum wasn’t a typo.  In fact, over the years, Groner had humbly—and quietly—become a multi-millionaire thanks to one small investment of $180 she made more than 60 years ago. 

After taking a job as a secretary at Abbot Laboratories, Groner was given the opportunity to purchase three shares of the company stock, valued then at $60 each.  But, as the years passed, the shares slowly grew in value until they were worth an astounding $7 million. 

That’s the power of small. And it’s just one more example of how even our smallest actions can have a dramatic impact on our lives and in the lives of others. Although Groner probably never imagined that her little purchase at the start of her career would someday help her fund a new program allowing college students to study abroad, that one small action in fact had the power to effect great change in the lives of others for years to come. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, March 05, 2010 - 10:10:05

Operation NiCE Highlights the Power of Small Talk

One of the things we love most about social media is its uncanny ability to connect us with other NICE- and SMALL-minded folks simply by pressing a button and this week we’ve come across quite a number of amazing bloggers with kindness and simplicity at the core of what they do.  But, it was a post from one of our old favorites, Melissa Morris Ivone of Operation NiCE, which really got our attention.  In her post, “The Power of Small Talk” she tells the story of one of her readers, Julie B., who discovered for the first time that a little seemingly insignificant chit-chat can make a positive difference in the lives of others.  In other words, there’s nothing small about small talk.

Julie B. writes to Operation NiCE:

When I was super pregnant last summer before my son was born, I remember walking through the hall at work one day. There was a guy up ahead of me, and as he went through the door he held it open for me. I said thanks, but as I didn’t know the guy, I was pretty much going to ignore him and keep on walking. But he made a comment to me that has stuck with me, and just completely made my day.

Although the kind man who held the door for Julie B. probably never imagined his off-hand remark would have such a powerful effect, in the end it became a comforting thought for a mom-to-be.
It’s just one more example of the amazing ways in which small talk works every day.

In our wired world, we often discount the notion of small talk as frivolous or simply a waste of time, but in truth, small talk is the social lubricant that brings people together, regardless of their differences, and gets the big things started.  So, if you’re blazing through life with those lips zipped, why not take a few minutes each day to stop and shoot the breeze? 

Even if you’re shy, it doesn’t take much to get the conversation going.  In fact, it can be as simple as giving someone else a compliment.  After all, who would be averse to hearing that someone else likes their taste in shoes or thinks they have on a fabulous pair of earrings?  Although your small words of praise might feel inconsequential, you never know what that little confidence-boost could do for someone else.

So what are you waiting for?  Get SMALL and get talking!  With just a few little words, you really can make a big difference.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sun, February 28, 2010 - 12:16:41

The Power of Checklists

Since its release in December, surgeon and New Yorker staff writer Atul Gawande’s book, The Checklist Manifesto, has been generating quite a buzz within the medical community.  In his book, he proposes that physicians, nurses, and hospital staffers could greatly benefit from using one simple tool: a checklist. 

Gawande’s manifesto, based upon research he conducted on procedures commonly used in the aviation, investment, and construction industries, is geared largely toward the medical community. But as, Justin Fox, editorial director of the Harvard Business Review Group writes, the surprisingly transformative power of checklists is applicable to nearly any profession.  And, as long-time devotees, we couldn’t agree more.  In fact, it’s something we discuss in our own book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference.

Whether you’re a surgeon, a CEO, or a mom-in-chief, turning your hectic schedule into a manageable routine is as easy as writing out a to-do list, but in order to really make this tool work for you, it’s essential to think small.  When faced with a busy day or an overwhelming deadline, it’s tempting to compose a short checklist full of large tasks, but doing so is self-defeating.  Instead, allow yourself a few more minutes to collect your thoughts and use a technique we call “mini-tasking.” 

Start by closing your eyes and visualizing your end goal, such as giving an important presentation.  Then, rewind your thoughts and imagine every step you need to take in order to make your main objective happen and write them down one by one in chronological order.  Although some of the mini-tasks you come up with may seem trivial or mundane, don’t leave them out.  After all, in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget the so-called “small stuff” and as we like to say, “little mistakes can spell disaster.”

When you have completed your checklist, don’t forget to read it over several times to check for any errors or omissions.  Then, once you are ready, grab your checklist and start crossing off those mini-tasks.  Working little by little, you will be able to concentrate and think clearly without becoming overwhelmed by the weight of your end goal and by completing each actionable item one at a time, you can use the confidence you gain from your small wins to fuel you on until the end.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sat, February 27, 2010 - 11:47:42

Unexpected Side Effects Lead to Unbelievable Breakthroughs

Life coaches, confidence experts, and psychologists will tell you that scrutinizing every wrinkle in the mirror isn’t great for your self confidence and we’d have to agree. But what if we told you that by doing just that, one woman inadvertently sparked the inspiration for a scientific breakthrough that revolutionized the cosmetic surgery industry as we knew it?

Well, as a recent report by TODAY medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman explains, that’s exactly what happened when an ophthalmology patient in Vancouver noticed an unexpected, yet pleasant, side effect caused by the therapeutic botulinim toxin forehead injections used to treat her chronic eyelid spasms: her wrinkles were disappearing before her eyes.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Astounded by her findings, the patient reported back to her opthamologist, Dr. Jean Carruthers, about the seemingly miraculous rejuvenation of her skin and instead of dismissing what she had to say, Dr. Carruthers listened intently and discussed it with her husband, a dermatologist.  Intrigued by the possibilities, the two set forth on nearly a decade worth of medical research and in the end made a discovery that launched a multi-billion dollar a year industry.

What was the result?  The wrinkle eraser known commonly as Botox.

While doctors, scientists, and pharmaceutical manufacturers had known for years that very weak dosages of the botulinum toxin could be used to treat muscle spasms and chronic pain, the prospect of using it for cosmetic purposes had never been explored, until someone started sweating the small stuff, noticed the tiny changes occurring on her face, and took the initiative to speak to her doctor.

It’s just another amazing example of how thinking SMALL can spur enormous innovations and in fact, how some of the biggest business ideas can come from repurposing existing products.
 
For too long, we’ve all been told to “think big” when looking for the “next big thing,” but as the Carruthers’ story illustrates, the greatest innovations can come in the unlikeliest of places—and it’s up to you to find them.  So, quit furrowing your brow while trying to dream up the next revolutionary product and open your eyes…because your big break just might be staring you in the face.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sat, February 20, 2010 - 12:49:02

One Half Can Mean a Whole Lot

How many of you out there could imagine selling your house, buying one half the size, and then donating half of the profits of the sale to charity?  Well, that’s exactly what co-author of The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back, Kevin Salwen, and his family did when they realized the power their little family held to make an enormous impact on the lives of others around the world.

Mr. Salwen, an entrepreneur in Atlanta Georgia tells the Wellesley Townsman that their unusual journey began after his daughter Hannah, then 14, saw man in a new luxury car drive by a homeless man on the street and remarked, “If that man there had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal.” Her insightful comment sparked the ongoing conversation around the family dinner table and eventually led them to make the most important decision of their lives: sell their multimillion dollar house and donate half of the profits to charity.

Although the Salwen’s gesture was unusually grand, Hannah, now 17, tells the Wellesley Townsman that others with less means should not be discouraged; in fact, even our smallest actions can have an enormous impact. Of course, it’s an opinion we share and a philosophy in which we believe whole-heartedly.  Even though most of us can’t afford to make such a dramatic sacrifice as selling our homes and donating massive sums of money to causes we support, that certainly doesn’t mean we can’t make a difference, every one of us, in our own ways. 

As Hannah Salwen explains, “Just do something doable. If your family watches six hours of TV a week, maybe cutting back to three to help out in a homeless shelter [is doable].”  Whether you choose to donate money, your time, or your talent, doing so in a small way can effect real change.

For example, if you’re skilled with computers, why not offer up your services to a local senior center and teach free computer basics classes to the elderly or donate a free web design to an animal shelter in need?  If you love gardening, why not organize your neighbors to create a green community spacein which you each work a few hours a week? If you want to donate money to a charity you believe in, but think you can’t afford it, why not start by emptying your pockets?  Grab an old jar and start filling it with your loose change each night.  By the end of the year, you’ll have effortlessly collected more than you might have imagined you could afford to give away.

So, remember, you don’t have to have a Bill Gates-sized bank account to make a difference.  Little by little, if we all pitch in to do our part, we can change the world.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, February 19, 2010 - 2:33:44

Should You Strike Out on Your Own?  Think Small First.

Given the current economic climate and tough job market, more people than ever are using their unexpected unemployment situation as a chance to explore areas they may have otherwise not considered and for many Americans that means striking out on their own as entrepreneurs.  In a recent Harvard Business Review blog post by Daniel Isenberg, he advises prospective business owners to think long and hard before making the leap from job seeker to possible job creator, and specifically asks them to play a little game of 20 questions before jumping in with both feet. 

Isenberg’s list of true/false statements, including “I like to win,” “I always look for new and better ways to do things,” and “I think old dogs can learn — even invent — new tricks” can provide potential entrepreneurs with valuable insights about their own abilities to take on the unique challenges of being your own boss.  But, there’s one important point he missed, which we would like to add: “I sweat the small stuff.”

As we discovered through our own experience, approaching your business with micro-focus and intense attention to detail can help you differentiate yourself from your competitors, and sometimes to achieve the biggest successes, you have to literally do things in the smallest possible increments.  For example, one mistake many new businesses make which cause them to fail is over committing to space or inventory.  When we started The Kaplan Thaler Group, we purposely worked in a space that was too small for us.  Unburdened of the anxiety of being able to pay the rent every month, we could better focus on the business of creating great ads and winning new business.  Yes, it was a little close for comfort, but that was actually a good thing.  We learned that when people work together in small spaces, it inspires collaboration.

But perhaps most importantly, “thinking small” prevents the problem that renders many entrepreneurs incapacitated: fear.  When confronted with the enormous challenge of starting your own commercial endeavor and attempting to turn a profit, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.  But, by taking the journey one small step at a time, you can accomplish even your biggest goals through a series of mini-tasks. 

Throughout our lives we’ve all been told that if we want to achieve big, we have to think big.  But in this new era of business, we think it’s time to forget about the conventional wisdom and think small.  And if you’re with us, then perhaps it’s time to make that little dream of yours a reality.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, February 12, 2010 - 2:06:28

How Do You Skate Your Best Performance? Stay in Your Program.

It’s been four years since we watched athletes like Apollo Anton Ono, Shaun White, and Sasha Cohen bask in Olympic glory at the Torino games in 2006 and since then we’ve been patiently waiting for the competition to begin once more.  With the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics scheduled to air Friday night, you can imagine our excitement.

Although most of the attention at the Winter Olympics revolves around which athletes will go home with gold medals, for most of the two-thousand-plus competitors showing up to Vancouver this season, the experience will be more about the process and less about the end result.  But, even though most of the contenders won’t find themselves on the podium, each of them undoubtedly wants to do their personal best.

And it got us thinking about a technique Robin, an avid figure skater, uses both on and off the ice: staying in your program.

In and out of the rink, there are times when inevitably each of us will fall down, but the key to success when you’re “going for the gold” is to gracefully get back on your feet, stay in the moment, and just keep moving, instead of allowing yourself to dwell upon your missteps.  By actively being conscious of where your mind and body are at every second of your routine and maintaining intense focus, you can make it to the end looking and feeling like a winner.

But, of course, learning to “stay in your program” doesn’t happen overnight. It takes practice and preparation, giving you the confidence and wherewithal to address your challenges when the big moment arrives.  From preparing for an important presentation at work to getting ready to perform the routine of your life, taking the time to run through it ahead of time and focus in on the small details until you get it letter perfect, will put you in the right place mentally to “stay in your program” when all eyes are on you.

So, get out there and “skate your best performance!”  Even if you don’t bring home the gold, by staying in the moment, you’ll end up on your feet.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, February 12, 2010 - 1:55:13

In Life and Love, the Small Stuff Counts

With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, you’re probably thinking about your love life a little more than usual and if you’re wondering about just how to find that special someone without the help of Cupid’s bow and arrow, you’re not alone.  As Sharon Jayson reports in Thursday’s USA TODAY the dating scene is experiencing a seismic shift and although most couples still meet each other through mutual friends, the Internet is rapidly gaining in popularity, accounting for the way 23% of those surveyed met their significant others.  But even as the social spectrum continues to change, one thing remains a constant: when it comes to happy relationships, it’s essential to sweat the small stuff.

As we write in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL, paying attention to the small gestures your date makes early on can play a pivotal role in the overall success of your relationship, and particularly when pairing up with an online match who hasn’t been vetted by your network of real-world friends, watching their cues and clues can provide you with important insights that their words and online profiles might leave out.

For starters, pay close attention to body language and facial expressions, which unconsciously portray inward emotions.  For example, if the other person sits with his legs crossed toward you, things are probably going well.  However, if you notice his toes pointing at the door, he’s probably itching to leave.

But honing in on body language isn’t the only way to size up your Valentine.  Another important detail you should not overlook is his or her small gestures toward the people you encounter on your date.  For example, is he or she polite to your server at the restaurant?  Does he or she hold the door for strangers?  If your date is driving, do you notice little snarky comments made toward other drivers or even witness outbursts of road rage?  While each of these moments may seem insignificant, they can provide powerful insight into that person’s character and help you decide if they are compatible with you.

And don’t forget about the power of your smallest gestures once you’ve found your match, either!  As several couples celebrating their golden anniversaries and beyond confided in a recent Real Simple feature, the little, seemingly unimportant things they do for one another have actually proven to be the secrets to their long and happy marriages.  Stella Sonnenschein, who has been married to her husband Ben for over 50 years says, “Ben doesn’t always say ‘I love you’ and I don’t force him to.  Instead, I appreciate it when he brings me a sandwich in bed—especially since he hates crumbs in the sheets,” while Imogene Edwards explains, “[My husband of 55 years] Elmer always takes me by the hand and leads my across the parking lot like I’m his girl.”

So, this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re searching for a little chemistry with your online match, or spending February 14th as a couple for the 25th year in a row, look around and find the magic in the little things.  You never know what you might discover.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, February 12, 2010 - 10:40:50

Get Fit, Step By Step

If you’re like one in five people around the world, you always get winded no matter how frequently you work out and, contrary to what you might assume, it’s not because you’re lazy.  In fact, according to recent research findings released in the Journal of Applied Physiology, 20 percent of people are actually genetically predisposed to seeing little improvement in their endurance levels, even when exercising regularly.  But, despite these new findings, scientists assert that regular exercise has potent benefits for people of all abilities and genetic make-ups, and especially if you’re like a fifth of people out there, taking small steps toward your fitness goals can help you make huge progress.

Sure, for many of us, exercising can be a chore and if you’re physically incapable of increasing your endurance, it can be even harder to get motivated.  Luckily, we’ve devised a trick that we use to conquer the much-dreaded Stairmaster® day in and day out and it’s surprisingly easy.  All you have to do is count backwards.

Instead of attacking the morning exercise routine as one arduous 45-minute climb, we break it down into more easily accomplished goals, starting by setting the timer to just 10 minutes.  After the time is up, we reset the timer to nine minutes, then eight, then seven, and so on until we’ve whittled it down to zero.  By setting manageable mini-milestones, it makes the whole work-out much more bearable and completing each increment allows for a brief moment of celebration that helps us stay motivated until the end.

Of course, you can use this trick in a multitude of ways, even when you’re not working out.  In fact, the method of setting miniature goals, or “mini-tasks,” and working on them one at a time can help you achieve success in your approach to health and wellness, throughout your career, and even in your personal life.  The key is to take on each challenge with micro-focus instead of becoming overwhelmed by the big picture. 

So, the next time you’re confronted with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, whether it’s an upcoming session on the elliptical machine or a looming deadline at work, change that mindset and think small!  Then, you’ll be on your way in no time.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sat, February 06, 2010 - 10:44:20

Little Abstractions Can Produce Big Concrete Results

Earlier this week, we came across a fascinating New York Times Science article that opened our eyes to another surprising way in which SMALL works.  In our book and here on the Small Blog, we’ve discussed in the past how subtle shifts in body language can betray a person’s inward thoughts.  But, according to scientists at the University of Amsterdam, external factors can have a surprising effect on the way humans form opinions.

In the study released this week in Psychological Science, researchers performed an intriguing experiment in which they asked two groups to evaluate the personality of an imaginary person based on a description listed in a biographical packet.  Although both groups reviewed the exact same fictional description, their assessments were markedly different; Group A described the individual as “warm and friendly,” while participants in Group B were more likely to find him “cold and standoffish.”

Why?  Scientists explain the difference of opinion with a rather interesting theory.  Even though both groups had the identical candidate, sat in an identical room, and had an identical experience, the researchers made on tiny change.  Prior to reading the packets, participants in Group A sat in the waiting room with warm cups of coffee, while participants in Group B were given iced coffee.

And contrary to what you might think, these results were no fluke.  In fact, scientists around the world have discovered a multitude of ways in which the human brain takes abstract concepts, such as a warm and friendly personality, and translates it into physical realities, from leaning slightly forward when saying “I’m looking forward to it,” to feeling the need for a hand wipe after recalling a moral transgression.

So, if you think the little details don’t matter, consider the science behind our SMALL philosophy and think again.  After all, if something as tiny as an ice cube can change a person’s mind, imagine what else you might accomplish when you “think small.”

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, January 29, 2010 - 4:18:25

Don’t Just Sweat the Small Stuff; Celebrate it.

There’s no question that the past few weeks have been challenging ones.  From rising unemployment statistics, to a troubled economy, to natural disasters around the globe, we’ve endured a heap of BIG problems this January, and it might have you feeling the winter doldrums even more than usual.

But, by zeroing in on the small stuff and focusing on the solutions one tiny detail at a time, you can overcome even the most seemingly insurmountable of obstacles.  And that’s not all. As a recent Today Show segment with Dr. Nancy Snyderman reminds us, the key to navigating the tough times isn’t just to sweat the small stuff; it’s to celebrate it.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It may sound insignificant, but taking the time to recognize the tiny positive aspects of your daily life and then give back in even the littlest way can have a dramatic impact.  So, why not give these tips a try and discover the power of small for yourself?

Find small joys.  We’ve all heard the expression: “Stop and smell the roses.”  Yet, with today’s hectic, on-the-go lifestyle, it can seem hard to find the time.  But, if you simply open your senses to the everyday surroundings you normally rush by and ignore, you can discover beauty in the unlikeliest of places, from the historic architecture you pass on the way to work, to the smell of the coffee brewing at the café around the corner.  By giving yourself just a few additional seconds to appreciate the tiny pleasures all around you, you’ll find it’s easier to get through the less-pleasant things you encounter.

Celebrate your small wins: Sure, it’s great to work toward a big goal, like saving for a new home or getting a promotion at work, but when we disregard the little accomplishments we achieve along the way, it can make them feel unattainable.  So, instead of lamenting what you have yet to do, pat yourself on the back for the small things you have done today, like putting a few extra coins than the day before into your change jar or filing your error-free report ahead of schedule. Not only will it boost your confidence, it will motivate you to keep plugging away.

Give small gifts: As Snyderman explains, giving back in whatever way you can isn’t just helpful to those in need, it can actually have powerful physical and psychological health benefits for you.  In fact researchers from Case Western Reserve University discovered in 2007 that by volunteering for just two hours each Saturday or Sunday, you can dramatically reduce your risk of a host of ailments, from heart disease, to dementia, and depression.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, January 29, 2010 - 10:16:28

Small Donations Have a Big Impact

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference and here on the SMALL Blog, we’ve told you how small donations can make a world of difference, here in the U.S. and abroad.  But, as the crisis in Haiti continues to unfold and reports of seemingly endless suffering dominate the headlines, we can’t underscore enough how even the tiniest contribution can have outsize effects.

On Friday, we explained how organizations of all sizes are using innovative approaches to overcome this enormous problem one little step at a time, from the American Red Cross’ highly successful text message campaign, to the Davis family’s efforts in Winston-Salem North Carolina, where they are raising funds by selling $1 cups of hot chocolate.  Little by little, people across the nation are doing their part, and as Statesman Journal Executive Editor, Bill Church, writes in his Sunday column, the core ideas of THE POWER OF SMALL are spreading across the country to help affect real change in communities around the world.

Of course, in this challenging economic climate, we understand that sometimes it is simply impossible to give money to those who are less fortunate, no matter how much you want to help.  Fortunately, there are a number of other ways to donate like offering your services to a local non-profit organization, organizing food, clothing, or blanket drives through your local school or community association, or even by visiting websites like TheHungerSite.com and FreeRice.com, which has partnered with the World Food Programme to collect money for Haiti through its own text message fund drive and free online trivia game. 

Amid times of such massive crisis, it’s easy to feel powerless or assume that only those with the greatest assets can make a difference.  But, as the events of the past two weeks have shown, in the face of tragedy, you don’t have to make a grand gesture to have a real effect.  Dollar by dollar, brick by brick, and bit by bit, we can all work together to make this “small world” a better place.

How are you doing your part?  Tell us your SMALL stories with a comment!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, January 22, 2010 - 11:10:53

Overcoming Tragedy with Small Steps

Over the past week, we’ve all watched with deep sadness as the devastation in Haiti following last Tuesday’s massive earthquake has dominated news headlines.  But, amid all of the images of suffering and misfortune, amazing stories of triumph, survival, and humanity have also emerged and in the face of tragedy, we’ve seen how all of us can join together to do good. From global humanitarian organizations to everyday citizens, people across the world have been providing aid to the millions of hungry, injured, and displaced Haitians by taking on the enormous catastrophe one small step at a time.

Chances are that by now you’ve heard of the massive campaign launched by the American Red Cross that has raised millions of dollars for earthquake relief simply by allowing individuals to donate $10 by texting the word “HAITI” to the phone number 90999, and perhaps you’ve even done it yourself.  But, it’s just one of the many ways charities are innovating their approach toward disaster relief. 

For a number of organizations, the secret to affecting immediate change in the face of this tragedy has been to work from the ground up instead of from the top down.  By concentrating on one family or small village at a time and involving them directly in the rehabilitation process, aid workers like Build Change founder Elisabeth A. Hausler believe that areas can rebuild and revitalize faster and more effectively than they could if working through traditional government channels.  Having successfully used this method to help earthquake-ravaged communities in Indonesia and China, Hausler remarks to Henry Fountain of the New York Times, “you’d have to have your head in the sand to not buy into this approach.”

Others have found success on an even smaller scale. While Tom Davis of Food for the Hungry is on the ground in Haiti providing help to those in need, his teenage daughter and friends back home in Winston Salem North Carolina have been doing their part to raise funds by selling hot chocolate at local businesses and donating one hundred percent of the proceeds to Davis’ charity organization. “I remember hearing the numbers of people dying and the billions of dollars in destruction,” one volunteer remarked to NBC News. “I couldn’t even comprehend the type of disaster and I knew I had to do something to help out. Truly every little bit helps. Every single dollar is a dollar to help a starving child or someone who doesn’t have water.”

So, this weekend we ask you to think of that young volunteer’s sentiment and remember that there’s a hero inside of each of us and through even your tiniest actions, you really can make a difference.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, January 21, 2010 - 4:13:40

Worth its Salt

Think the little things don’t add up?  Well, for those of you who are trying to get fit and stay healthy in 2010, you might want to take heed.  According to a report in Tuesday’s New York Times, the little things we do now can have drastic effects on our health and wellness for years to come.

Sure, we all know that taking care of the big things like quitting smoking and exercising daily play an important role in the ways in which we age, but contrary to what you might expect, making the tiniest of changes to our daily diets can have an equally profound effect.

Don’t believe us?  Perhaps scientists at Stanford University Medical Center, The University of California San Francisco, and Columbia University Medical Center can change your mind.  In a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, they conclude that if everyone consumed just half a teaspoon less of salt per day, “there would be between 54,000 and 99,000 fewer heart attacks each year and between 44,000 and 92,000 fewer deaths” overall.  And moreover, simply by making this tiny reduction in salt intake, people could reduce their risks of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes (the nation’s first- and third-ranked killers) as much as they could by making more complex changes such as quitting smoking, overcoming obesity, and reducing cholesterol levels.

Of course, this new research doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tackle those bigger health challenges, but it just goes to show you that you truly can transform your life, one little step at a time… and that by “thinking small” you can surmount even the biggest obstacles. 

So, if you’re trying to shape up and get healthy, why not start today and put that first foot forward by making just one small change at a time?  With simple and subtle modifications to your everyday behavior, like setting down the salt shaker, replacing your afternoon vanilla latte with a sugar free version, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator once a day, you can begin your journey toward a healthier and happier way of life.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, January 15, 2010 - 4:46:48

New Year’s Revisions

It’s been two weeks since we welcomed in 2010, and now that all of the champagne has gone flat, the decorations have been stowed away, and we’ve all settled back into the daily grind, you might be starting to break those New Year’s resolutions you so optimistically proclaimed as the clock struck twelve.  In fact, you might not know it, but January 17th is actually the official day for giving up New Year’s Resolutions.  But, you don’t have to renege on those promises you made yourself.  In fact, the key to making your New Year’s resolutions stick may actually be easier than you think: if you want to achieve your biggest goals, all you have to do is start “thinking small.”

Throughout our lives, we’ve been told to dream big, but the problem with setting lofty goals is that they’re often self defeating, especially when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, which usually include ideas like losing weight, quitting smoking, finding a new job, and eliminating debt.  So instead of dropping your resolutions altogether, why not make January 17th the day for a few New Year’s revisions?

Here are a few of our favorite tips for making even your most challenging resolutions work:

Shrink your problem down to size: Instead of setting yourself up for failure with one massive goal, try breaking your resolution down into easily accomplished mini-tasks.  For example, maybe you’ve decided that 2010 is the year you’re going to beat the “battle of the bulge” once and for all.  But after just a few weeks of crash dieting and non-stop cardio, giving up probably seems tempting.  So, instead of making your goal to get back to your high school weight, try revamping your resolution and vow to shed just one pound at a time.  By setting more manageable milestones, like eating just 100 calories less per day, you’ll feel proud instead of perturbed every time you step on the scale.

Make a checklist: Sure, a checklist can help you get through a busy day at the office and avoid impulse buys at the grocery store, but it can also help you stay on track when working toward a greater objective, like finding a new job.  To begin, list out everything you need to do before heading out on the job hunt, from updating your resume, to creating a LinkedIn account, to researching companies in your area, and networking with old contacts.  By writing everything down and organizing it in order of priority, you’ll be sure you won’t miss any important steps.

Don’t dwell on the negative: Inevitably, there will be times when each of us slips up and doesn’t hold true to our New Year’s promise, but that doesn’t mean you should accept defeat.  Instead of dwelling on the negative, let it inspire you to do better next time and move on.

And most importantly…

Celebrate your SMALL wins: Whether you’ve skipped your usual 10:30 smoke break for the third day in a row, made an extra payment toward your credit card balance, or even lost one third of a pound, take the time to pat yourself on the back and rejoice in the small stuff…because over time, those little things will add up to BIG progress.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, December 28, 2009 - 3:56:44

2009: The SMALL Year in Review

Last winter, we issued a challenge to make 2009 the year you started “thinking small.”  As we entered into the year, we faced innumerable difficulties as a result of too many years of thinking big.  Big cars, big mortgages, and big debts had gotten us into big trouble, but we believed then as we do now that tackling our problems one by one, with precision and micro-focus could help us dig our way out.  And little by little, we’ve seen that others shared our SMALL perspective, using the same little philosophy to accomplish truly remarkable things. 

From the amazing ways in which SMALL can change to world to the dedicated individuals harnessing its power to achieve success, here are just a few of our favorite SMALL stories from the past 12 months:

Waste Not Want Not:  Think saving the environment requires drastic measures?  Think again. Researchers at Arizona University discovered that Americans could reduce the environmental impact of landfills by 25 per cent just by cutting down on their food waste.

Charities Say Small Donations Make the Biggest Difference: Sure, multi-million dollar donations garner the most media attention, but you don’t have to have a Warren Buffett-sized bank account to make a real difference in the lives of people in need.

The Greatest Generation of Networkers Show us that Online Small Talk Pays Off: Over the months, we’ve examined the many ways in which making small talk can have an enormous effect on your life.  And as the New York Times reports, today’s tech-obsessed teens are taking the power of small talk to the World Wide Web, making them what some call, “the greatest generation of networkers.”

A Can Full of Dreams:  If you think your dreams are out of reach, you might want to change your outlook. Terrerai Trent, a young woman from rural Zimbabwe, shows us all that nothing is impossible when you think small.

Simple Solutions Make All the Difference: We often mistakenly think that the world’s biggest problems require complex solutions, but as Nicholas Kristof’s wonderful New York Times Magazine piece explains,  many times the tiniest changes can have the biggest impact. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, December 21, 2009 - 11:45:19

It’s the Thought That Counts.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s the thought that counts.”  But, if you’ve ever been the recipient of the kind of gift that seems to point out your flaws rather than make you feel good, you might begin to question that old conventional wisdom.  As a humorous article on TodayShow.com points out, few of these holiday flops are given out of sheer malice and instead are the result of misinformed generosity, but no matter what the giver’s intent, they can be extremely hurtful.  Why?  Well, it has a lot to do with the power of small.

From the nose hair trimmer you never knew you needed to a brand new pair of Spanx, the little gifts we give others have an uncanny ability to communicate the way we feel, so this holiday season and throughout the year, it’s important to watch your cues and clues. 

MSNBC.com contributor, Diane Mapes, relates the story of one Albuquerque man who purchased a gift certificate for a major cosmetic surgery for his reportedly interested wife.  However, instead of smile and a thank you note, the man was rewarded with divorce papers.  Although he had intended the gift as a way to show that he was listening to his wife’s complaints about her figure, it came across to his wife as the definitive insult and ultimately that little gift certificate was enough to end their marriage.

Of course, most gift-giving disasters don’t have such dire consequences, but little by little, the small actions we take add up and play an important part in shaping our relationships with others.
So, before you exchange holiday gifts this year, take a second look at that seemingly useful gift you’ve picked out and ask yourself what it might really be saying. And if you’re questioning whether that well-intentioned gift certificate for a brow wax is appropriate, your best bet is to trust your instincts and walk away from the checkout counter.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, December 17, 2009 - 11:38:08

Greeting Cards on the Decline

A few weeks ago, in light of the current economy, we asked our Twitter followers whether they would be sending out greeting cards this year to their family and friends and we received a mix of responses.  Nearly everyone who sent us an “@reply” said that they were making changes: either cutting back on the number of cards they mailed, sending e-cards instead, or foregoing the tradition altogether.  So, when we read this week’s article in USA TODAY reporting that the US Postal Service saw a 13% decline in the cancellations of first class letters, we knew our small friends were not alone.

But, in the face of this downward trend, we still see enormous value in the handwritten note and when gifts might be an all-too-expensive indulgence this year, a meaningful card can be an affordable alternative.  After all, in this era of Blackberries and iPhones, who doesn’t love discovering something other than a bank statement in their mailbox and tearing open the envelope to read a thoughtful message from a friend?

However, with many folks growing more and more environmentally conscious, sending an e-card can be a great, little (and cost-free) way to show you’re thinking of them in a more eco-friendly way.  And you can go the extra inch to personalize your digital greeting by attaching your own family photos or even a video message. 

So if your holiday budget has you feeling down, remember that no matter what time of year, it’s the small stuff that really counts.  Sure, big gifts and grand gestures are nice, but even our tiniest actions really can have an enormous impact and there’s no better time than now to unleash their power. From sending a little note of season’s greetings to an old friend to bringing a plate of home baked cookies for all of your coworkers to enjoy, if we all start thinking small, we can work together to help make this and every season bright.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, December 16, 2009 - 11:42:07

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

If you think small things don’t matter, consider this startling statistic we overheard on the Today Show this week: on average, American’s consume 22 teaspoons of sugar per day, which over the course of a year adds up to a whopping 150 pounds of the sweet stuff.

As we look ahead to the New Year, many of us are thinking about resolutions, and if you’re like most people, losing a few pounds is probably right there at the top of your list. And even though SMALL just might be the culprit for many expanding waistlines, it can also be a powerful force in the quest to slim down. 

Like many other New Year’s resolutions, losing weight is a lofty objective that can seem unachievable and soon become overwhelming.  In fact, setting such large goals can actually be self-defeating.  Instead, genuine, lasting change is best achieved when you focus on frequent, accomplishable, little targets.  When you break down your diet into mini-goals, you can achieve the big things painlessly.  In fact, you can start one spoonful at a time.

Yes, it’s true! Believe it or not, by eliminating just 100 calories per day from your diet, you can lose 10 pounds over the course of a year. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn’t take the huge commitment of cutting out carbs or spending hours at the gym.  Instead, all you have to do is make a small change, like switching from regular soda to diet, skipping the whipped cream on top of your triple venti mocha, or using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate at meal time.

Of course, you won’t see a change overnight, but little by little, you’ll watch as the numbers on the scale get lower, one decimal point at a time.  And by making subtle changes instead of drastic ones, you can make sure they stay that way.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, December 11, 2009 - 10:26:24

Stay on Track this Holiday Season with a Checklist.

With the seemingly endless to-do’s of the holidays, it’s not unusual to feel completely overwhelmed and before long, the non-stop stream of shopping, cooking, parties, and social commitments can become more of a chore than a pleasure.  But, there’s one tried-and-true way to put the “happy” back into the holidays, and it’s easier than you think.  Believe it or not, you can take your season from ho-hum to ho-ho-ho just by making a checklist.

Throughout the years, we’ve found that making checklists and “mini-tasking” our way through our busy schedules is one of the most effective ways to work productively, stay motivated, and get energized.  And the best part is it takes just minutes.

Start by grabbing a pen and paper (you could also use computer spreadsheets, like Excel, or smart phone apps like this one) and writing down the big task, or your ultimate goal, for example, “New Year’s Eve Party 2009.” 

Then, close your eyes and envision every little step that goes into preparing for the event.  Don’t worry about writing it in any particular order at this point, just write down each detail that comes into your head, such as grocery shopping, decorating, or hiring a babysitter.  Once you’ve come up with your list of action items, review it and re-organize it into chronological order, starting with the mini-tasks you need to complete first at the top.  Re-read it a few more times to make sure you have included every step and once your list is complete, make a copy just in case.

With your master plan for the holidays in hand, you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that everything you need to accomplish is right in front of you.  And as you cross off each task, you’ll get a little boost of confidence to help you power through the rest of your list. 

So, what are you waiting for?  It’s the perfect time to get small and get going!  Start now and discover first-hand how mini-tasking can make a BIG difference.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, December 11, 2009 - 10:09:36

AIG Asks: “What’s in a Name?”

A few months ago, we told you the story of Tom Sato, a SMALL reader who saw his once-stalled job search take off literally overnight after making one tiny, but important change to his resume: switching his name from his hard to pronounce birth name, Toshihisa, to his easy-to-say nickname, Tom.  Earlier this week, as we were perusing the New York Times online, we came across a bit of news that reminded us once again of the amazing power that one little name can possess and how the simple act of changing it can have an enormous impact. 

And the name in question this time?  A.I.G.

As the New York Times’ Mary Williams Walsh reports, “Just months after dropping the telltale “A.I.G.” from its sales brochures, the company has leapfrogged its competitors and reclaimed a title it held for many years before its bailout — the top seller of fixed annuities to bank customers.”

Since the massive government bailout in 2008 through June of this year, A.I.G. had struggled to regain consumer confidence, but in a strategic move, the bank chose to remove their name from annuities offered by two of its insurance subsidiaries, Western National Life and First SunAmerica.  As a result, A.I.G. and others in the insurance industry have watched the two annuities rise from the bottom of the barrel to the very top, in just a matter of months.  In fact, since the removal of those three infamous little letters from their sales brochures, Western National has come to sell more fixed annuities than any other insurer.

So, if you’re still wondering if SMALL really can make a difference in your life, it’s time to look at things with a new set of eyes.  Whether it’s in the life of a job-seeker striving for a new career, or in the recovery of one of the largest, most challenged companies in America, one simple fact holds true: SMALL works. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, December 07, 2009 - 10:03:30

This Holiday Season, Think Small.

With the holiday shopping season well underway, many Americans are being confronted with the difficult realities of today’s economy and are spending less on gifts than in previous years.  But, spending less doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give less.  In fact, by harnessing the power of SMALL, you can make a little go a long way and discover that sharing holiday cheer with friends and family doesn’t have to cost a thing.

As the authors of THE POWER OF NICE and THE POWER OF SMALL, we know first-hand how our small, kind actions can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others, and consequently our own.  From holding the door for a coworker, to making casual conversation with the cashier at the corner store, the opportunities to effect positive change are all around us, and you can discover them, too.  The key is to shift your outlook and retune your focus from the big picture to the small details… and the holidays are a perfect time to start.

Sure, hitting the mall and loading up your shopping bags full of fancy toys, designer clothes, and high-tech electronics is fun and feels good, but we believe that making small, kind gestures as a token of affection can feel even better.  So, whether or not you’re pinching pennies this season, why not try these tips for a SMALL, NICE holiday?

Write a letter.  When we were reading this month’s Real Simple Magazine, we came across an idea from a reader that really hit home.  Each year, in lieu of a store-bought gift, she writes a heartfelt letter to each of her relatives, expressing her feelings of thanks, love, and respect.  Although inexpensive, the looks on each of the recipients’ faces year after year show how valuable the letters really are.

Offer your services.  If you’re a great cook, why not become a personal chef for the day?  Love kids?  Channel your inner Jo Frost and become a “supernanny” for the night.  To make it more festive, design your own “gift card” on your computer or by hand, redeemable any time.  Giving your friend or relative (especially a busy mom or dad) a bit of time to relax is a gift you can be sure they will appreciate!

Call an old friend.  With the popularity of online social networking, reconnecting with your long-lost friends is as easy as clicking “search,” but once you’ve found each other, why not give him or her a call instead of writing on his or her wall?  The opportunity to catch up over the phone will raise both of your spirits.

Make a donation. Show your loved ones that you care about the issues that matter to them by making small donations in their honor to charities you know they support.  With just a few dollars, you can make a real difference to non-profit organizations of all kinds while letting your friends and relatives know you’re listening.

So this year, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of blowing your budget on lavish gifts for all of your friends and family, remember that there are other less expensive yet just as meaningful ways to show your generosity.  By harnessing the power of the little things, this holiday season and throughout the year, you’ll find you’re well on your way to creating a nicer way of life for you and all of your family and friends.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sat, December 05, 2009 - 10:11:46

Waste Not Want Not

As you probably already know, the mounds of trash decomposing in dumps around the country releases dangerous carbon emissions which many scientists believe can cause global warming. And as this Wednesday’s Atlantic Monthly Online reports, discarded food makes up the biggest component of the garbage filling our nation’s landfills. Believe it or not, nearly half of all the food produced in the United States is actually thrown away.

Yet, researchers at Arizona University also claim that Americans could reduce the environmental impact of landfills by 25 per cent just by cutting down on their food waste and the best way to get started is by thinking small.

Although it sounds like an insignificant change, making a smart grocery list is just one small way you can have a huge effect on the amount of food you throw away each week.  Don’t believe us?  Well, we can prove it. Just read the story of one SMALL reader and her family:

Just before 2009 rolled around, we noticed that we had been throwing away a large portion of the fruits and vegetables we purchased each week.  Wondering how this was possible, we decided to try a little experiment and make a New Year’s resolution at the same time.  Instead of simply heading out and buying food, for the next year, we would bring along a carefully crafted shopping list containing only the ingredients we would need for that week.  Sure, this involved a little advanced planning by creating a weekly menu, but in the long run it actually saved time by eliminating the nightly “what’s for dinner” question.  Not only that, we were no longer throwing away pounds of petrified zucchini and broccoli—saving money and the planet at the same time.

So, if you’re looking to “go green” in 2010, why not start with this simple solution?  As the months roll by, you’ll witness first-hand the amazing ways in which SMALL can work for you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, December 04, 2009 - 10:30:30

Trust Your Intuition

With the holidays just around the corner, many enamored significant others will undoubtedly be popping the question, and with wedding planning often comes the classic case of cold feet.  But when is it just normal pre-wedding jitters and when is it something more serious?  As a recent report on the Today Show this week revealed, not listening to that little voice inside of you can lead to BIG problems down the line, so whether or not you’re tying the knot, it’s essential to trust your intuition.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In the case of marriage, as clinical psychologist Judith Sills explains, the difference between a bit of wedding-related nervousness and your body’s physical attempts at warning you can be profound, yet many couples ignore them altogether before getting hitched. Where “cold feet” are short-lived wedding related worries and generalized anxiety, serious doubts are long-held concerns about the overall state of one’s relationships and failing to recognize the differences can lead to a devastating outcome for everyone involved.

But, trusting your instincts isn’t only essential when planning your nuptials; it’s an extremely valuable SMALL skill that can be applied throughout your professional and personal lives.  For example, at the Kaplan Thaler Group, we know we’ve created a winning campaign when we get goose bumps on our arms, but other times it can be much more subtle.  For example, we once interviewed a job candidate who seemed perfect on paper—great experience, strong education—but something just didn’t sit right and we chose another instead.  Later on, we heard through the grapevine that our instincts had been right all along and our decision justified.

Whether at work, at play, or even in love, taking note of the tiny clues we give each other (and ourselves) through even our tiniest gestures is one of the most important things you can do.  In fact, self defense experts often instruct their students that trusting your intuition can even save your life.  So, the next time you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end or get a funny feeling in the pit of your stomach, take a moment to stop and think before you make your next move.  Because you’re body just might be trying to tell you something you shouldn’t ignore.

Want to learn more about trusting your intuition?  Read our post on how a California police officer took her bad vibes seriously and cracked a 20 year-old case. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, December 04, 2009 - 10:18:49

Loneliness is Contagious

Have you ever been surrounded by a group of friends when all of the sudden, you start to feel lonely?  If so, chances are you’ve contracted a particularly contagious strain recently discovered by scientists.  Yes, as counterintuitive as it may sound, loneliness can actually spread from person to person, and having just one lonely friend can dramatically increase your risk of feeling the same way.

Although we typically tend to equate feelings of loneliness with social isolation, there is a profound difference between the two.  The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard University, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Chicago examined people expressing feelings of what psychologists call “subjective loneliness,” an emotion that is experienced alone as well as in the company of others. 

As the New York Times reports, the average person feels lonely approximately 48 days out of the year, but simply spending time in the company of another lonely person can tag on an extra 17 days of glum feelings. Fortunately, the same emotional contagion that brings about the loneliness virus can also be used to counteract it.  The researchers learned that positive people promote happiness among others, decreasing loneliness by an average of five per cent per person.  In other words, your own positive outlook can not only protect you from “catching” loneliness, it can prove to be a real benefit in the life of a less content friend.

How does all of this work?  It turns out it has a lot to do with the power of small.  Through even the subtlest of facial expressions, body language, and even tone of voice, we gather important pieces of information from one another and internalize it.  And by paying careful attention to the cues and clues we send one another we can, as Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis states, “make an effort to prevent this sad experience of loneliness, [and] stabilize the whole social network by preventing this kind of unraveling. We all benefit when we attend to the needs of those at the margins.” 

So, the next time you notice something funny about a friend, look beyond their smile and watch your cues and clues to see how they’re really feeling, and put your positive energy to work.  The tiny act of “being there” could mean the world to them.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, November 25, 2009 - 10:55:14

Small Acts Save Lives

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’ve been thinking about new ways we can all give back to the community in small ways.  From making little donations to your favorite charities, to volunteering at a local soup kitchen, to just clicking on the correct answer at FreeRice.com, one good deed at a time, SMALL really can change the world.  So, Monday morning, as we tuned into the Today Show, we were particularly touched by the story of Katie Quinn, a 20-year old nursing student, who literally saved a life just by swabbing her cheek.

One day, as Katie headed to class at the University of Missouri at Columbia, she was approached by a volunteer from the non-profit group, DKMS, which matches bone marrow donors with patients battling leukemia.  When asked if she would like to sign up, Katie didn’t hesitate, but contrary to what you might think, becoming a potential bone marrow donor didn’t involve any painful medical procedures or doctor’s office visits.  In fact, it only took 10 minutes.  After filling out a sign-up form and having the inside of her cheek swabbed, Katie continued walking across the campus quad and soon forgot all about her kind deed for DKMS.

Then, six months later, Katie received the news that would change her life forever.  She was informed that she was a match for another young woman, Anna Robinson, who had been diagnosed with leukemia and was desperately in need of help.  So, Katie headed to the hospital and had her blood drawn in order to donate her white blood cells.  Although the procedure took longer than the standard blood donation (approximately 5 hours), Katie tells TODAY, “I didn’t feel a thing” and thanks to giving up a few hours of her time and a couple of vials of blood, less than a year later, Anna was cancer-free. 

All because Katie took ten minutes to swab her cheek and fill out a form during her busy school day.

It’s just one more way that our smallest actions can have an enormous impact on the lives of others.  From volunteering to help those less fortunate on Thanksgiving, to becoming a bone marrow donor just by going to DKMSAmericas.org, each one of us has the power to do something remarkable when we start thinking small.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, November 20, 2009 - 10:57:03

Americans are Unhappy at Work, but Thinking Small Can Help

With joblessness at its highest levels in years, many Americans are grateful just to be employed.  And although they appreciate their paychecks, new poll results released today by job search website CareerBuilder.com reveal that a large number of people say that they are feeling unhappier at work than ever before. 

Unfortunately, with today’s difficult job market, finding a new position might not happen as soon as you would like, but by discovering the small “joys” at your job, you can dramatically improve the quality of your work day.  After all, as we like to say, negativity is like a virus and it can quickly infect the way you view every aspect of your job.  The more you concentrate on how much you hate it, the more unpleasant it will become.  But, by simply finding one little thing to smile or laugh about, you’ll find your job will become a whole lot less painful. In fact, you may even discover that the job you thought you hated isn’t so bad after all.

And contrary to what you might be thinking, it isn’t easier said than done.  All you have to do is shift your outlook and focus on the small positives instead of the big negatives.  For example, if simply despise creating complex spreadsheets, but spend a large portion of your day working on them, stop thinking about how boring it is and relish the feeling of accomplishment you get when you complete it.  Then, the next time you open up a dreaded Excel file, remember the rewarding feeling you had the last time and use it as motivation to complete the task at hand. 

Although the recent economic crisis and subsequent recession brought on the nation’s current job woes, those surveyed by CareerBuilder said it wasn’t to blame for their unhappiness at work.  Instead, they claim that the true reason was that they felt unappreciated by their employers.  So, as managers it’s our duty to make employees feel valued, especially in today’s tough economic times.

While an annual bonus is one way to show your appreciation, small, kind gestures made all year long are another powerful way to make your employees fee valued.  And one novel idea to go about it is to sweeten the deal… literally. 

A few years ago, we rented an ice cream truck and parked it behind our offices at the Kaplan Thaler Group.  Much to everyone’s surprise, they were all treated to a few scoops of the sweet stuff to provide a much-needed afternoon boost.  And even though it might seem insignificant, you would be amazed to discover how a little cup or cone of rocky road could smooth out the kinks in a coworkers otherwise rough day.

So, whether you’re a worn-out worker or a manager looking for new ways to motivate your team, now is the time to start thinking small and celebrate.  After all, when you find the beauty in the small things, it makes the big stuff look a whole lot better.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, November 20, 2009 - 10:40:28

The Best Innovations Start Small

Yesterday on Twitter, we came across an article from one of our favorite blogs, The Conversation Starter, which instantly caught our attention.  “Entrepreneurs,” the headline read, “Stop Innovating, Start Minnovating.”  In his post, Daniel Isenberg discusses how many of today’s greatest business successes aren’t born out of innovation, but out of minnovation, a term he defines as “mixing small parts of novelty and creativity with huge helpings of flexibility, scrappiness, and a generous portion of hard-driving execution.”  And we couldn’t help but be reminded of one of the key points we assert in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference.  Many times, the biggest business ideas are sprouted out of the tiniest seeds.

Unfortunately, many potentially successful entrepreneurs go out of business before they even start because of one fatal misstep: they allow themselves to become overwhelmed by the grandeur of striking out on their own and forget to think small.  Intimidated by the nearly impossible prospect of becoming the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, these entrepreneurs forget about the innumerable others who have had big successes just by making little changes to a preexisting product.  Or as we like to say, “Adding a little glitter.”

That’s exactly how Sheri Schmeltzer stumbled across what became a multimillion dollar idea.  The stay-at-home mother of three decided to spruce up her daughters’ Crocs by filling their trademark holes with buttons, rhinestones, and other sparkly doo-dads.  The result?  A couple of thrilled kids and dozens of unsolicited compliments from strangers.  Sheri knew she was on to something and began churning out what she called Jibbitz ® from her basement and before long she had contracted a production facility in China to help her keep up with the soaring demand for her little product.  Amazingly, just one year later, she was contacted by the people at Crocs and sold her business for the not-so-little sum of $20 million.

And Sheri Schmeltzer isn’t the only one who has made it big by thinking small.  Many others, like Judy Zimmer, the founder of the 60-store franchise operation Bath Junkie, and Jen Groover, the inventor of the Butler Bag, have triumphed by improving on already existing concepts. Their secret wasn’t a revolutionary new idea or a technological breakthrough; it was their ability to forget about the big picture, zero in on the tiny pixels, and start small with their ideas.

So, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, stop worrying about creating the next BIG thing. Get small and get going!  You never know what you might achieve when you minnovate.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, November 19, 2009 - 10:06:50

Let Your Feet do the Talking

Sure, we’ve all heard of palm readers who claim they can learn everything about you just by examining the lines and crevices on your hands, but in reality could learning how to read feet actually give you a leg-up on the competition?  That’s what author Carol Kinsey Gorman, Ph.D. claims in her eye-opening book The Nonverbal Advantage:  Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work.  While many of us assume that facial expressions and hand gestures expose people’s true emotions, Gorman says they’re only telling part of the story.  And if you want to know what’s really going on, you have to look down.

It might seem like a trivial detail, but Dr. Gorman explains that while many people, such as skilled actors, politicians, and leaders have learned to alter their facial expressions and upper body posturing to match their verbal message, the feet are usually ignored and can be a dead giveaway of a deception.  And you don’t have to be a CEO or Commander-in-Chief to learn how to read others cues and clues.  All it takes is a little observation.

For example, if you are on a first date and everything seems to be going well, look away from their enthusiastic smile and animated hands and discreetly check out how he or she is sitting.  As Gorman writes, if the legs are crossed with toes pointing toward you, you’re off to a good start, but if the toes are pointing away, don’t expect a call any time soon.

If you’re feeling a little skeptical about foot-reading, we don’t blame you, but consider the science behind Gorman’s reasoning: “Our feet and legs are not only our primary means of locomotion, they are in the forefront of reactions to “fight, flight, or freeze” survival strategies,” she writes.  “The limbic brain is at the center of our emotional response system. Its major function is to react instantaneously to incoming information from the environment. Emotional reactions, as we know, occur prior to thought. Before we’ve had time to develop any conscious plan, our limbic brain has already made sure that our feet and legs – depending on the situation – are geared to freeze in place, run away, or kick out in defense.”

In addition to watching the subtle hints given by other people’s foot gestures, paying attention to your own can help you create a more positive impression.  For example, Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel Hack Life writes that constantly shifting from foot to foot creates an air of nervousness or anxiety, so to appear calm in a high-stress situation you should keep your feet planted firmly on the ground.  And while you’re at it, make sure to keep your stance wide, as it portrays confidence, while Dr. Gorman states that a narrow stance appears insecure.

As we say in THE POWER OF SMALL, paying attention to the subtle signals you give and receive through body language can help you throughout your life, from making a deal to making a friend.  So, open your eyes to the little clues that are all around you before they trip you up.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, November 13, 2009 - 10:31:38

“Small donations make a BIG Difference,” Charities Say.

Photo courtesy of Jack Weston
In today’s big-thinking world, it’s easy to feel like your charitable contributions just don’t make a difference unless you happen to have a Warren Buffet-sized bank account.  But according to an article in Wednesday’s New York Times, charities claim that even though multi-million dollar donations receive the bulk of media attention, now more than ever it’s the small donations that really count.

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we argue that through our tiniest actions, each of us can work together to change the world.  Although the conventional wisdom has always been that the biggest problems can only be handled by world leaders and other big shots, we believe that step by step, bit by bit, and dollar by dollar we can meet our goals and face our even most imposing challenges.  And as the New York Times’ Stephanie Strom writes, more and more charities are learning that in order to achieve big, you have to think small. 
Dr. Jennifer Howse, CEO of the March of Dimes, tells Strom that annually, the organization receives approximately 22 per cent of its revenue from donations averaging $14 and that its campaign asking supermarket shoppers to add $1 to their purchase as a charitable gift earns them a sizable amount.  In fact, such efforts in Kmart stores alone raised $6 million dollars this year. 

In fact, the March of Dimes, initiated during the Great Depression, was built on the small philosophy and began because none of the wealthy philanthropists had any money left to contribute. So the founders came up with the idea to ask everyone for a dime and within a few weeks over a quarter of a million dollars worth of dimes arrived at the White House.

And the March of Dimes isn’t the only charity harnessing the power of small.  Peter Norback’s One Can a Week donates non-perishable food items to the Tucson Community Food Bank with the goods he receives from caring residents in his neighborhood.  Now working with over 140 participants, Norback explains to the New York Times that the key to his success was starting small: “I did 10 houses the first week, the next week, those 10 plus 10 more. I built it by tens. It took me months.”  But, over those months of working little by little, Norback has collected more than 6,500 pounds of food for the hungry.

While hefty donations certainly have their place and are badly needed by non-profit organizations changing lives around the world, we should never forget the old saying: “every penny counts.”  As Eugene Cho of One Day’s Wages in Seattle so aptly explains to Strom, “It’s easy to be drawn to the multimillion-dollar donations, but we’re doing ourselves a disservice by not elevating the stories of the working mothers and fathers who also contribute what are significant amounts to them.”  So, whether it’s a few cents to the bell ringer on the corner this holiday season or a check to your alma mater’s annual fund, remember that no matter how large or small, with your generosity you are changing the world.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, November 12, 2009 - 3:31:36

First Impressions Count… Even Online.

By now, nearly everyone knows that when posting your pictures online, it’s best to exercise discretion and steer clear of unflattering photos filled with college antics, compromising situations, and skimpy outfits.  But, as Live Science reports, a new study conducted by scientists at Sonoma State University reveals that the online profile pictures we choose—flattering or otherwise—can actually play an important role in how we are perceived by others, particularly strangers.  And as more and more employers search social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace before inviting potential hires to an interview, these little pictures provide the all-important first impression that can make or break your job search.

The study presented photos of 123 students, each of whom submitted a portrait in a neutral pose and another in a spontaneous pose, to two small participant groups.  Based on the information they could glean from the photographs alone, the participants were asked to evaluate the individuals pictured based on 10 personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, openness, likability, self-esteem, loneliness, religiousness, and political beliefs.

Researchers then compared these ratings to lists provided by each of the 123 students pictured, along with lists prepared by three friends.  Surprisingly, just by “judging a book by its cover,” the participants had an average accuracy rate of 70 per cent.  But, when looking at the essential traits of likability and agreeableness, participants were more than 10 per cent more accurate when looking at the spontaneous pictures over their posed counterparts.

Why?  The answer could be as simple as posture.  In the neutral photographs, those pictured typically held a more rigid stance, which was interpreted negatively by the viewers.  On the other hand, the relaxed carriage exhibited in the spontaneous photographs communicated gregariousness, confidence, and high spirits.  Another small yet powerful gesture?  The smile.  Those with natural smiles in their spontaneous pictures were described as warm, friendly, and outgoing.

As we write in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, although it only takes about seven seconds for someone to decide how they feel about you, everything you do after that point will be viewed through the filter of “likeable” or “unlikeable,” making those first few seconds crucial… even if they’re only virtual. 

So, if you think it’s time to update your profile picture, stop and take a second look before clicking “upload” and consider the silent impression your photo might be giving.  After all, that little photo could affect your image for a lifetime.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, November 12, 2009 - 10:59:14

Talking to Your Teens about Relationships Now Makes them Luckier in Love as Adults

If you’re the mom or dad of a middle- or high-schooler, you might assume that there could simply be no more embarrassing topic of conversation to bring up with your kids than their love lives, but the findings of three new studies out of McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. , Loyola University of Maryland in Baltimore, and Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi. reveal that taking just a few minutes every once in a while to talk to your sons and daughters about dating can have a dramatic effect on the success of their future serious relationships.

Dr. Stephanie Madsen, an associate professor at McDaniel, tells the Wall Street Journal that students who regularly engaged in casual conversation with their parents, including occasionally asking for advice or input about their romantic partners had “warmer, closer, and more positive dating relationships,” and argued less with their significant others, while those who felt uncomfortable talking to their parents experienced more conflict, less affection, and greater instability.  And perhaps most surprisingly, the indicators for long term romantic success can be seen as early as middle school crushes, making “puppy love” less frivolous that once assumed.

The studies also revealed that no matter the age, whether middle school, high school, college-age, or young adult, children prefer for parents to take the understated role of “relationship consultant” over a hands-on meddler, but before giving it a go, it is essential for parents to foster a feeling of open communication and trust with their children.  And one of the most effective ways to do so is to make small talk.

Mark Nagelsmith, a father of a 16 year-old son in Glens Falls, N.Y. tells the Wall Street Journal that in order to sneak in small talk with his son he uses a technique that we have also found particularly successful with boys: sports.  “[My son] really opens up to talk when we’re just out fooling around, tossing the ball,” Nagelsmith explains. “He would never admit to me that he’s listening, because as you know, dads don’t know anything,” but as we would also suspect, Nagelsmith concedes, “maybe he is.”

Want to learn more about making small talk with your kids, even when they’re all grown up?  Click here to read our small tips!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, November 06, 2009 - 5:16:05

What’s the Harm in Asking?

image courtesy of Museum 2.0

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says “One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” But, when you’re trying to make a great impression at work, it can be difficult to take down your game face for a moment, risk feeling silly, and ask what you think just might be a “stupid” question.  However, as we explain in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference and Jodi Glickman Brown writes on The Conversation Starter, asking questions at work actually makes you look smart in and out of the workplace.

If the events of the last year have taught us anything, it’s that failing to ask what you might think is a dumb little question can actually have devastating ramifications.  Pointing to the case of Bernie Madoff’s now infamous Ponzi scheme, Brown states that because inexperienced workers at the SEC were unwilling to ask questions and solicit help from their superiors they repeatedly failed to uncover Madoff’s massive fraud.  As a result, fortunes were decimated and families were devastated.

On a smaller scale, neglecting to ask questions you might think are silly can hinder your job performance, while taking a brave leap forward and inquiring at the risk of a laugh from your boss can help you shine in a whole new light.  Plus, if you are able to take a little good-natured ribbing it can even make you more likeable and perhaps more importantly, being able to swallow your pride and just ask shows that you’re able to take the initiative and solve problems before they get out of control. 

We’ve all heard the joke about what assuming does to you, so stop worrying about looking foolish for a fleeting moment and consider the alternatives because, as we like to say, little mistakes spell disaster… even when committed with the best of intentions. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, November 05, 2009 - 12:24:32

What We Can Learn from the Greatest Generation of Networkers: Making Small Talk Online Pays Off

In Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Zaslow examined the implications of social media on the lives of what he dubs “The Greatest Generation of Networkers.”  Although some hard-line critics warn that the constant tweeting, texting, Facebooking, and IMing that today’s teens and early twenty-somethings embrace will cause a break-down in their real-world interpersonal skills, supporters argue that these tech savvy-youngsters are actually streamlining communications in a revolutionary new way.  But in today’s “GoogMyTwitFace” culture, we believe that there should be room for both virtual and in-person networking. And by harnessing the power of small, you can make each of them work for you.

We’ve all heard stories of how using social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn can help job seekers find new positions and in theory it seems like a great idea, but in practice it can be more difficult than you may have assumed.  It turns out that just like in real life, standing out in cyberspace and proclaiming to the masses that you need a new job just doesn’t cut it.  The key is to start making real connections, and especially on social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn, the best method just might surprise you.  It’s small talk.

Of course, we’ve long believed that making small talk is one of the best ways to harness the power of small in order to build relationships in both your personal and professional life.  From uncovering the seed for a brilliant idea to finding an everyday hero, the power of small talk works in profound ways in the real world, but you can apply the same technique to the World Wide Web and see almost immediate results. 

For example, Tracy was a freelance designer looking to connect with other professionals in her area.  At first, she posted a simple tweet reading, “Looking for a freelance designer?  I can help!” but received little interest.  Then, after doing a targeted search on Twitter, she began following noted local business leaders and started sending friendly and helpful replies to their tweets, which frequently led to short Twitter exchanges. Almost instantly, she saw her website traffic jump and within a week, she received several direct messages from her “tweeps” with new project inquiries.

By taking the time to make simple small talk online, Tracy opened herself up to a wealth of new opportunities and discovered a whole new client base.  And you can do it, too.  All it takes is a little compliment, one tiny question, or a helpful bit of advice to get the conversational juices flowing.  Then, perk up those ears and listen, because you never know what you might hear.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, November 04, 2009 - 1:29:21

DVR: A Blessing in Disguise?

A few years ago, when DVR first emerged onto the home entertainment scene, marketers collectively cringed in anticipation of what seemed to be an unavoidable event: the death of television.  With the convenience of being able to fast forward through every commercial and watch your favorite shows on your own time, digital video recorders were not only alluring to consumers, they were terrifying to the media business.  But, as the New York Times reports, surprising new data released by Nielsen this week reveals that everyone may have overlooked one very small, but very important detail: people are lazy.

In other words, as Brad Adgate of Horizon Media explains to the New York Times, watching TV has always been a passive activity. And just because DVR gives viewers the opportunity to skip the commercials doesn’t necessarily mean they all will adopt the behavior.

In fact, although 33 per cent of TV viewers now have the option of fast forwarding through ads, thanks to ever-increasing DVR subscriptions, Nielsen found that a whopping 49 per cent of viewers ages 18-49 simply don’t, either out of sheer laziness, forgetfulness, or genuine interest in watching commercials. And defying everyone’s fatalistic expectations, what everyone once perceived as a negative has turned out to be a real positive for all four major networks, strengthening the viewer base for established hits and drumming up interest for other less well-known shows.

So, counterintuitive to what everyone believed, instead of causing the downfall of television as we know it, it appears that DVR may actually play a vital role in boosting ratings and revenue. And it serves once again to prove our point that even when you’re doing nothing, you’re doing something… even if you’re just lounging on the couch with the DVR remote and a bowl of popcorn.

In fact, you just might be saving your favorite show from extinction.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sun, November 01, 2009 - 8:54:21

Step by Step

Whether or not you’re participating in this weekend’s New York Marathon, there are times when all of us are so overwhelmed that at the end of another hectic day, we feel as though we’ve sprinted 26.2 miles.  But, as any winning track and field coach can tell you, winning a big race can’t be accomplished when running at full speed the whole way through.  Instead, the best way to make it across the finish line first is to get small and then get going.

No matter what challenge you face, be it a world-class athletic event or a week packed with meetings, conference calls, play dates, and social commitments, the natural inclination is to look at it as one imposing whole.  But, by doing so, you’re likely to fall down in defeat before you even start.  So instead of changing your plans, change your outlook and use the technique famed runner Paula Radcliffe employed in order to win the New York Marathon a whopping three times: take baby steps.

In order to make the long-distance run, Paula Radcliffe literally counts each and every footfall, knowing she’s hit another mile after counting to 100 three times. Sure, it might seem like a counter-intuitive approach, but by counting each real or figurative footfall and celebrating your tiny victories, you will give yourself the motivation you need to make it through to the end. 

When you have a huge deadline, attempting to multi-task or try to do everything at the same time can feel tempting, but even a little worm can tell you that moving along inch by inch is an effective way to reach your final destination.  So, instead of rushing through a million tasks at once, inch along and complete each one well before moving on to the next.  Not only will you reduce your risk of making careless mistakes, you will gain a sense of accomplishment from achieving each mini-task.

As Lao Tzu famously said, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  So, take your focus off of that last mile marker and start concentrating on the small stops you need to make along the way.  Before you know it, you’ll be making great strides.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Sat, October 31, 2009 - 8:59:45

Man’s Best Teacher?

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and even though we’re nearing the end, we wanted to highlight the amazing way that man’s best friend—adopted or otherwise—is making a difference in the lives of children across the country. While you might not expect it, a recent report on CNN revealed that in their own little way, dogs are actually teaching kids to read.

No, it’s not a stunt worthy of David Letterman’s Stupid Pet Tricks segment.  Instead, the dogs merely snuggle up to struggling students, and listen as the children read aloud from the pages of their favorite books.  And although it may seem insignificant, the simple act of cuddling with a dog while reading can have a dramatic impact.  As a result of reading to dogs for just 20 minutes a week, R.E.A.D, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy with the help of therapy animals, reports that students participating in the program improve their reading skills by an average of two grade levels over the course of a school year.

Teachers and psychologists believe that the effectiveness of this unusual learning method is rooted in the naturally therapeutic effects animals have on humans.  As a Purdue University study found, petting a dog relieves stress, lowers blood pressure, and slows the heart rate. For students who are self conscious or nervous about their own reading abilities, these benefits can help ease their anxiety, while the non-judging nature of an animal helps them overcome any sense of embarrassment and builds confidence. 

While it may seem out of the ordinary, programs like R.E.A.D. and “Sit. Stay. Read.” are powerful examples of the amazing ways in which SMALL is always at work.  Whether it’s the comforting warmth of a dog by your side to help you as you sound your way through each syllable or the friendly smile of the coffee shop barista who never forgets your order, the little, seemingly trivial things can make an enormous difference in the lives of people just like you.  So, open your eyes to the monumental power of small in your own life and discover its limitless possibilities.  You just might find it in the form of a furry, four-legged friend.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, October 29, 2009 - 9:58:47

Yale University Learns the Hard Way that Little Mistakes Spell Disaster

Earlier today, we were catching up on the latest in The New York Times, when we saw a headline that really got our attention.  “After Error by Yale, Anger and a Court Fight Ensue,” it read.  And naturally, one might have imagined that the mistake that made international news must have been one of epic proportions.  But, as John Schwartz’s article reveals, Yale’s current legal battles are actually rooted in one tiny error; proving once again that contrary to what you might think, little mistakes can spell disaster.

The New York Times reports that Korea’s prestigious Dongguk University is accusing Yale of negligence and a subsequent cover-up after it mistakenly confirmed the doctoral degree of Shin Jeong-ah, an emerging artist who had been offered a teaching position at the Korean school in 2005.  After students and fellow professors began to have doubts about her illustrious educational background, the university sent a letter to Yale asking to verify Shin’s claims.  Dongguk then received a response and faxed it to Yale’s offices asking for additional confirmation, which a Yale administrator further approved.

It seems simple enough, but it turned out that the initial letter verifying Shin’s Ph.D. was actually a forgery.  And although it contained numerous typos and inaccuracies, including the misspelling of her own name, the Yale administrator accidentally confirmed that she had, in fact, written it.

Then, in 2007, amid a sea of rumors, Dongguk contacted Yale a third time asking them again to check their records and upon investigation, Yale discovered that Shin was never enrolled as a student.  So, they issued an apology to the Korean university, stating that the administrator made the mistake “in the rush of business.” 

But, embarrassed by the scandal which became known as “Shin-gate” throughout Korea, Dongguk was unsatisfied by Yale’s apology and filed suit for $50 million, claiming that Yale’s tiny slip-up had caused the school to lose millions in donations and to be “publicly humiliated and deeply shamed in the eyes of the Korean population.”
While Yale denies any negligence, wrong-doing, or concealment, the entire situation may have easily been avoided if the busy administrator had taken the time to read the letter carefully.
 
When you’re caught up in the whirlwind most of us face in our professional and personal lives every day, paying attention to so-called trivial details like spelling and typos can seem nitpicky and obsessive.  But in truth, just one tiny mistake can land you in hot water, hurt your prospects, or even derail your career.

So, the next time you’re about to shoot off a hastily written email or approve an official form without really reading it, give yourself a minute and take a second look.  After all, a typo isn’t always just a typo. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 23, 2009 - 6:30:14

Greening the Earth with… Garbage?

Could saving the earth be as simple as switching trash cans?  Well, that’s the thought behind San Francisco’s innovative and highly successful new “zero waste” program that aims to reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced by landfills each year.  But, instead of enacting numerous regulations regarding biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage, the city government is asking residents and businesses to make just one small change.  Instead of throwing away leftover food in the regular trash can, San Franciscans are now required to toss it out in a new, green one.

The organic waste, as the city politely calls it, is then gathered up, composted, and sold to farms, vineyards, and other growers as highly fertile compost, helping not only to lessen the burden on landfills, but create more fruitful harvests and raise funds for the city of San Francisco.
And as an unexpected bonus, many local business owners have found that this simple switch is saving them thousands of dollars every month on their trash bills.  In fact, as NBC Nightly news reports, one restaurant in San Francisco has found that the new composting requirements have actually resulted in a savings of over $14,000 each month.

Although reversing global warming is admittedly a monumental undertaking, San Francisco’s compost program is just one more powerful example of how SMALL really can change the world.  Whether you switch from a traditional light bulb to a CFC, carpool with a friend once a week, or start composting your coffee grounds and food scraps instead of throwing them in with the trash, the small changes we make to our every day routines add up.  And together we can each take a small step forward on the journey to making the world a better—and cleaner—place.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 23, 2009 - 2:24:05

Need an Energy-Boost?  Try Thinking Small!

It’s 3:00 p.m. and as if by magic, you feel like all of the energy has been zapped from your system.  You sit at your desk, rest your hands atop your keyboard, and suddenly just zone out. 

Sound familiar?  If so, you’re not alone, because like many others, you’re probably engaging in unconscious behaviors that are actually sucking the energy right out of you.  Luckily, you can reenergize yourself just by making a few little changes to your routine.  And it all starts with thinking small.

As John Salerno, MD, a family physician in New York City tells Denise Schipani of Woman’s Day Magazine, little, seemingly innocuous things like cluttered spaces, lack of fresh air, email overload, and even office gossip can actually have a huge effect on your energy level.  But, with our small tips, you can revitalize your day and become more productive.

Clear the clutter. As Dr. Salerno tells Woman’s Day, the human brain is hard wired to reject cluttered surroundings.  In fact, overstuffed spaces can actually trigger stress receptors in the brain.  So, ease your mind by de-cluttering your desk.  But, instead of going on an all-out cleaning frenzy, try Simplicity Works Organizing Services owner Molly Boren’s tip and “take five.” Zero in on five objects clogging up your space and either stow them away or toss them out.  Instantly, you will feel more relaxed.

Don’t multitask, minitask. Multitasking has long been synonymous with “high-functioning,” but for many folks, it just leaves you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. So, if you have a particularly busy day, take 15 minutes to list out all of your tiny to-dos one by one.  By completing each little minitask, you’ll accomplish the big stuff before you know it.

Get some air. If you’re languishing in the afternoon doldrums, give yourself five minutes to get out of the office and take in a little fresh air and natural light.  Not only will the change of scenery re-inspire your mind, the outdoor breeze can actually help enhance your energy by ridding your body of the chemicals released into the air by some industrial cleaning products and fabrics in your office.

Say something nice. We’ve always said that the negative energy propagated by gossip is like a germ that slowly infects everyone around you and as Schipani writes, a 2006 Northwestern University study found that negative coworkers can actually hinder your own job performance.  So, give your colleagues and your spirits a boost by giving compliments instead of feeding the rumor mill.

Take a small reward.  If you’ve minitasked your way to success, why not reward yourself for your small accomplishment?  If you’re a sweet tooth, try keeping a stash of fun-size chocolates in your desk drawer and treat yourself with one when you’ve marked several action items off of your to-do list.  Knowing you get a reward at the end of your work will motivate you to keep on going.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 23, 2009 - 9:42:46

In a Tough Job Market the Small Stuff Counts

With unemployment continuing to rise throughout the nation, many out-of-work Americans are discovering that today’s job market is more competitive than ever.  And, as an article in Wednesday’s New York Times points out, with so many people vying for fewer positions, employers are being overwhelmed by hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for a single opening.  So, when faced with such a wide applicant pool, hiring managers are finding that the only way to weed out so many impressive candidates isn’t to look at the big picture; it’s to sweat the small stuff.  And to make sure you get ahead in this difficult climate, you should too.

In The New York Times, Michael Luo tells the story of a recent hiring at C.R. England, a trucking company with an opening for an administrative assistant at its office in Burns Harbor, Indiana.  Hit hard by the recession and subsequent steel industry lay-offs, the job opportunity in an area with over 10 per cent unemployment drew 500 applications over the course of one weekend.  And exasperated by the sheer magnitude of the pile of resumes in front of her, the head of recruiting set to work narrowing down the candidates by considering small things like typos, grammatical errors, and more, in addition to the big things like years of experience and education.

When the company selected its final round of candidates for in-person interviews, the company director, Chris Kelsey used a long list of over 100 questions to gauge the intellect, skills, and character of each hopeful.  But, in the end, it was by watching his cues and clues that he picked the final two.
Kelsey and his HR manager took careful note of the mannerisms, vocal intonations, choice of clothing, and flexibility of each candidate and factored it in before coming down to two, almost identical applicants. Both made every effort to make their schedules meet the demands of their interviewers, had industry experience, similar educations, and professional demeanors, but in the end, the search that began with 500 resumes came down to a single question: “if you were in the stands at a baseball game and a foul ball came your way, would you stand up to try to catch it, or wait in your seat and hope it fell your way?”

As you may have guessed the interviewee who said she would jump up and grab the foul ball ultimately scored the gig, but both finalists used the power of small to their advantage during the arduous interview process in order to set themselves apart.  And by retuning your focus to the small details, you, too, can revitalize your job hunt.

So, why not browse a few of our Small Blog posts to find out how you can make it big by thinking small:

What’s in a Name? Tom Sato discovers that the key to getting noticed was changing his name.

Go the Extra Inch.  Learn why bringing your own latte is a sure-fire way to bomb your job interview.

Social Networking: Why it isn’t a Safety Net. We all love Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but sometimes going old-school can be the best bet. A Power of Small reader tells us how one little phone call made her whole career.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 16, 2009 - 4:16:29

Small Repairs Could Save the Planet

There are few problems in the world that are greater, or seem more imposing, than the threat of global warming on our environment.  Scientific research, newspapers, and even films like Al Gore’s award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, have all shown us the grave danger climate change poses, but such an enormous problem could only call for one giant fix, right?  Well, according to an article in yesterday’s New York Times, it appears that making just one small change can have a significant impact.

We all know that over the course of a lifetime, proper maintenance of your car or home can help it last longer, perform better, and save you money.  And by applying this very same principle to the world’s largest natural gas facilities, we could actually eliminate more than 30 per cent of the carbon emissions currently clogging our atmosphere.

Because natural gas, which consists almost entirely of methane, is invisible to the naked eye, natural gas leaks from industrial wells go largely unnoticed, but when viewed through an infrared lens, the emissions can be staggering.  And just by taking this small step and sealing up the leaks, natural gas companies will not only save energy and money, they can help to reduce the contributing factors to global warming by a third. For Southern Methodist University engineer Al Armendaris, who studies oil and gas field pollutants, it’s “an absolute no-brainer, even more so than putting compact fluorescent bulbs in your house.”

Whether you’re an environmentalist or not, this story serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes it’s the practically undetectable things that can have a huge impact on your life.  From eagerly listening to the latest office gossip, to neglecting to send a thank you note after an interview, always showing up late, or failing to offer your help, the little, seemingly innocuous things you do (or don’t do) help to form other people’s perceptions of you.  But, the key to discovering those invisible life polluters is to put on your imaginary infrared goggles and take a closer look.  Once you discover the true power these tiny negative actions have, you can take the small steps forward to fix them once and for all.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 16, 2009 - 9:51:27

Think before you Tweet

Image courtesy of Twitter.com

As the authors of THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we firmly believe that even our smallest actions can have outsize impact on our lives, both professionally and personally.  Whether it’s a kind gesture to a stranger on the street or an unintentional roll of the eyes at a loved one, the little things we do, one by one, can determine the path our lives take.  And sometimes the smallest missteps can spell disaster… even something as tiny as a “tweet.”

As Laura M. Holson writes in a recent article in the New York Times, a number of influential celebrities and public figures have found themselves in loads of legal trouble thanks to a few thoughtless posts they have written on the social networking site, Twitter. 

This month, rocker Courtney Love will appear in court for a hearing after a lawsuit was filed against her by fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir for a hefty sum of $50,000, not for her famed bad-girl antics, but for a few choice words she wrote in a series of tweets.  Although Love, who was angered following a business dispute with the Boudoir Queen designer, probably wrote the insults on Twitter as a way to vent her frustration, Simorangkir (who, among other things, Love called a “liar” and a “thief”) claims that she is in fact the victim of libel.

And Love isn’t the only well known figure that has gotten into trouble with careless messages posted to the microblogging service.  Actress Demi Moore, blogger Perez Hilton, author Alice Hoffman, and entrepreneur Mark Cuban have all found themselves in hot water after making controversial statements on Twitter, but it’s not just a problem facing the rich and famous.  People all over the country have learned the hard way that a little tweet can mean big trouble. 

When Amanda Bonnen complained to her Twitter followers about the mold in her apartment, she probably never imagined that she would be sued by the building management company for defamation and when everyday people make fun of their bosses and coworkers online, they probably never anticipate they will lose their jobs.  But, no matter how insignificant or harmless those snarky tweets may seem, they can have a powerful effect on the course of your life.

So, keep on “tweeting” on, but before you press the update button, give those 140 characters a second thought.  Because the small actions we all take now can change our lives forever.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, October 15, 2009 - 9:41:47

Trust your Intuition: Sweating the Small Stuff Solves the Jaycee Lee Dugard Mystery

With the release of Jaycee Lee Dugard’s photograph on People Magazine yesterday, our attention turns once again to the miraculous discovery of the missing girl, who abducted at age eleven, had been missing for 18 years.  Although her accused kidnapper, Phillip Garrido, had been visited at home by law enforcement on multiple occasions, Dugard remained hidden just a few feet away for nearly two decades.  And if not for a chance encounter with two local police officers who sweated the small stuff and trusted their instincts, the case that has captured the attention of the nation may never have been cracked wide open.

As an article on Oprah.com featuring an interview with University of California Berkley employees, police officer Allison Jacobs and police specialist Lisa Campbell, explains, it was intuition, not DNA or CSI that helped save Jaycee. 

When Garrido walked into the campus security offices at the University of California Berkley with two young girls this August to discuss hosting an on-campus event, Lisa Campbell immediately sensed that something was amiss.  But, instead of ignoring her concerns, she asked Garrido to return the following day and told her coworker about her bad vibes. “I said: ‘Ally, this guy is in my office. He’s got these two young girls. Something’s not right.”  And after that, Allison ran a background check.

As the pair soon discovered, Garrido was not only a registered sex offender, he was currently on parole for rape.  And after speaking with his parole officer, they made a shocking discovery: he had no knowledge of the two daughters who had attended both meetings at Berkley.  And within hours of Lisa and Allison’s report, police officers showed up on Garrido’s doorstep and found a now 29 year-old Jaycee in a hidden compound in the back yard. 

If not for paying attention to the small, non-verbal cues Garrido was giving —what forensic psychologist Anthony Pinizzotto calls “microbehaviors”— it is likely that Jaycee would still be missing, but thanks to their attention to detail, they made a miracle for the Dugard family. 

And it’s something you don’t have to have police training to do.  By going with your gut, you can tap into the primal, innate knowledge that each of us naturally possesses as human beings.  The challenge is to listen to the little voice inside of you, even when you don’t want to hear what it has to say.  Or, as Lisa Campbell so powerfully stated in her interview with Oprah Winfrey: “I think we’re one of the only species that ignores the instinct that we have. Don’t be afraid to question. You can always apologize if you’re wrong. Take that extra step.”

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 09, 2009 - 9:13:31

Changing the World, One Bowl at a Time: Ben Ali of Ben’s Chili Bowl Dies at 82

Walk down U street in Washington DC and while many things have changed, you’ll find one familiar place that’s been a mainstay in the dynamic community for over 50 years.  A place that has witnessed cultural revolutions, demographic shifts, crime waves and times of peace; one that has served as host to dignitaries, civil rights leaders, jazz legends, and everyday folks, and one that for five decades people have come to to set aside their differences over one simple thing: a bowl of chili.

Image courtesy of Washington City Paper

Yesterday, people all over the nation mourned the death of Ben Ali, a Washingtonian transplant who began his pursuit of the American dream after immigrating from Trinidad, and owner of the little restaurant at 1213 U Street called Ben’s Chili Bowl.  Serving up a simple menu of chili, half-smokes, burgers, and fries, what began in 1958 as Ali’s initial $5,000 restaurant investment over time, turned into a local institution and a place where people from all walks of life could meet on common ground and share a delicious homemade recipe.

Sticking it out through tough economic times, rioting neighbors (Ben’s Chili Bowl was one of the few stores in the area to survive the looting of the 1968 riots) and construction projects, Ben’s became the one constant in a neighborhood filled with change, and by staying true to its original formula through good times and bad became a place in the community where people felt at home. 

Over the years, Ben’s became a “go-to” restaurant in Washington, DC, attracting media attention and swarms of out-of-towners, while continuing to serve locals and regulars every day.  And the charm of his little restaurant stayed with patrons long after they left.  So, perhaps then, it should come as no surprise that people all across the country and even the world were so saddened to hear of the passing of a food icon.  Even in the high tech world of Twitter, for much of the past two days, one of the most popular topics of conversation has been Ben’s Chili Bowl.  Living on through his restaurant, Ben Ali embodied so much of what the SMALL philosophy is all about: that even with something as simple as a bowl of chili, we can all help to change the world.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, October 08, 2009 - 11:41:00

Talk to Me, Baby

In our recent guest post on Marc and Angel Hack Life we describe the amazing way in which small talk helped to save the life of an everyday woman battling a terrible illness and it’s just one of the many powerful ways in which small talk works every day.  Whether you’re looking for a new friend or looking for a new career, we know that small talk can open the doors to a wealth of opportunities, but as we were catching up on the New York Times last week, we were reminded of just one more way in which making a little small talk can make a huge difference—even if the person you’re talking to can’t quite talk back.  Yes, as many of our fellow mom’s may know, the simple act of making small talk with your baby can actually play a monumental role in his or her early development.

But, while most of us know how important small talk is to the development of the mind in its most formative stages, making small talk with your kids no matter what their age is an important way to strengthen your bond with them throughout your lives.  Unfortunately, as many of us have discovered, when kids grow older, getting them to open up often becomes a little harder. 

Who hasn’t experienced this situation?

Parent: Walking into the house from school. “How was your day, honey?”

Child: Already making a bee-line for his or her bedroom. “Fine.” Door shuts.

So, how can you change it?  As moms, we’ve found that one secret to getting your kids talking can be as simple as a change of scenery.  For example, try talking with them while their buckled up in the backseat of your car.  As you drive down the road, ask them open ended questions that require more than just a one-word answer.  For example, instead of “How was your day?” ask, “What was the best part of your day today?”  If they’re still a little hesitant to speak up, try our favorite follow-up question (which works wonders on adults, too): “why?”  With the constant motion of the car and the slight separation of the front and back seats, your kids will feel freer to express themselves and over time, these short car-ride chats will not only aid your overall communications, they will strengthen your bond as a family.  If that doesn’t work, try shooting a few hoops together or playing a game of catch.  The combination of physical activity and reduced eye contact will help your kids feel more comfortable instead of self-conscious.

Even when your kids are all grown up, it can still be difficult to get them to open up about their personal lives, but using small talk can still be a great way to get them to let their guard down.  Think of it as your “warm-up act.”  Instead of starting by asking direct questions, just take ten minutes to shoot the breeze and loosen up.  Talk about the weather, sports, a good meal you ate, or any other innocuous subject you can think of.  Once your adult children feel at ease and you’ve had a couple of minutes to chat, they’ll be more apt to let you in on their thoughts and feelings and might even start asking you for advice.

And what could feel better than that?

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, October 02, 2009 - 9:17:19

Today’s Leading Innovators Think Small

As the founders of one of the nation’s fastest growing ad agencies, we’ve learned through experience that the secret to success is sweating the small stuff, honing in on the fine details, and recognizing the amazing potential in even the tiniest of ideas.  And according to a recent report from The Harvard Business Review, we’re not alone in our thinking.  In fact, as professors Jeff Dyer of Brigham Young University and Hal Gregersen of Insead explain, thinking small is intrinsic to the DNA of the business world’s greatest innovators.

After six years of research surveying 3,000 of the world’s leading creative executives (including Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com and Apple’s Steve Jobs) and administering 500 one-on-one interviews, Dyer and Gregersen’s research team unearthed a surprising finding that contradicts the conventional wisdom that breakthrough ideas come from people who think big.  Instead, the research duo identified that these successful entrepreneurs shared a set of five distinguishing characteristics they labeled “discovery skills.”  As Professor Dyer explains in an interview with The Harvard Business Review’s Bronwyn Fryer:

The first skill is what we call “associating.” It’s a cognitive skill that allows creative people to make connections across seemingly unrelated questions, problems, or ideas. The second skill is questioning — an ability to ask “what if”, “why”, and “why not” questions that challenge the status quo and open up the bigger picture. The third is the ability to closely observe details, particularly the details of people’s behavior. Another skill is the ability to experiment — the people we studied are always trying on new experiences and exploring new worlds. And finally, they are really good at networking with smart people who have little in common with them, but from whom they can learn.

When asked to summarize the collection of “discovery skills,” Dyer chooses one powerful word: inquisitiveness.  As we’ve always said, “curiosity kills the competition” and it’s a trait we’ve found leads not only to great ideas, but to great relationships.  Many million dollar ideas were born out of tiny questions and countless friendships in and out of the business world have been forged when people stop delivering monologues and start engaging in dialogue.  Not only does it help to create an instant rapport, it opens both parties up to a wealth of new information and potential inspiration.

And even if you fear that “discovery skills” aren’t a part of your genetic make-up, you can modify your business DNA just by trying a popular little trick we use at The Kaplan Thaler Group: thinking like a four year-old.  Instead of becoming overwhelmed by cumbersome, complex concepts, take a step back in time, think about things in more simplified terms, start asking questions, and follow your curiosity.  After all, you never know where it could lead you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, October 01, 2009 - 9:13:13

A Dog Rescuer Sweats the Small Stuff and Saves a Family

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we explain countless ways in which shrinking your outlook and looking at the world with micro-focus can help you transform your life and change the lives of others.  And as we watched the CBS Evening News a few nights ago, our eyes were opened once again to the miraculous ways in which SMALL works.  As reporter Steve Hartman explains, one caring animal lover’s keen attention to detail actually helped to reunite a family torn apart by tragedy.

Kathy Wilkes-Myers, of the Love Me Tender Animal Rescue in central Tennessee, has dedicated her life to rescuing dogs abandoned alongside many of the region’s winding roads. Most, as victims of abuse or neglect, were timid with strangers, anxious, or unsociable.  But, after discovering one unusually friendly Rottweiler on the side of highway, Kathy couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something different about this case.  While most of Love Me Tender’s dogs were indeed abandoned, her gut told her something different about the new Rottweiler she called Ella, so she decided to trust her instincts and did a little detective work.

Retracing her steps, Kathy starting reconstructing what might have happened during Ella’s frightening time along the highway.  And, revisiting the spot where she discovered Ella, suddenly remembered seeing the wreckage of a terrible accident in the very same place just two weeks before.  Noticing the small clues all around her, Kathy came to the somber conclusion that Ella had been the sole survivor of that car accident and remained at the scene out of loyalty to her family.  But, after contacting local authorities, Kathy discovered that Ella’s family had survived, but had been told by investigators that their dog had almost certainly been killed.  With this new revelation, the police put Kathy in contact with the family and all were reunited at last.

By slowing down and taking notice of the little things, trusting her instincts, and fine tuning her focus, Kathy Wilkes-Myers didn’t just save a loving dog, she became a hero to a heartbroken family.  However in our busy lives, many of us overlook the small clues that surround us every minute of every day, so Kathy and Ella’s story serves as a poignant reminder to all of us how important those seemingly insignificant details—like the smile on a dog’s face or the forgotten trash on the side of the road—can be. And that just by sweating the small stuff we truly can achieve extraordinary things. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, October 01, 2009 - 9:26:34

Business Relationships that Last is in Stores Now!

Looking for a good read? If you loved our books THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference and THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness, then check out the new release by our fellow author and the president of The Relational Capital Group, Ed Wallace. 

Business Relationships That Last is an excellent resource that provides guidance and support to move every business relationship strategically from a business acquaintance to potentially a professional peer or possibly a respected advisor. We know that companies grow through relationships and this book provides clear direction on how to build relationships that last!

So, whether you’re a chief executive or a budding manager, Business Relationships that Last can help you strengthen the so-called “soft skills” of relationship building with five simple steps, and transform any business relationship into a valuable source for revenue, leads, and advice.

Business Relatioinships that Last is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and other fine booksellers nationwide. To learn more about Ed’s new book, visit his website or browse his video catalogue here.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, September 28, 2009 - 9:36:06

Sleep Well, Live Well

In today’s go-go-go world, a good night’s sleep can feel like a luxury, but a new study by the Archives of Internal Medicine reveals that given the heightened fears of a Swine Flu epidemic, it’s more like a necessity.  And the difference between getting sick and staying healthy could simply mean the difference of just one hour a night.

According to the 2009 study, sleep plays an important role in the production of disease-fighting white blood cells.  But most Americans, who average only six hours and 40 minutes of sleep per night won’t enjoy the immunity-boosting benefits of their nightly slumbers, as the body requires at least eight hours of rest to replenish the full white blood cell count.

One hour may seem like an insignificant amount of time, but as Anahad O’Connor reports in The New York Times, the study of 153 men and women showed that those who slept less were a whopping three times more likely to fall ill than those who got the recommended eight hours.

Of course, with so much to do, finding that extra hour in your day to devote to sleeping can seem like an impossible task, but with a little help from THE POWER OF SMALL, you can easily manage it.  How?  By cutting through the clutter and learning to manage your time more effectively.

Start by writing down a list of all of the typical diversions you consider “time-wasters”.  Next, for two days, try to be very mindful of your activities and each time you find yourself engaging in a time-waster, make a check mark on your list.  After the two days are over, take a look at your lists for each day and take note all of the time you “wasted” on activities like aimlessly surfing the internet or flipping though the TV channels without watching anything in particular.  With 57% of Americans admitting to wasting at least one hour per day at work alone, it shouldn’t be long until you can dig up a spare 60 minutes of sleep time.

Once you’ve taken a good hard look at your daily habits and found your extra hour, you can begin retraining your mind to work within your new, more productive schedule by using small steps.  For two weeks, dedicate yourself to going to bed just five minutes earlier than the night before.  At the end of the 14 day period, you’ll have painlessly adjusted to your new sleep schedule and can begin reaping the rewards of a healthier you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, September 25, 2009 - 9:29:15

Fast Forward

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we discuss how the simple act of sending a hand-written thank-you note can work wonders to help you make a great impression by going the extra inch.  So, as we read Michael Schrage’s recent post on his Harvard Business Review blog, The Conversation Starter, we were reminded again of how even the smallest gesture, like a handwritten note or a thoughtful email, can have an outsize impact on your professional and personal relationships.  And his SMALL idea?  When you want to make a great impression, sometimes all you have to do is fast forward.

As Schrage writes on his blog, the advantage of this now “old-school” method of forwarding interesting articles, YouTube videos, blog posts, and other links via email instead of sharing on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is the potential for what he calls “creative customization.”  Instead of posting to Facebook’s relatively public “wall” or tweeting to the massive Twittersphere, email forwards present the opportunity for a continued, private, one-on-one dialogue with the recipient—and while Twitter and Facebook both offer some form of privacy via Direct Messaging, email forwarding is still the most immediate way to share knowledge on the Web. 

This “creative customization” is a powerful force that not only helps you instantly connect with your recipient; it indicates special thought and attention.  Instead of posting to the masses that you read an interesting article, individual email forwarding allows you to select an article based on common interests, send a quick communication, and open yourself up to a follow-up by phone or email.  Even better, it gives you fodder for small talk during your next face-to-face meeting.

It’s just another simple yet effective way you can go the extra inch with your friends, family, clients, and coworkers and especially helpful for shy folks who have difficulty reaching out.  So, the next time you come across an interesting link online, don’t just be reminded of someone, hit “control + C” and “control + V” and email it!  You’ll never know how far a little forwarding could lead you until you give it a try.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, September 25, 2009 - 9:15:11

Taken to the Cleaners

Every Thursday after work, Will Norton would gather up his dirty dress shirts, load up his car, and drive five minutes to his neighborhood dry cleaners.  “Welcome back, Mr. Norton,” the cashier would say and smile, “Good to see you again!”

After a few minutes of casual conversation, sharing the latest news of each other’s lives, Will would take his claim ticket, pull out his car keys and make his way back home.  Then one day, something different caught the cashier’s eye. 

“Hey, nice new key chain,” she remarked. 

“New car keys!”  Will proudly replied.

The two chatted for a bit about his recent big purchase and then, as always, Will tucked his claim ticket in his front pocket, waved goodbye, and started the short drive back to his house.  When he arrived home just a few minutes later, a message was waiting on his answering machine.

“Mr. Norton,” it began, “it’s Faye.  From the cleaners?  Anyway, a customer just came in with a hood ornament that he found in the parking lot and I think it might be yours.”

He glanced outside his window and sure enough, his brand new car was missing one.  So, he sped over to the dry cleaner and there it was, safe and secure in a plastic zipper bag with his name written on it in black marker.  Naturally, Will was touched.  After all, the cashier knew he would be in again the following week, but instead of waiting, she took the time to call him up before he could even notice his hood ornament was missing.  And to top it off, she even remembered the little detail of the make and model of his new car.

Immediately Will, a natural born talker, started telling everyone he knew about the stellar service he received at his neighborhood cleaners.  And just like the old shampoo commercial goes, he told two friends, and they told two friends, and before he knew it there was a line out the door and a place on the “best of” list of his town’s newspaper.

And it’s all thanks to the amazing power of small talk.  In a time when companies are looking to cut back on promotional costs, making small talk is a free and easy way to take your company from ordinary to extraordinary.  The short, seemingly insignificant conversations shared between employees and customers on a daily basis don’t just help to pass the time, they actually enhance the customer experience and help to give you first-hand knowledge that just might come in handy some day.  If Fay hadn’t mentioned Will’s new key chain, she may have never had the opportunity to perform the small act that helped take her workplace from just another corner cleaners to the best one in town.

So, the next time you feel like clamming up, get curious and start making small talk.  You never know where those little words could lead you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, September 18, 2009 - 11:31:25

Enter the POWER OF SMALL Sweepstakes to Win an iPod Nano, Starbucks Gift Card, and More!

All week long, our SMALL fans have been entering the POWER OF SMALL Sweepstakes to win loads of fantastic prizes and we’re still giving them away! But, the fun won’t last forever, so make sure to enter today simply by registering on our website (to receive our confirmation email, you must provide a valid email address) and take a moment to peruse our blogs while you’re here.

Along with copies of our bestselling books, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness and THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make all the Difference, you may be eligible to win one of the following fabulous prizes:

One iPod Nano, preloaded with the audio version of THE POWER OF SMALL.

A stylish set of stationary to write your own thank-you notes.

A twelve-month subscription to Zagat.com.

One gourmet muffin basket, which we hope you’ll share with a friend!

A Starbucks gift card worth $100.

So what are you waiting for?  Enter today and while you’re at it, tell a friend!

All winners will be notified via email, so be sure to add thepowerofsmallblog@gmail.com to your safe senders list and don’t forget to watch for a message from your friends at The Power of Small!

Read full contest rules here!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, September 17, 2009 - 5:05:56

What’s in a Name?

Tom sat at the dinner table feeling perplexed.  After spending more than six months sending out resume after resume, he had yet to hear back from a single company.  With strong experience in his field, a degree from a prestigious university, and fluency in no less than four languages, he couldn’t understand why no one was calling.  Then his wife looked at him and posed a seemingly inane question:

“Do you think it could be your name?” she asked.

“My name?” he echoed, befuddled by her question.

“Yeah, like do you think people are afraid to call because they can’t pronounce it?  I mean, you’ve heard the telemarketers…” she trailed off.  “Never mind, it was just a silly idea.”

But as he slurped up his fettuccine, Tom got the feeling that she might be on to something.  You see, on paper he wasn’t “Tom”; he was “Toshihisa,” using his full name—one that he hadn’t been called, well, ever.  And one that over and over he had heard others struggle to pronounce, even on his graduation day.  Who could forget the memorable messages he would receive from cable repair men, sales people, and doctors’ offices, all interrupted by the same hilarious moment of panic:

“Hi, I’m calling for…uh…Tuh…Toha…Tohee… Oh, jeez, Mr. or Mrs. Sato?”

Tom had to admit, it was an interesting idea.  Could employers be missing out on a great candidate just because his name, with its intimidating string of H’s and I’s, was so impossible to pronounce?  He decided to conduct an experiment.  He pulled out his laptop, opened up his resume and deleted his first name, replacing it with the easily uttered “Tom.”

The next morning, while searching his favorite job site, he spotted three positions he would be perfect for.  So, with his new resume ready to go, he drafted three new cover letters, signed “Tom Sato” and sent them on their way.  After spending most of the day in meetings he looked at his Blackberry and saw three missed calls: one from his wife, and two from Human Resources at two different companies.  It seemed that their hypothesis was correct.

Tom’s story is just another striking example of the countless ways in which SMALL works every day.  By putting his head on the other person’s shoulders and recognizing that his hard-to-pronounce name might be intimidating to otherwise interested employers, he made a tiny but ingenious change that revved up his once-stagnant job search.  The simple act of changing the name on his resume from the formal title no one called him to his widely known nickname took him from a candidate on the backburner to one hot commodity in the matter of a few hours. 

And if SMALL can work for Tom, it can work for you, too.  All you have to do is retune your focus from the big picture to the small pixels.  By zeroing in on life’s little details, you can recognize the potential in the things you might once have deemed trivial and in doing so, you can change not only your mindset, but your career, your schoolwork, your marriage, or even your whole life.  So get out that magnifying glass and start looking!  The answers are out there; it’s up to you to find them.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, September 15, 2009 - 9:10:59

THE POWER OF SMALL Sweepstakes!

You’ve waited weeks to find out about our special SMALL announcement and the day is finally here.  We’re having a giveaway and anyone can participate!  Enter simply by registering on our website (to receive our confirmation email, you must provide a valid email address) and take a moment to peruse our blogs while you’re here.

Five lucky winners will be randomly selected to receive copies of our bestselling books, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness and THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make all the Difference, along with one of the following fabulous prizes:

One iPod Nano, preloaded with the audio version of THE POWER OF SMALL.

A stylish set of stationary to write your own thank-you notes.

A twelve-month subscription to Zagat.com.

One gourmet muffin basket, which we hope you’ll share with a friend!

A Starbucks gift card worth $100.

So what are you waiting for?  Enter today and while you’re at it, tell a friend!

Read the full contest rules here.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, September 14, 2009 - 10:05:21

Moment to Moment

Earlier this week, we read a wonderful article in The New York Times covering Jude Law’s critically acclaimed performance in Hamlet, which recently wrapped in London and will debut on Broadway later this month.  In his interview with Sarah Lyall, Law confesses that tackling the title role was daunting to say the least.  But, as he explains to the journalist, becoming Hamlet was an epic journey best travelled one small step at a time.

“Because of the speed and pace with which you have to wrench yourself up and down the emotional spectrum, you can’t quantify beforehand how far you have to go,” he said. “I was very daunted when I sat at the bottom of the mountain and looked at it as a whole and thought, ‘How do I get from here to the other side?’ But to watch where you’re going at the beginning of the play is the wrong way to go about it […] It’s a lot easier to cope with if you play moment to moment. That mirrors what Hamlet goes through and where he gets to in the end, when he talks about ‘The readiness is all.’ ”

Although we can’t all be Academy Award-nominated actors, each of us can use Law’s approach toward Hamlet throughout our lives to conquer even our most intimidating challenges.  Though our goals may differ, one powerful tactic can show us that nearly anything is possible.  And the path to this discovery starts with “thinking small.”

For many years, the prevailing wisdom has been to think big.  After all, big problems call for big solutions, right?  Well, quite frankly, we disagree.  In a culture where big cars, big houses, and big spending accounts reigned supreme, all this talk about big seems to have landed us in a world of trouble.  That’s why we think big is so 2008 and our new climate calls for a fresh approach:  the key to handling even life’s biggest challenges is to break them down into tiny, more manageable pieces.  Thinking small doesn’t mean running away from the problems you think you can’t solve, it means honing in on the details and finding smaller aspects that you can.  Then bit by bit, you’ll scale that mountain and before you know it you’ll achieve the impossible.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, September 10, 2009 - 10:28:54

SMALL Ways to Go Green

It’s amazing what you can discover on Twitter!  A few days ago, as we were trading interesting stories and quotes with our followers, we learned quite an eye opening fact from Parent Hacks blogger, Asha Dornfest (@parenthacks).  Just by cutting out one and a half pounds of meat from your family’s diet each week, you can have the same environmental impact as if you were to switch from a standard sedan to a hybrid vehicle.

Usually, when you think about combating global warming, the task can seem so immense that it feels as though the world is literally resting on your shoulders.  Yet, the fact Asha shared with all of us on Twitter serves as a wonderful reminder that each of us can have a huge impact with even our smallest actions. And it got us thinking… if such a tiny change could have such a monumental effect on our environment (not to mention our wallets and waistlines), what other small things could each of us do in order to truly change the world for the better and improve our finances at the same time?  Well, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite small and easy ways to go green and we hope you’ll take them on one at a time to start making every day Earth Day.

Have one “no-cook” meal a week.  Give your oven (and energy bills) a break by preparing just one no-cook meal a week, such as a big salad, gazpacho, or even an antipasto platter.  Both your range and oven use significant amounts of energy and combat the cooling effects of your air conditioning in the warmer months, so give each of them the night off and hit up your favorite recipe sites for a little inspiration.

Bring your own to-go cup. Now you have a good excuse to purchase one of those trendy to-go cups you’ve been eyeing at your local coffee house: it can help you save the planet.  And not only will bringing your own travel mug help you reduce the number of disposable coffee cups tossed out each year by possibly hundreds, many coffee houses actually offer discounts to people who bring their own personal cups.

Kick your shoes off.  Throughout Asia, it is customary to remove your shoes before entering a home and we think it’s a great way to keep your house cleaner, longer.  So, why not try out the tradition and become a shoe-free house?  By keeping your footwear off your carpets, you’ll find yourself plugging in that energy-sucking vacuum a whole lot less.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get small and go green!  The promise of a cleaner, healthier planet all starts with you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, September 09, 2009 - 10:45:26

Save Big Bucks by Thinking SMALL

While the prospect of an economic recovery seems to be on the horizon, many Americans are still looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs.  From eating out less to dropping your land lines, the possibilities for saving little by little are astounding.  But, there’s one tiny habit you can incorporate into your shopping routine that will help you save BIG without sacrificing a thing and it’s called a checklist.

As we write in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, checklists are a simple yet effective way to manage your work flow and really get things done, but they’re also a powerful tool in helping you manage your personal finances.  Why?  Because, as Money Magazine reports, over two thirds of purchases made at the supermarket are actually impulse buys.  So, the best way to stay on track is to arm yourself with a detailed, organized grocery list and stick to it.  Not only will it help you remember everything you need for that week’s meals, it will remind you of all the things you really don’t.

So, before you head out to the store each week, set aside just 15 minutes, grab a pen and paper, and get writing.  Close your eyes and visualize the layout of your super market and write the list according to your typical shopping pattern.  Do you start in the produce section?  Then your list should begin with all the fruits and vegetables you’ll need for the week.  Do you head to the meat counter next?  List out chicken, fish or any other ingredients you might need.  Continue this method until you’ve imagined yourself all the way to the checkout counter and then review your list twice to complete a final inventory. 

Once you finish your list and make your way to the store, cross each item off as you go along.  Then watch for that magic number to appear on the register; you’ll be amazed at the amount you saved with very little effort.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, September 01, 2009 - 9:56:55

A Can Full of Dreams

If you’re a fan of THE POWER OF SMALL, then you know how using checklists can help you revolutionize your daily routine.  By simplifying even the biggest tasks into smaller, more easily accomplished steps, you can make even the busiest of schedules feel manageable.  But, when we were writing our book, we never imagined the amazing potential that these simple lists possess.  That is, until we read the story of Tererai Trent, a young Zimbabwe woman who achieved the impossible just by thinking small.

In his stirring New York Times Magazine article, “The Women’s Crusade,” author Nicholas Kristof relates her inspiring tale, which begins in a tiny village in rural Zimbabwe.  As a young girl, Tererai tended to her family’s cattle while she watched longingly as her brother, Tinashe, set off to school each morning.  Desperate for a chance to learn, the bright Tererai completed her less-talented brother’s homework each night, teaching herself to read and write in the process.  Perplexed by the sudden shift in the quality of her otherwise indifferent student’s homework, Tinashe’s teacher did a little digging and discovered that his sister was actually completing his assignments.  Then, convinced that Tererai was a prodigy, she pleaded with the children’s father to allow her to attend school.  Eventually, he gave in, but after only a few terms, forced Tererai into marriage at the tender age of 11.

With her dreams of education dashed, Tererai settled into an unhappy marriage and was subjected to brutal beatings by a husband who despised her literacy and zest for learning, until one day, she had the conversation that would change her life. 

Jo Luck, the newly appointed president of the charitable organization Heiffer International, was visiting Tererai’s village to donate livestock to impoverished residents when she joined a group of local women in conversation.  Discussing their difficult lives and unhappy marriages, a resigned Tererai asked Luck, “If you’re a woman and you are not educated, what else?” Touched by the sadness in Tererai’s eyes, Luck tried to convince her that her life could be different and encouraged her to think about her hopes and dreams once more.

So, emboldened with a new outlook, Tererai grabbed a pencil and paper and began making a list.  Goal one:  Travel to the United States of America.  Goal two: Obtain a college degree.  Goal three: earn her PhD.  She wrapped her checklist up in a protective layer of plastic, stashed it in a tin can, and buried it under a rock.  And then, little by little, she began her formidable journey one small step at a time.

After successfully completing a correspondence course, Tererai began saving money from her position as a community organizer in her village.  And then, six years after her endeavor first began, Tererai received an invitation to attend Oklahoma State University, where she later earned her Bachelor’s degree while working full-time.  Soon after, her five children joined her in America and she completed her Master’s degree in Arkansas and is now a doctoral candidate at Western Michigan University.

Not long ago, Tererai made the trip back to her village in Africa to visit a familiar old rock.  She dug up her check list and one by one, marked off her accomplishments.

It’s just another amazing-but-true example of the many ways in which SMALL works… and it can work for you, too.  No matter where you live, what you do, who you are, or what you believe, each of us can achieve even our biggest goals, just by starting small. No matter what you dare to achieve, the secret to success resides inside of you and it’s up to you to put it to good use.  So, next time you’re feeling discouraged or overwhelmed by the obstacles you’re facing, think of Tererai’s story and put your best foot forward.  Your journey may be filled with pitfalls and setbacks, but step by step, you’ll get there.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, August 28, 2009 - 1:53:02

Think SMALL and Live Long

If you’re a regular reader of the Small Blog or a fan of our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make all the Difference, then you already know how you can improve your relationships, boost your productivity, and confront your biggest challenges just by thinking small.  But did you know that the power of small can do more than just change your life?  As a recent segment on The Today Show reveals, taking small steps can actually help you extend it.

As Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief of Prevention Magazine, explains, making big changes like quitting smoking, increasing your intake of fish and leafy greens, and exercising regularly are all keys to helping you live a long and healthy life, but there are also a plethora of little adjustments we can all make to extend our years and live our lives to the fullest.

So, if you’re ready to think small and live long, why not try our little suggestions?

Laugh more.  Life isn’t just more fun when you find humor in the little things, it turns out it’s actually healthier.  Scientific studies have shown time and time again that people who laugh more live longer, suffer fewer illnesses, and recover more readily from major illnesses such as cancer.

Make small talk with a stranger.  Loneliness and solitude aren’t just bad for your morale; they can actually increase your risk for dementia and other age-related diseases.  So, turn back the hands of time, embrace your inner chatty teenager, and make small talk with the person next to you.  Not only will your brain benefit from the stimulation of a new experience, you just might make a lifelong friend.

Count your steps.  We’ve all heard the expression, “Eat less.  Move more.”  But, with busy schedules, constant commitments, and pricey gym membership fees, it can seem difficult to put into practice.  Well, we have a simple and cost effective solution for you: buy a pedometer.  When you see the number of steps you take each day, you can easily challenge yourself to take a few more, bit by bit.  Before you know it, you’ll be skipping the subway and counting your steps to a slimmer, healthier, and more fit self.

Do you have a SMALL tip to help other readers live better?  Send us your ideas at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or tweet with us @ThePowerofSmall.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, August 26, 2009 - 9:23:23

SMALL Changes the World

In today’s challenging times, the prospect of global economic change can seem overwhelming.  While many Americans are struggling just to make ends meet, overseas millions more are enduring the kind of unimaginable hardship most of us have never encountered and when faced with such tragedy on the grand scale, it’s easy to feel helpless.  But, over the weekend we read an amazing New York Times Magazine article by Nicholas Kristof which opened our eyes to the surprising ways in which we really can change the world.  And it starts with the power of small.

In “The Women’s Crusade,” Nicholas Kristof explains that while immense, many of the world’s biggest problems are actually rooted in smaller, more solvable causes and a large number of them involve women’s rights.  In countries where women have less access to education in particular, the quality of life suffers dramatically, yet many girls continue to miss school for largely preventable reasons.  And small, simple solutions can make all the difference.

In Kenya, for example, where the elevated poverty level is blamed in part on the high birthrate among teen mothers, one research study has found that giving female students a new uniform every 18 months dramatically reduces their likelihood of becoming pregnant and discourages truancy.  At a cost of only $6 per uniform, it gives new meaning to the phrase “return on investment.”

Similarly, many girls in African nations miss school each month because of embarrassment and shame over their menstrual cycles.  However, non-profit organizations like The Campaign for Female Education and Sustainable Health Enterprises, and corporate donation programs like Proctor & Gamble’s “Protecting Futures” campaign have shown that simply giving these girls access to sanitary napkins and restrooms during the school day helps them to get the education they need in order to succeed.

While many human rights efforts in the developing world are aimed at helping teen girls avoid unwanted pregnancies, Kristof argues that more emphasis should also be placed on helping pregnant women stay healthy.  And one answer can be found in a surprising source: salt.  Although in the developed world, salt is typically thought of as an unhealthy food, in moderate servings, traditional table salt provides a boost of iodine, an essential nutrient for fetal brain development.  Just by helping the poorest nations iodize salt, iodine deficiency could be eradicated in over thirty percent of these regions households.  And in doing so, expectant mothers could see a 10-15 point increase in their babies’ I.Q.s.

In an age where our problems seem to come with trillion dollar price tags, such surprisingly simple (and economical) solutions are truly inspiring.  But it just goes to show that many times, the biggest ideas come in the smallest packages.  So open your eyes to the answers all around you.  You just may find the next monumental breakthrough in something as tiny as a grain of salt.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, August 25, 2009 - 9:51:41

People are Talking about THE POWER OF SMALL!

Little by little, word of our new book is spreading across the blogosphere and we can’t say a big enough thank-you to all of our SMALL supporters.  In case you missed it, here’s what people are saying:

“With both skill and passion, Kaplan and Koval urge their readers to be alert for the important details that others miss, to become an effective problem finder, to make “going above and beyond the call of duty” their standard operating procedure, to be a more inquisitive and attentive listener, to take advantage of every opportunity to tell others how much they are appreciated, and in countless other ways to apply and leverage “the power of small” whenever and wherever appropriate.” —First Friday Book Synopsis

“But by not appreciating the small stuff, we’re doing ourselves an incredible disservice. Because we’re so focused on the big picture we forget how important, and how beautiful, our tiny victories can be.”—The Greenest Dollar

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, August 25, 2009 - 9:35:13

Watch Linda and Robin Today on Mike and Juliet!

In case you missed it the first time, watch us this morning on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet to hear the inspiring stories of everyday people who changed their lives just by thinking small.

Check your local listings for more information and tune in to find out how you can get SMALL and get going!  Missed it again?  Don’t worry, you can catch it on our website along with other great SMALL clips on our Buzz section.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, August 21, 2009 - 3:57:25

Get Small and Fight Stress

Feeling stressed?  With the constant stream of bad news on TV and online, the obligations of work and family, and the everyday pressures of life, it’s easy to understand why many Americans are feeling more anxious than ever.  But as The New York Times reveals, scientists have discovered a new reason why so many of us feel like we just can’t catch our breath.  As it turns out, our stress is actually making us more stressed.

In a recent study of chronically stressed rats by Nuno Sousa of the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute at the University of Minho in Portugal, the brain actually rewires itself to fall back on rote behaviors.  Instead of relying on their creativity to develop new responses to familiar stressors, the over-stressed rats instead fell in a pattern of consistently self-defeating behavior, in essence continuing the vicious cycle of stress begetting more stress.

Sound familiar?  Well, don’t worry, because amid this anxiety-inducing news, scientists have also made a promising finding.  Despite the brain’s strong inclination to repeat stress inducing behaviors, it can also be easily “reset” by making small adjustments.  But, the key is to recognize the symptoms and then make the conscious decision to take a step back.  After allowing the brain the time it needs to reboot, you can return to the task at hand not only refreshed and relaxed, but better equipped to make the right decisions.

So, the next time you feel like you’re spinning on a hamster-wheel of stress, stop, step off, and try these SMALL tips:

Give yourself a minute. When you’re working toward a deadline, it can be tempting to just “power through,” but it’s important to take a break from time to time.  So, after each hour of solid work, give yourself a few minutes to stand up from your desk, stretch, and breathe deeply.

Work out.  Countless studies have shown the physical and psychological benefits of exercise, which include increased energy and reduced anxiety.  But, if you’re too busy to hit the gym, don’t sweat it. Try keeping a set of light weights handy to do a few reps while you’re working.

Break it down. When you’re working on a big project, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the enormity of the job.  But, you can protect yourself from a total breakdown by mini-tasking your way to success.  Instead of trying to finish the project in one enormous chunk, reduce it down to simply accomplished mini-tasks and complete them one by one.  And before you know it, you’ll be breathing a sigh of relief.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, August 20, 2009 - 9:43:30

Planting the Seeds for a Happy Workplace

Despite the growing optimism surrounding our nation’s economy, there’s no denying that the past year has brought an enormous amount of hardship to workplaces around the country.  Whether at a large corporation or a small business, nearly everyone has felt the pinch of the recession, but smart employers are doing their part to make the day-to-day lives of their employees just a little brighter.  And they’re doing it one seed at a time.

As a recent Wall Street Journal article reports, small businesses, government organizations, and large corporations throughout America are grabbing hold of the green trend and starting their own company gardens.  Planted, nurtured, and harvested by their employees, the gardens not only provide nourishing ingredients for weeknight meals, they are a cost effective way to expand health and wellness programs and allow companies to relate better to an increasing number of locavore consumers.

But, perhaps even more importantly, the communal tilling of soil, watering of seedlings, and pruning of vines grants workers a sense of camaraderie outside the office.  Able to literally reap the fruits of their labor, coworkers gain a newfound appreciation for their team-working skills, which in turn fosters the positive energy needed to boost morale at work.

Of course, not all businesses have the means to start their own company gardens, but each of us possesses the power within to plant the seeds of positivity through our smallest acts. Whether you organize a company softball team to engage in a little friendly competition with local businesses or you spring for a few boxes of doughnuts to start your coworkers’ mornings off on a sweet note, each of us can make our offices better places to work, one small step at a time.

So, ask yourself, “What can I do today to plant a positive seed in my workplace?”  Then, get small and get growing!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, August 19, 2009 - 2:43:29

Sweeten the Deal

Monday morning, we came across a fantastic New York Times interview with Career Education Corporation CEO Gary McCullough, which once again reaffirmed our belief that little things really do make all the difference.  McCullough, who began his career not in the corporate world, but in the military, shares a wonderful story of the thoughtful general who inspired his troops with one simple act, and it’s a principle that has guided his approach to leadership ever since.

One unseasonably cool February in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Gary McCullough watched as his commanding general reviewed his platoon of 38 men.  Then, the general turned to one of McCullough’s vehicle drivers and asked him how he liked the weather and the private replied with a surprisingly frank, “Sir, it stinks.”  After a brief conversation, the general asked what he could do to make it better, to which the private simply responded, “Sir, I sure could use a Snickers bar.”

At the time, McCullough was mortified, convinced that his reporting soldier’s behavior may have cost him his career.  But, a few days later, he was shocked to discover a delivery for the unhappy private: a box full of 38 Snickers bars accompanied by a handwritten note from the general that read: “I can’t do anything about the weather, but I hope this makes your day a bit brighter, and please share these with your buddies.”

Immediately, McCullough recognized the amazing power of the general’s small gesture.  Although it took very little time and very little expense, the general’s little gift had a profound effect on the platoon and as McCullough explains, from that moment on they “would have followed him anywhere.” 

And it just goes to show you that bigger isn’t always better.  When searching to make an impact, we often mistakenly assume that making a grand gesture is the only way to shine.  But, as the general showed Gary McCullough, making the small effort to go the extra inch can really help you go the distance in boosting employee morale.

Still need convincing?  We know firsthand the effectiveness of small acts of generosity.  One steamy day a few summers ago, we took over an ice cream truck and parked it behind our building, treating everyone in our office to a scoop or two as a little show of appreciation for all of their hard work.  Not only did our small act provide our team with a little afternoon sugar rush, it brightened everyone’s day and in turn, helped to fuel their productivity.

So, forget about grand gestures and start thinking small.  You’ll find you have an army of supporters when you sweeten the deal.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, August 14, 2009 - 10:04:58

She’s Going the Distance

In our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference we tell the story of Paula Radcliffe, the amazing marathon runner who makes it through every grueling 26-mile race just by counting the steps.  During our busy summer, we’ve often thought back to her approach while trying to achieve our own goals, one small step at a time.  So, yesterday morning, we were particularly touched by the Today Show’s report on Vivian White, a mother who is coping with her son’s deployment to Iraq one footfall after another. 

When Vivian White’s son, Brian, left their Charleston, Illinois home bound for Kirkuk, Iraq with his National Guard platoon, his mother was filled with the same mixed emotions that many military mothers face.  Although she was exceedingly proud of her son’s bravery, she was also gripped with terrified anxiety, knowing that her son would be thousands of miles from home and in harm’s way.  So, she did the only thing she could think of: she began running to him.

Vivian decided to mark the passage of time through the completion of miles and made it her goal to run 6,500 in total: the distance from her Midwest home to her son’s base in the Iraqi desert.  Every morning, rain or shine, she would wake up and set out on a nine mile trek before returning home. With each step, she found herself tiny moment closer to the day when she could run into her son’s arms, embrace him, and finally welcome him home. And as other moms heard her story, they were inspired to join in and “donate” their miles to help her feel just a little bit closer to her faraway son.  Slowly, word of her journey began to spread, and to date more than 300 moms, dads, and caring citizens in 42 states have logged over 14,000 miles for her cause.

It might seem like an unusual approach, but Vivian White shows us all how we can achieve even our biggest goals, just by starting small.  Certainly, running all the way from Middle America to the Middle East would be an impossible task, but by thinking small and discovering her own inventive solution, Vivian is achieving the unachievable.  So, ask yourself, “What small step can I take today to accomplish my biggest goals?”  Then think of Vivian White, make that first little move forward, and go the distance.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, August 11, 2009 - 11:49:04

Go the Extra Inch

Friday marked a bit of good news for our challenging economy.  For the first time in a year, the unemployment rate is down, helping to fuel the growing optimism that’s slowly taking hold of our nation.  But, as promising as this news is, we can’t emphasize enough the importance of making yourself stand out in this ultra-competitive job market.  And one of the best ways to do so is to go the extra inch.

Sure, arriving on time and obeying the “Starbucks Rule” are important courtesies that can help you get a leg up on your competition, but in order to really shine, sometimes you have to make a little more of an effort than you might expect.  As a recent article on CNN Money illustrates, many prospective employers are putting candidates through the ringer and the applicants who go a little bit above the employers’ expectations are the ones to make the cut.  And it reminded us of one SMALL story that hits particularly close to home.

During another difficult job market some years ago, a young health care administration student at NYU was eager to start his career in the medical field. After scouring the newspaper for job listings, Kenny Koval discovered the opportunity he’d been waiting for: an evening administrator’s position at Lenox Hill Hospital.  An entry level, night shift gig—the ambitious college student knew it was the perfect way to get his foot in the door. 

After submitting his resume, Kenny was thrilled to land an interview for the job.  But, the morning of his meeting at Lenox Hill, Kenny awoke to the biggest blizzard New York had seen in years. Knowing that hospitals never close, Kenny decided that now was not the time to call and reschedule.  So, he strapped on his boots, zipped up his coat, and headed out into what looked like the Great White North.  Trudging through the snow, Kenny made it to the train with hours to spare.  But, once he made it aboard, the train came to a screeching halt.  Trapped in the stalled train car, time ticked away and before he knew it, Kenny was running an hour late.  Unable to call on a cell phone or even a pay phone (it was 1978, after all) Kenny did the only thing he could think of—he begged the conductor to call the dispatcher and relay his message to the hospital. 

And to his delight, they did.  Another hour later, Kenny arrived at Lennox Hill tired, cold, and soaking wet; not exactly “dressed to impress.”  But, regardless of his appearance, Kenny’s determination made a stellar impression on the hiring managers and although he was the candidate with the least experience, two weeks later, he was hired.  After thirty years, Kenny is now a senior executive at the largest municipal hospital system in America and, as you might have guessed the husband of a certain SMALL author.

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a blizzard to hit in order go the extra inch.  Every single moment presents us with new and effective opportunities to do a little more than is expected.  But, if you need a help getting started, why not try some of these small tips:

Give them something for nothing. If you’re trying to break into a field where you have little to no experience, one great way to showcase your talents is by offering free samples of your work.  Whether you volunteer to work as an intern or design a mock portfolio for review, your hard work and drive will certainly get you noticed.
Be a gentleman (or woman).  Simple, courteous gestures like holding the elevator, propping the door, and saying “please” and “thank you” to everyone you meet shows potential employers that you value everyone’s time.  And remember, it’s not just the boss who counts. 

Do the “write” stuff.  We all know that a thank you note is mandatory after a job interview, but you can take it from requisite to exquisite with just a few small extras.  Instead of simply thanking them for their time and expressing your continued interest, take it a step further and mention something unique you remember from your interview.  Your attention will likely garner theirs.

Don’t stop at the thank you note.  Even if you don’t get the job, stay on the radar screen for the next opportunity by keeping in touch.  In this email age, it’s easy to do by sending articles of interest and recommending other people who could be helpful in business endeavors.  With just the click of a mouse, you can begin to create a valuable relationship for the future. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, August 10, 2009 - 12:04:41

The Letter of a Lifetime

For fans of the movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Home Alone, and The Breakfast Club, the tragic passing of writer/director John Hughes came as a shock.  At just 59, Hughes died Thursday morning of a heart attack, while taking a stroll in Manhattan.  While his death leaves many mourning the loss of such a talented member of the entertainment community, it also brings to light his enormous effect not only on his industry, but on the lives of so many people who identified with his films.
For one fan, his influence reached even further.  As Alison Byrne Fields writes on her blog, We’ll Know When We Get There, the heartfelt fan letter she wrote as a teen earned her the unlikeliest of pen pals.

One night while babysitting in 1985, Alison looked around for something to occupy her in hours after the children had gone to sleep.  She grabbed a pad of yellow grid paper and a ball-point pen, and set to work on a fan letter to the director of her favorite Brat Pack movies, John Hughes.  Pouring her heart out in blue ink, she thanked Hughes for understanding the experiences of her generation and helping her cope with her own teen angst.  She signed her name, sealed it in an envelope, and sent it off, hastily awaiting a reply.

A month later she got it… in the disappointing form of a form letter.  Enraged at such an impersonal response to her heartfelt letter, Alison scribbled down an angry note, chiding Hughes and demanding an answer.  Much to her surprise, he obliged.  “This is not a form letter,” he wrote. “The other one was. Sorry. Lots of requests. You know what I mean,” and continued to tell her how much he had enjoyed her notes.  Emboldened by the response, Alison asked if he would be her pen pal and Hughes agreed.

For several years, the unlikely pair of the small-town teen and the Hollywood director exchanged handwritten letters about the movie business and life as an adolescent.  In their notes back and forth, Hughes gained further insight on his audience and Alison found a new sense of self confidence.  As she writes on her blog, “He made me feel like what I said mattered.”  And, of course it did.  As Hughes would confide to her ten years later, he would often think to himself “I’m doing this for Alison,” while making important decisions about his films.

Although the two eventually lost touch, that first little letter changed their lives forever.  Alison would continue on to embark on her own career (which for a time involved using film as a way to improve the lives of young people) inspired by the words of encouragement Hughes had given her during her teen years.  As a young teen, she might have imagined that her voice didn’t matter, but thanks to one passionate letter, she discovered that she had the power within to make a difference and that “if a little girl had something to say, someone would listen.” 

So, the next time you discount the notion of a handwritten note, think of the story of Alison and John and dust off your note pad.  You might not think your words matter, but there’s someone out there who wants to hear from you.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, August 07, 2009 - 9:30:10

Emotions are Contagious

Shana was elated as she exited the elevator and made her way through the lobby of her brand new office.  Beaming with pride at having landed her dream job right after graduating business school, she couldn’t wait to get acquainted with all of her new coworkers.  But, as she entered the quiet corner where her division was housed, she felt the smile melt away from her face.  “Hey,” said a morose looking stranger, “we have a status meeting at 11:00 in the West Conference Room.”  And as she set up her laptop without a single smile to greet her, Shana stifled that boisterous enthusiasm, furrowed her brow, and frowned.

Unfortunately, Shana’s experience is all too common in today’s hectic world.  Every day, as we rush to make our deadlines, pick up our kids, and manage our households, many of us simply forget to smile.  But, you might want to consider turning that frown upside down, because it turns out, your expressions actually are contagious.

If you’ve read our book, THE POWER OF NICE, then you already know how negativity can be like a germ… and scientists can prove it.  Just like the old saying, “monkey see, monkey do,” humans instinctually mimic each other’s expressions from the time they are infants.  And, as Carol Kinsey Gorman, author of The Nonverbal Advantage writes on her blog, emotional contagion continues to be a powerful social factor throughout life.

As individuals, it can be tempting to discount the significance of our expressions.  After all, what difference could one little frown, roll of the eyes, or frustrated glare make?  But, in truth, a simple facial expression can mean the difference between a happy marriage and an impending divorce, a productive office and an anxious workforce, and a happy baby and a constant crier. 

So if you walk around town with a perma-frown, we suggest you inoculate yourself against the virus of negativity and start smiling! Studies show that the simple act of smiling won’t just make everyone around you feel more at ease; it actually tricks your brain into a better mood.  Of course, we don’t expect you to immediately begin flashing a grin at everyone you see, but you can get yourself into this happy habit by starting small.  Each time you head out, make the effort to give just one smile (you could even start by smiling at an unintimidating dog or baby) and before you know it, you’ll find you have a new automatic expression and a better outlook. 

Now, that’s something to smile about.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, July 31, 2009 - 10:16:07

Little Words can Save Lives

It’s the phone call no parent ever wants to receive.  You hear the voice of your child on the other end of the phone, making seemingly normal conversation, when suddenly they utter the words you never wanted to hear: “Don’t forget to feed the cat.”  It sounds innocent enough, only, you don’t have a cat.  It’s a secret phrase, or “duress code”, that you and your child devised in the case they were ever abducted.  It’s the kind of unimaginable situation every parent dreads and that’s why establishing a danger word or phrase with your child at an early age is so important.

As parents, we all try to shield our children from harm, teach them not to talk to strangers, and to hold our hands.  But, in the rare case that your child does fall victim to a predator, that one little word can actually save their life.  Instilled from an early age and carried on through adulthood to be shared with a spouse or other close loved one, that little word can continue to protect them even when you no longer can.

Although it’s difficult, it’s essential to talk to your kids about “stranger danger” and develop your very own secret word.  Working together, you can come up with a memorable one that you can easily work into a sentence while sounding casual to outsiders.  It could be any word, from the name of your child’s favorite stuffed animal to a mundane household object: the key is to make it something that both of you can remember no matter what.

We know it’s difficult, after all, we’re moms too, but discussing the tough stuff with your kids before it becomes a reality is the most important step in keeping them safe.  And although you will hopefully never have to use it, just knowing you have your danger word will certainly make a world of difference.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, July 30, 2009 - 10:12:08

Baking Her Way Back Home

When Angela Logan first began baking her signature apple cakes many years ago, she never imagined that her grandmother’s old recipe would one day save her family.  But, the working actress and resident of Teaneck, New Jersey discovered just that when her home of twenty years went into foreclosure through no fault of her own.  Although she immediately took action by applying for the Making Home Affordable program, Logan was still required to make a $2,500 mortgage payment in order to qualify.  And to make matters worse, she only had ten days.  So, what did Logan do?  She started thinking small.

Although she had earned her living as an actress and substitute teacher, Logan knew she had to think of an alternative in order to amass such a large sum so quickly.  Undeterred by the enormity of the task ahead, she began thinking of small talents she already possessed.  And then the light bulb went on:  she would sell her kids’ favorite cake and call it, “Mortgage Apple Cake.”  Priced at $40 each, she decided if she could sell ten cakes a day for ten days, she would be able to keep her home.
As Angela turned to friends, family, students, and parents, for help, the orders rolled in. As one friend told another, the power of small talk took hold, and soon, the media caught wind.  Airing her story on local news channels, Logan’s orders skyrocketed from 42 orders to over 500 orders in a little less than two weeks.  But with one bowl, one spoon, and four cake pans, baking all those Mortgage Apple Cakes proved difficult. 

So, the organization BakeMeAWish stepped in and offered to help. Today, we’re happy to say Logan is not only free from the grips of foreclosure, she just might have discovered her true calling. No longer in need of mortgage assistance herself, she will continue to partner with BakeMeAWish, making the Mortgage Apple Cake a part of the company’s regular product line.

As is so often the case, many times the greatest ideas start with the faintest glimmer of inspiration.  Unwilling to let the grandeur of her problems defeat her, Logan was forced to innovate and discovered that she already had the tools she needed to help herself.  And we can all learn a lesson from her struggle.  When faced with adversity, we can either give up or persevere.  And if you’re ready to fight, it’s time to get small and get going.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, July 29, 2009 - 8:49:26

Little Pillows, Big Hearts

When we close our eyes and doze off to sleep each night, we don’t always realize how lucky we are just to have a soft place to rest our heads.  But, as we tuned into Jenna Wolfe’s recent TODAY segment relating the amazing story of one New Jersey sewing school owner, we began to look at our pillows in a whole new light.  After learning that many soldiers in Iraq had no pillows in their bunks, the Midland Park native took it upon herself to make the lives of these American troops just a little bit better.  And she did it one small stitch at a time.

Assigning each of her young students to sew a pillow for a soldier in need, the teacher soon filled boxes and shipped them thousands of miles away to bases in the Middle East.  Never knowing if their donations would even make it to the other side of the Ocean, the class was surprised and delighted when they began receiving notes of thanks from grateful soldiers on active duty.

Although most of the teacher’s students were born after the start of the Iraq War and are too young to understand the real impact of their work, they continue to be inspired by one simple, driving principle: every soldier deserves a place to rest their head.  And, as one grateful recipient explains, the small act of kindness bestowed upon him by an anonymous stranger was the powerful reminder of home that gave him the strength to keep pushing forward.  It may be hard to imagine, but in a place where everything was foreign, the mere sight of that familiar household object represented a whole lot more than a good night’s sleep.

It’s just another bit of proof in the mountain of evidence we’ve compiled in our case for THE POWER OF SMALL.  One small, brightly colored pillow might seem utterly insignificant to most, but in reality it can mean much more than a comfy spot to cuddly up.  For the recipients of the Midland Park pillows, they were a piece of home, a spark of motivation, and a comforting presence in a strange land.

Of course, the sewing teacher never set out to make such an enormous impact, but stitch by stitch, she and her students did just that.  And in return, they were rewarded by the kind of satisfaction that only comes from doing good.

So, look within and ask yourself what little thing you can do for others right now and start small.  In this case, we hope you’ll find you reap what you “sew.”

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, July 27, 2009 - 1:19:36

Little Kids Can Do Big Things by Thinking Small

When you think of the kind of humanitarians who spread good will around the world by building orphanages, feeding the hungry, and nursing the sick, you often think of entertainment powerhouses like Oprah Winfrey, political figures like President Barack Obama, and global icons like Mother Theresa.  But, the person you’d least expect to be helping to make the world a better place just might be swinging from the monkey bars on your local playground.  That’s right, in addition to using their youthful energy to launch their own businesses, everyday kids are hard at work to help change the world and they’re doing it with the power of small.

When we first heard the incredible story of Isabelle Redford while tuning in to World News Tonight with Charlie Gibson, our jaws dropped.  At only seven years old, the little girl from Parsons, Kansas has raised enough money to build one orphanage in Haiti and is well on her way to garnering the funds needed to construct another. 

It all began with a story.  When Redford was just five years old, her mother related the tragic news report she heard about a set of newborn Haitian twins left orphans when their mother died in childbirth.  Profoundly touched by the thought of children living without parents, Isabelle saw it as a call to action, immediately looked at her mother and asked, “What can we do?  We have to help.”  After brainstorming with her mother, Isabelle realized she could use her love of drawing for a charitable purpose and set to work on a collection of greeting cards she would sell through the Global Orphan Project.

In the two years since that fateful day, Isabelle has raised over $10,000 for her cause.  That’s $13.69 every single day—and she’s only a second grader.  And if she can do it, imagine what you can do if you only think small.

When we think about changing the world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the grandeur of such a task.  But, the truth is nothing happens overnight.  Bit by bit, moment by moment, our actions add up.  So, if you want to make a difference, stop thinking about the big picture and start asking the question that Isabelle asked: “What can I do right now?”

To make a real impact, Isabelle didn’t need to write a big fat check to her favorite charity or throw a lavish fundraiser and neither do you.  The key is to get creative and discover the simple gifts you already possess that you can use to your advantage.  If you’re a great writer, submit an Op-Ed piece to your local newspaper on an issue you care about.  If you’re a savvy marketer, offer your expertise to a non-profit in need.  If you’re crafty, why not sell a few of your creations on Etsy.com and give the profits to charity or donate handmade blankets to a homeless shelter?

As Isabelle Redford shows all of us, you don’t have to be big, to make a big difference.  With a little ingenuity and a lot of heart, you too can help to change the world.  So what are you waiting for?  Get SMALL and get going!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, July 23, 2009 - 3:50:37

Cursing is Good for You?

When we released our bestselling book, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness, we explained how one powerful four-letter word could change your life.  Well, according to two MSN and New York Times articles, it turns out that NICE isn’t the only four-letter word that can have a big impact.  Contrary to what your mother always told you, a few scientists believe that sometimes saying “bad words” might actually be good for you.  And while we certainly don’t advocate cursing, it’s a funny example of SMALL’s big power.

Earlier this month, scientists in the U.K. published a study in which they examined the relationship between pain and swearing.  Noting that physical pain and curse words often go hand-in-hand throughout the world, the British scientists recruited 68 students to put their theory to the test by asking each of them to submerge their bare hands in ice water for as long as they could manage.  Prior to beginning the exercise, the scientists surveyed the students to find out words they might use in response to pain (all but one student replied with some form profane language) and then, as a control, were asked to provide a neutral word they might use to describe an inanimate object.
 
After placing their hands in the ice water, the participants were then instructed to utter a swear word over and over again, and then repeated the same exercise substituting the control word instead.  As you might imagine, the swear word somehow enabled the students to tolerate the pain of the bone-chilling ice water for remarkably longer.

The scientists aren’t quite sure how, but it’s just another powerful, albeit humorous, way that small things really can make all the difference.
So, the next time you channel your inner sailor after you stub your toe, hit your funny bone, or spill steaming hot coffee down the front of your shirt, don’t feel so guilty.  On some occasions, a few four letter words could be just what the doctor ordered.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, July 17, 2009 - 7:10:41

Baby Steps

With summer in full swing, many of us are trying to shed a few pounds in hopes of getting that beach body before heading on vacation.  But, for many others, weight loss isn’t just about looking better in a swimsuit, it’s a matter of life and death. 

Such was the story of David Smith, a young Arizona man recently profiled on TODAY, who lost an amazing 410 pounds in just 23 months.  After years of battling his extreme obesity, Smith had cut himself off from society completely.  Unable to leave his house due to worsening anxiety and an even lower self-esteem, Smith dropped out of high school, was unemployed, and had no friends.  At his lowest point, Smith even considered ending his life.  But, a tiny voice inside of him told him not to give up.  So, in a moment of spontaneity, Smith contacted his local television station with his story and before he knew it, he was paired with the trainer who would change his life forever.

Faced with the most challenging client he had ever encountered, Smith’s new trainer and nutritionist, Chris Powell, discovered that the only way Smith could achieve such a daunting goal was to take “baby steps.”  So, he designed a unique diet regimen, alternating “strict days” with “reward days” and quickly began noticing results.  Each week, Smith lost more weight and in just under two years transformed from morbidly obese to healthy and fit.

But his amazing metamorphosis didn’t end there.  Once isolated and sedentary, Smith is now a personal trainer, focused on helping others escape the kind of life he once lived.  And while still learning to overcome his own shyness, Smith now cherishes the friendship of his one-time trainer and current roommate, Chris Powell.

It didn’t happen overnight, but step by step, David Smith was able to overcome his greatest challenge and create the life he had always dreamed of.  And it all started with a phone call and a little voice inside telling him to give it one more try.  So, listen to the voice inside of you.  It just might save your life.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, July 15, 2009 - 8:17:21

Unemployment: a Blessing in Disguise?

image courtesy of ohio.gov

It’s a staggering-but-true statistic: nearly ten percent of Americans are currently unemployed.  But even in the face of such tremendous challenges, there is hope.  According to this month’s Snag-a-Job.com survey of recently laid-off workers, more people than ever before are viewing their misfortune in a whole new light and discovering that sometimes the shock of a job loss can actually be a blessing in disguise.

Cathy McCarthy, senior vice president and marketing director at Snag-a-Job tells The Baltimore Sun, “Once they got over the initial shock, they were able to refocus on themselves, spend more time with their families, their hobbies, their volunteer work.” Such an optimistic response to an often dire situation might come as a surprise, but as we discovered while writing THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, it’s often in the toughest situations when the spark of an idea can launch the greatest success.

Why?  Because when you have nothing left to lose, you have everything to gain.

Take, for example, the amazing story of Carol Gardner, a 52 year old divorcé with no job, no income, and no prospects.  Confronted with a bleak future, Gardner had no clue that the idea of a lifetime was literally licking her in the face.  Unemployed and low on cash, Gardner entered her local pet store’s annual Christmas card contest in hopes of snagging the grand prize: a year’s supply of dog food for her 4-month-old English Bulldog puppy.

With this humble goal in mind, Gardner set forth on the photo shoot that changed her life. She plopped her stocky little English Bulldog in the tub, fashioned a fluffy white beard out of bubble bath around her face, and clicked away.  After writing a cheeky caption, Gardner sent her entry off to the pet store and to her surprise, not only did she win, but the card became a hit with all of her friends and family.  Suddenly, the light bulb went on: she didn’t need to find a new job.  Instead, she could carve out her own career by a greeting card business based on Zelda, her mutt of a muse.  And so, Zelda Wisdom was born and shortly thereafter, Hallmark came calling, helping to turn her SMALL idea into an international line of greeting cards, gifts, clothing, jewelry, and even books.

Sure, not all of us happen to own pets with amazing star-power, but each of us possesses the unique power within to change our lives, one small step at a time.  So, if you’re one of all too many of the hardworking Americans who have suddenly found themselves without a job, take heart.  By harnessing the power of small in your own life, like Carol Gardner, you may discover that today’s trying times are your blessing in disguise.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, July 13, 2009 - 8:25:21

Larry Says “Listen Up!”

A few nights ago, we tuned in to watch one of our favorite interviewers, Larry King, take a turn on the other side of the desk when he appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show.  Little did we know, the long-time CNN host would have a bit of NICE advice for the show’s newly-minted star, Conan O’Brien.

Larry King’s words of wisdom spread far beyond the realm of the TV host and ring true for anyone looking to master the art of conversation.  As King reminded Conan O’Brien, the most important thing you can do in a conversation (on-camera or otherwise) is “to LISTEN” – and it’s a technique O’Brien’s Tonight Show predecessor and friend of THE POWER OF NICE, Jay Leno, perfected.  When you let the other person become the star of the conversation, you automatically cast yourself in a more positive light, and the easiest way to connect is to start asking questions.  As Larry King once told us, you can really get a conversation going just by asking “why?” 

Forget the old cliché “curiosity killed the cat” and start thinking, “curiosity kills the competition.”  Although Larry King and Jay Leno are both known for their clever television personas, they’re equally well respected for their ability to let the other person do the talking…and as you might imagine, both men are heavy hitters when it comes to the ratings and regularly book the biggest names in the industry to appear on their shows over and over again.
So, take a hint from Conan O’Brien and put Larry King’s advice to work for you.  Whether you’re trying to get a new job, woo a new client, or even just trying to get a date, it’s time to tone down your talking and perk up those ears because the easiest way to make a great impression is to find out what others have to say.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, July 10, 2009 - 3:06:24

Take a Fiscal Health Day

You’ve heard of sick days, vacation days, and maybe even mental health days, but when was the last time you took a fiscal health day?  That’s the question Rob Lieber asks in his recent New York Times article and one we find to be particularly pertinent given the current economic climate.  With so many of us concerned about our money, Lieber explains that taking just one day to make small changes to your accounts can make a big difference in your financial life.

When faced with the daunting challenge of getting “fiscally fit”, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the immensity of the task, but you can shrink your problem down to size just by using one of our favorite SMALL methods: make a checklist.  When you list out every little action item you need to complete in order to accomplish your overall goal, you take the abstract idea of “fixing your finances” and redefine it into tangible and achievable “mini-tasks.” Sure, making a checklist to help you sort out your financial issues probably won’t make you a millionaire overnight, but we guarantee it will help you sleep easier. 

As Lieber writes in his article, the best way to get started in your mini money makeover is to start with the easiest things first.  So, once you’ve written your checklist, go back and organize all of your tasks by level of difficulty from easiest to hardest.  After you complete each one, cross it off your list and before you know it, you’ll find that the satisfaction you gain from accomplishing each goal will boost your confidence to tackle the tough stuff.

Need a few hints to help you get started on your financial health checklist?  Try these tips and get ready to reap the rewards:

Switch to a high yield savings account. If, like a surprising number of Americans, you don’t already have a savings account, now is the perfect time to start.  Head to the web to learn about online-only banks offering high yield accounts with no minimum balance, or browse personal finance blogs like Gen X Finance, by our friend Jeremy Vohlwinkle, for the inside scoop.  If you’re already in the habit of saving, make sure to check your interest rates.  Just by transferring to a higher-yielding account, you could save considerably more in the long run with minimal effort.

Negotiate. Looking for an excuse to put THE POWER OF NICE to good use?  Look no further than your friendly customer service representative.  Whether you’re looking to lower your credit card’s APR or just want to get a better deal on your cable, you’ll find that a little sugar goes a long way.  So, no matter how many times you’re placed on hold, resist the urge to intimidate and instead try to make the person on the other end of the phone smile.  Trust us, you’ll be happy you did.

Check, check, and re-check.  As we love to say, “little mistakes can spell disaster,” so use your financial health day to carefully read all of your financial statements and monitor them for errors.  After all, a misplaced decimal point could mean the difference between one dollar and one hundred dollars! Once you’ve honed your bill-scanning skills, make sure you stay in the habit whenever you receive a new statement in the mail or online.

Do you have a SMALL tip to help others rev up their financial health?  Let us know with a comment or tweet with us all week long @ThePowerOfSmall!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, July 10, 2009 - 11:48:51

Robin Explains Why Slow and Steady Wins the Race on The Finish Line

Today, life coach Ann Mehl interviews Robin on her amazing blog, The Finish Line.  Just like us, Ann believes that the best way to achieve lasting success in your professional and personal life is to start small, so we were thrilled to have the opportinity to share our strategies for success with all of her readers.

To read Ann’s fascinating post visit her website and don’t forget to leave a comment with your thoughts!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, July 09, 2009 - 10:08:16

Generation M? Meet the SMALL Revolution.

A few days ago, we were reading Umair Haque’s blog, Edge Economy when we came across his stirring post, “The Generation M Manifesto.” In this open letter to his peers, Haque outlines the values of what he calls Generation M, a new subset of business people who are rejecting the long-held ideals of big business and embracing a people-focused, micro-economic viewpoint.  At the center of his argument is the desire to pare down, reconnect, and get back to the basics of what makes people and businesses thrive.  And it reminded us of a certain cause that is very near and dear to our hearts: the SMALL Revolution.

In our own manifesto published on the ChangeThis website we proposed that the key to remaining viable in today’s changing times was to radically shift our way of thinking from the big picture to the small pixels.  In essence, we have to start thinking small.

A core tenet of the SMALL Revolution, thinking small isn’t about becoming lost in the minute details, it’s about retraining your mind to recognize and appreciate the value of the little things.  It’s about finding the beauty and power of small details and understanding their important relationship to the bigger picture.  When you refocus your attention from “biggie size,” as Haque terms it, to the human scale, you will find that thinking small won’t just help you get things done faster, it will help you stay on track longer.

So, to those of you new members of Generation M and to everyone else out there looking for a revolutionary new way to navigate these challenging times, we’d like to introduce you to our cause and let you know we’re in your corner.  It’s time to toss aside the old notion that they key to success is to “go big or go home.” The supersized life is out and the minimized approach is back.  As we like to say, thinking big is SO 2008.  Now is the time to think small.  So, won’t you join us?

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, July 02, 2009 - 9:25:31

Finding the Small Joys in a Dreadful Job

image courtesy of workitmom.com

We’ve all been there.  You’re working in a thankless job, doing mindless tasks, for a boss who just doesn’t seem to recognize your effort.  For many of us, that’s precisely the reason we move on to new positions.  But, in today’s difficult job market, more and more people are finding themselves temporarily trapped in a job they hate and as Steven DeMaio, author of the blog I Quit-Now What, explains, sometimes you just have to make the best of the worst job.  And the easiest way to do it, he writes, is with a little laughter.

In his post, “How to Make the Best of The Worst Job,” DeMaio describes how he coped with what could possibly qualify as one of the worst jobs ever: microfilming death certificates inside a closed, darkened, and poorly ventilated walk-in safe at the local town hall.  To make matters worse, the clerks of the town hall largely ignored him, referring to him only as “the micro guy.”  But, DeMaio discovered a potential friend in one clerk, by noticing one small detail; instead of “the micro guy” this clerk called him “the archivist.”

Recognizing this difference not only in semantics, but in attitudes, DeMaio began making small talk with the clerk, sharing stories about the town’s history as it pertained to deaths.  It might not have been the most cheerful of subjects, but it became the basis of a private game.  Every day at lunch time, the clerk would submit his guess for one year’s most prevalent cause of death, and at the end of the day, DeMaio would reveal the correct answer.  Eventually, other clerks became interested in the game and everyone partook in the daily ritual, helping to forge a relationship between DeMaio and the town hall staff and make his otherwise dreadful job a little more fun.

And that’s why, he argues, we all need to find the small joys in even the most tedious of jobs.  When you indentify even one miniscule thing to help brighten your day, it can alter your perception of your work, enhance your overall performance, and even improve your appearance in the eyes of others.

After all, as anyone can tell you, negativity is like a virus. It spreads throughout your system to affect the way you view every aspect of your job and in turn, changes the way others perceive you.  Inevitably, the more you concentrate on how much you hate your job, the more unpleasant it will become.  But, by simply finding just one little thing to smile or laugh about, you’ll find your job will become a whole lot less painful.  In fact, you might even start to enjoy it.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, July 02, 2009 - 7:25:02

Watch Us Today on The Martha Stewart Show!

Did you miss our appearance on the Martha Stewart Show or just wish you could see it again?  Well, we have great news!  Tune in today as Martha rebroadcasts our SMALL episode and see her website for more information.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, July 01, 2009 - 10:06:08

6 Minutes to Fitness

image courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania

We know.  You’re probably thinking it sounds like the lead-in for a too-good-to-be-true infomercial, but recent scientific studies have shown that with as little as six minutes of exercise per week, you could increase your fitness levels as much as those who exercise six hours.  According to an article published in the New York Times, scientists at McMaster University in Ontario Canada researched the relationship of endurance levels to time spent exercising on two controlled groups of participants.  Going against the long-held perception that only lengthy exercise sessions build endurance, the research revealed quite a counterintuitive finding.  Short, but highly intense workouts can produce nearly identical endurance levels to those lasting hours longer.

And all that scientific talk sounds a whole lot like something very near and dear to our hearts: The Power of Small.  While further analysis is needed before we can truly know if we’re only six minutes from physical fitness, you can apply the same principle of short but intense bursts of effort throughout your life and harness the power of small to become happier, healthier, and more efficient:

Speed Clean: As Molly Boren, owner of Simplicity Works Organizing Services, explains in our book, start by isolating one small project and give yourself just enough time you need to finish it.  Try closing one eye, and with your thumb and forefinger stretched outward, make a circle in the air around the area you want to clean.  Set a timer for 15 minutes and get cleaning.

Have an Email Power Hour: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of messages in your inbox, you’re not alone.  But, instead of declaring email bankruptcy, dedicate a concentrated amount of time each morning to answering your emails.  Whether it’s one hour, or 10 minutes, give yourself the time you need to read and write back to each one you receive.  Not only will you feel more relaxed, your “senders” will thank you!

Scale the Stairs: Instead of waiting for the elevator every day, you can squeeze in a quick but intense workout just by sprinting up the stairs to your office.  Just remember to pack an extra pair of shoes and you can put the six minute fitness theory to the test yourself.

Make the Switch: If you’re addicted to the buzz that your daily cola provides, try switching to diet.  Talk about a fast way to lose weight—that simple change can save you 100 calories a day, which in turn will help you effortlessly lose 10 pounds over the course of a year.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, June 26, 2009 - 8:08:52

Micro Loans have Macro Effects

image courtesy of Project Concern International

As the founders of a small business that became a billion dollar advertising agency, we know firsthand the tremendous amount of hard work and focus it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.  As we explain in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, some of the biggest success stories came out of the smallest ideas.  From the wrinkly-faced bulldog that inspired a multi-million dollar gift line, to the DIY mom who sold her concept for a trendy shoe decoration for a massive sum, starting small has been the key for countless women entrepreneurs around the world to achieve BIG.

That’s why we were particularly touched by yesterday’s article in The New York Times, which reported how disadvantaged people around the world are changing their lives with the help of microloans.  These tiny monetary loans given out in order to help people of developing nations create their own sources of income are nothing new, but now combined with brief educational courses on economic basics, they are helping to change lives more than ever before.
As we delved deeper into the article, we discovered the inspiring story of a woman in India, which poignantly reminded us again of the amazing power that “small” can bring to our lives. 
Trapped in an abusive marriage, the woman that The New York Times describes had been so brutalized over the years that she lacked the confidence to simply make eye contact with another person.  After the New Jersey based non-profit organization, I Change, persuaded her to enroll in a short entrepreneurship course, she gained the courage not only to open her own grocery store, but to leave her husband once and for all.  What’s more, emboldened by her newfound independence and financial success, she filed suit against her former abuser, obtaining child-support for her son and the return of her dowry.  Today, I Change reports, the woman is not only reaping the rewards of owning her own business, she has set her sights on pursuing a law degree to help other women break free from the kind of life she once lived.

It all began with a tiny loan and a short class and it’s a true testament to the undeniable power of small.  Once trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation, the woman from India was given a fresh start by boldly stepping into her future, one foot at a time.
And if she could do it, just imagine what you can do.  No matter how difficult your obstacles may appear, you, too, can overcome them.  The ascent may be arduous, but just keep climbing.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, June 25, 2009 - 8:24:45

Sleep it Off

Finally, an exercise routine we can really get into!  As Dr. Dennis Rosen reports on his blog at Psychology Today, recent scientific research supports the finding that sleep is actually tied to weight loss.  According to Rosen’s article, sleep related weight loss may occur because metabolic rates actually increase during sleep, due to the brain’s heightened activity during REM. Since the brain comprises 20% of the body’s total energy use, it seems that sleep may actually be a form of exercise. Yes, that’s right, couch potatoes rejoice, because the world’s most leisurely activity just might hold the answer to helping you shed those extra pounds.

If you’re a workaholic or busy parent who just can’t seem to lose that excess bit of weight, you might want to ask yourself one simple question: “am I getting enough sleep?”  With less than half of Americans getting the recommended seven and a half to eight hours per night, it’s a good bet that you’re one of them.

But, fitting in those extra few hours of sleep each night is easier said than done.  After all, with looming deadlines, kid’s soccer games, and a host of other commitments, it’s hard to find the time to breathe, let alone sleep.  That’s why we suggest you try a similar approach to the one we use when exercising in order to get to bed earlier.  And it all starts with thinking small.

Everyone knows we dread our hourly sessions on the StairMaster, but we’ve discovered a secret to shrinking those sessions down to size.  Now, when we hit the gym for a little workout, instead of doing the whole hour at once, we use a timer to count down the minutes of our sessions, starting with ten minute increments, decreasing to nine, then eight, and so on. 

But, on your new sleep plan, you’ll use our method in reverse.  Each night, for one week, make the commitment to go to bed just ten minutes earlier than the night before.  By the end of the week, you’ll have gotten an extra hour with barely any effort.  Looking to add in another hour?  Just keep going for another full week and before you know it, you’ll be in the habit of going to bed two hours earlier than you did when you started.  Not only will you feel more refreshed, chances are you’ll shed a few pounds in the process.

Now, if only the StairMaster were that easy…

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, June 25, 2009 - 9:15:11

Putting Worry to Work

In light of recent current events, you’ve probably experienced an increase in one emotion more than any other: worry.  Worry over your finances, worry over the crises in Iran and North Korea, worry about your kids, and worry about your future.  All this worry might even have you concerned that there is something wrong with you, but breathe easy, because according to a recent article on The Huffington Post, we’re actually hard-wired to worry. 

Chronic anxiety can be a serious problem for which sufferers should seek professional help, but for the average worry wart, there are a number of ways in which you can actually put your worry to work. 

How?  By thinking small, of course! By channeling your anxious energy and refocusing it to “sweat the small stuff” in controllable areas of your life, you’ll not only become more productive, we bet you’ll grow more relaxed as well.

So, next time you feel a hint of worry creeping up on you, close your eyes and think about exactly what is causing your anxiety.  Is it a problem you can solve on your own, such as trouble with your finances, or one that is beyond your control, such as a global political dispute? Once you pinpoint what’s really bothering you, you can begin to take action.

If the root of your worries is beyond your control, it’s time to refocus your energy toward solving a problem in your life that you can fix. But, instead of taking it on all at once, try breaking it down into easily accomplished mini-tasks.  For example, if your goal is to clean your house, make a checklist of each action you’ll need to take, crossing them off as you go.  Seeing your list grow shorter and shorter will empower you with the motivation you need to keep going.

Make sure to practice our SMALL approach regularly and before you know it, shrinking your problems down to humble proportions will become automatic.  So, don’t fret!  By thinking small and refocusing your attention to the tiny, accomplishable goals in your life, you too can tame the “worry beast” once and for all.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Mon, June 22, 2009 - 1:59:27

The Power of Small Goes Global!

Last night, Robin stayed up late to chat with the folks at Radio New Zealand about THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference.  Listen to Robin’s interview here to hear her share amazing stories about how “small thinkers” have made a big impact!

Our thanks to Jim Morra for taking the time to make a little SMALL talk with us!

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, June 19, 2009 - 6:30:53

The Twitter Revolution: Iranians Harness the Power of Small with Social Media

“We have no national press coverage in Iran, everyone should help spread Moussavi’s message. One Person = One Broadcaster. #IranElection,” read one post on Twitter this week.  This powerful message of revolution is just one of thousands being sent out every hour to the masses in rebellion against the Iranian election results.  With no traditional media outlets, Iranians in support of opposition candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi have turned to social media to participate in the newest form of political rebellion, cyber activism.  Behind all of it is a concept very close to our hearts, which we discuss in our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: that each of us has the power within to affect real change in our own lives and in the lives of others. 

As Monday’s New York Times article, “Social Networks Spread Defiance Online”, explains, the Iranian government’s crackdown on communication between its citizens by blocking text messaging, cell phone, and internet service, has caused Iranians to devise new ways to sidestep the restrictions.  On the high tech side, Iranians reach the internet by connecting to proxy servers created by individuals around the world for the sole purpose of aiding their cause.  By donating their skills, these developers’ small actions give a voice to thousands who would otherwise remain silent.

And it doesn’t stop there.  Thousands more are using social networking sites like Facebook, and most notably the micro-blogging service, Twitter, to not only report the latest news on the developing crisis, but to voice their solidarity in the struggle.  Through inspirational tweets featuring hashtags like the one above, by organizing others for protests, or by simply turning their avatars green, users throughout the global online community, from Twitter and beyond have joined forces to fight for a single cause.

One person equals one broadcaster.  It’s a powerful and awe-inspiring reminder that no one is insignificant.  Each of us can harness the power within to make a tangible difference, one small action at a time.  Alone, our voices may become lost in a sea of noise, but together we can each do our part to make real change.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, June 18, 2009 - 3:22:17

Enough About Me

If you’ve read THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference or watched this touching YouTube video sharing the story of Annamarie Ausnes and Sandie Anderson, then you already know what a powerful effect small talk can have on your life.  When we take the time to make a little chit chat with the people standing right next to us, we open ourselves up to a wealth of opportunities, experiences, and possibilities, but mastering the art of small talk can be tricky.  And when practicing your small talk skills, it’s imperative to ask one question: “How do I talk about myself?”

Chris Brogan recently broached the topic on Feed Front, and he reveals in his post that one of the best ways to tell people about yourself is by asking questions about the other person.  It’s a technique talk show host and friend of THE POWER OF NICE, Jay Leno, explained to us that he has used with guests for years and one that psychologists have now discovered is a powerful way to make a lasting romantic connection.  After all, when you ask someone about themselves, you immediately share a common interest and there’s nothing more seductive than being around someone who finds you utterly fascinating.  (And nothing more boring than being on a date with the guy who says, “Enough about me, let’s talk about my accomplishments.”)

But being curious isn’t just great for your love life; it can actually help you excel professionally.  Why?  Because, as we have discovered, curiosity kills the competition.  At The Kaplan Thaler Group, expressing a real interest in what makes our clients tick hasn’t just given us enormous insights, it’s won us accounts.  And it all starts with the small talk we make with clients before the big pitch.  By asking questions outside of the boardroom, showing a genuine inquisitiveness about the ins-and-outs of our clients’ businesses, and learning about the people behind them, we say more out ourselves than any list of accomplishments could express.

So, next time you strike up a little conversation with a stranger, a date, or a potential client, remember that the questions you ask are just as important as the statements you make.  You’ll soon discover there’s nothing insignificant about small talk.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, June 17, 2009 - 4:15:29

The Best Leaders “Think Small”

image courtesy of Stratford College’s photostream on Flickr.

Every day it seems we discover another person jumping on the SMALL bandwagon, and we couldn’t be more excited to see that little by little the SMALL revolution is travelling across the nation.  As two entrepreneurs who made it to the top of the advertising industry by sweating the small stuff, we’re big believers in the idea that each of us has the distinct power within to make real changes in our lives.  By starting small, we can truly accomplish anything, even the most daunting of tasks.  And as Stew Friedman writes on his blog, Better Leader, Richer Life, the best leaders in business and beyond are those who think small.

As Friedman writes, the best leaders embody three key characteristics: adaptability, flexibility, and innovation.  In today’s times, he further explains, this often means handling chaos with playful creativity and in essence, thinking small.

Over the years, thinking small has gotten a bad rap.  We write people off for getting lost in the little details and not concentrating on the big picture.  But the truth is, the little things matter, so we want to revolutionize the way in which people perceive small thinkers.

When we think small, we not only make things more doable, we take control of the situation.  It’s not about micromanaging; it’s about looking at problems with micro-focus and dissecting them into basic components.  And, as Friedman states, it’s about coming up with little, but creative innovations that he calls “small wins.” Learning to apply these subtle but powerful changes throughout your life will not only make you more productive, he argues, but more creative as well.

It’s just another example of how SMALL can be a powerful catalyst for change.  The more we think small, dig deeply, assess problems and discover little solutions, the more we can achieve.  Simply put, in order to grow, you have to shrink your outlook.

So, to all of you leaders out there, whether you’re business execs or stay-at-home moms, we want to know: how are you thinking small to effect real change at home, in the workplace, and in your communities?  We can’t wait to hear your stories as you share them with us on Twitter and Facebook, email them to us at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and comment here on the Small Blog.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, June 12, 2009 - 3:03:13

Is Your Resume Annoying?

It’s no question that in today’s economy, more of us are looking for work than ever before.  Whether you were recently laid off, have just graduated from college, or are trying to reenter the workforce after a few years as a stay-at-home parent, you’ve probably discovered that this time around, finding a job is hard work.  That’s why, as David Silverman writes in his blog Words at Work, it’s extra important to write “a resume that doesn’t annoy people.”

In our new book, we discuss the importance of proofreading all of your written documents for tiny and potentially embarrassing typos and nowhere could this be more crucial than when you are on the job hunt.  As Silverman explains, with more and more qualified candidates flooding the job market, it’s those who sweat the small stuff who get hired.

That means it’s time to dust off that old resume and take a hard look at it with microscopic focus.  To give you a head start we’ve provided this list of SMALL questions you should ask yourself:

How many pages is my resume? When it comes to resumes, bigger is definitely not better. Many hiring managers send lengthy resumes straight to the trash bin, so, if your answer is more than one, it’s time to start condensing.  (And, no, putting it in size 6 font is not the solution!)

Is it relevant? This tip is especially important for college grads.  When you’re low on experience, it can be tempting to fill the page with every paying gig you’ve ever held, but keep your resume focused.  It will not only showcase you as a more qualified applicant, it also shows you value the hiring manager’s time.

Are there any glaring typos? You might feel silly, but read your resume aloud a few times to make sure there are no big errors, such as swapping one word for another or writing the wrong company’s name in your objective.

Are there any tiny errors? Now it’s time to go through your resume with a fine toothed comb.  Print out a copy and look for any inconsistencies in formatting, bulleting, spacing, and fonts.  Double check your grammar for any little mistakes as well.

Is it printed on nice paper? You might think we are nitpicking here, but there is a reason they make resume paper. After you’ve invested so much time and energy into making your resume a stand-out, why not upgrade your paper from the standard to a higher quality stock?  You’ll appear more professional and make a stronger first impression.  Think of it as “dressing for success” for your resume.

Is it email friendly? These days, most resumes are sent via email, so it’s important to make sure that the documents you send are formatted properly and easily opened by recipients. And don’t forget to scan each document for viruses before pressing send.  You want to give potential employers a good impression, not a computer meltdown!

Most importantly, just remind yourself that you will eventually find your next job.  The odds are indeed tough, but they are by no means insurmountable.  Step-by-step, with a lot of effort and a little confidence, you can harness the power you already have inside of you to achieve big things.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, June 11, 2009 - 2:22:58

Our Smallest Acts Have Lasting Effects

Like so many people around the world, we’ve become thoroughly enamored with the Twitter trend.  We think of it as a water cooler for the web:  the place where we gather to engage in a little virtual small talk about everything from current events to philosophical musings.  One of our favorite things to do when we’re logged on to @ThePowerofSmall is to ask our followers to share their own bits of SMALL wisdom and we’re often amazed by the great tidbits our “tweeps” come up with.

A few days ago, during another rainy day, we decided to break through the gloomy weather by asking the community-at-large this simple question: “If you could name one small gesture someone else has made that had a big impact on your life, what would it be?”  We were so touched by the heartfelt responses we received that we just had to share them. 

Here are just a few of the things our Twitter friends had to say:

@agiacob: For the first ad I wrote for a pair of swimming goggles, my dad arrived at my home with a pair and said, “I am so proud!”
@OZENASIA:  My dad shook my hand and told me he was proud of me, when I felt my world was falling apart. A simple handshake.
@c_simon:  A summer camp student brought me a cookie from home to cheer me up when she found out my best friend moved away!
@LattSoko:  On flight overseas on 9/10/01. Little oxygen on flight and I got sick. Woman sitting next to me watched over me…Don’t recall her name but I remember how she made me feel: safe, calm, and cared for.

Our lives are made up of thousands of tiny moments in time, each one, an opportunity to do something small but wonderful.  So, whether you’re a stranger offering a compliment on someone’s shoes or concerned citizen donating a dollar to a local cause, never forget that you have the power within you to make someone else’s day a little better. 

Scott Adams once said, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end,” and the stories our friends have shared with us truly demonstrate that it’s the little things we do that really count.  Although you will probably forget about your small acts not long after you perform them, chances are there is someone out there who still remembers your kindness. 

Posted by Linda and Robin

Wed, June 10, 2009 - 1:22:03

The Joy of Less

Whether it’s by choice or by necessity, in today’s economic climate, many of us our taking a second look at our lives and choosing to simplify things.  In our new book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, we describe the many ways in which you can change your life just by shrinking your outlook.  After all these years of thinking big—big cars, big houses, big debts—we know the key to our collective recovery is the SMALL approach.  And that’s why we found Pico Iyer’s post on the New York Times’ blog, Happy Days, to be so intriguing.

Iyer writes in his post, “The Joy of Less,” how he traded his fast-paced life as a New York writer with a Park Avenue apartment for an almost monastic existence in Kyoto, Japan without even a television, car, or bike to speak of.  Spending much of his time cut off from the outside world, Iyer admits he’s never been happier.  And it’s something we all could learn from: cutting through the clutter achieves real results.

Of course, unlike Iyer’s dramatic move, THE POWER OF SMALL is all about how making little changes can help you transform your life in an enormous way.  For most of us, renouncing our worldly possessions and uprooting our lives isn’t just impractical, it’s impossible.  But, there are a number of SMALL changes we can make to help us all emulate Pico Iyer and feel a little more Zen.

Unplug for one hour. We know how hard it can be to shut off your cell phone, unplug your laptop, and turn off the TV, but every night, for at least one hour, make the commitment to “go wireless” in a whole new way.  Open up a good book, play a board game with your kids, or even whip up a batch of cookies in the kitchen.  Whatever you do, you’ll find that one tech-free hour a day will really help reduce your stress.

Go solo. Whether online or in person, we all spend so much time talking, texting, and tweeting with others that “me time” has become a luxury. Tomorrow, try giving yourself 15 minutes to take a short walk or grab a latte by yourself.  You might be surprised what you discover when you’re alone with your thoughts.

Clean up. We can’t all make do with the just the bare necessities like Pico Iyer, but getting rid of excess bills, magazines, and tchotchkes is beneficial and doable. Try this SMALL tip: every evening before you go to bed, set a timer for five minutes and pick up any clutter you see lying around.  When the timer goes off, toss out what you don’t want and call it a day.  The next morning you’ll wake up to a slightly cleaner house and a clearer mind.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, June 05, 2009 - 12:31:52

Want to Be A Better Runner?  Try Walking.

If you’ve read our book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, then you already know the story of how three-time New York and London marathon winner, Paula Radcliffe makes it to the winner’s circle by counting the steps.  Instead of concentrating on each of the twenty-six miles, Radcliffe breaks the formidable race into even tinier goals, one foot-fall at a time.

After reading Tara Parker Pope’s article in Monday’s New York Times, we’ve learned a new technique that will inspire even more of us to get small and get moving.  The key to running that marathon, Pope says, is to walk it out.

The counterintuitive approach of the run-walk method, Pope writes, has been successfully used by a large number of runners of all abilities.  Instead of waiting to walk until you are tired, the run-walk method advocates taking brief walk breaks when you aren’t.  Not only does taking these walk breaks make running a marathon less grueling, Pope reports, it reduces your risk for injury and most surprising of all, actually increases  your overall performance.  In fact, even skeptics and veteran runners saw their times improve by employing the run walk method.

It’s just another instance of the many ways in which THE POWER OF SMALL can work for you.  We might not all be marathon runners, but from Pope’s story we call can learn that when running the race called life, the best approach isn’t always a full sprint.  Taking the time to breathe, relax, and take it slow can sometimes be the key to finishing first. For example, when working on an important deadline, it can be tempting to try to power through hours at a time, but often times this approach results in a lot of wasted downtime.  Instead, set a timer for thirty minutes of solid work with no distractions, followed by a 10 minute break and repeat as needed.  You’ll be surprised how much more work you can accomplish.

And it doesn’t stop there.  Whether you’re starting a business from the ground up, like we did with The Kaplan Thaler Group a little more than a decade ago, or you’re looking for a new job in this turbulent marketplace, pacing yourself and taking the time to notice the small details will aid you in your quest for success.  After all, it’s not about starting fast.  It’s about starting smart.  And that begins with THE POWER OF SMALL.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, June 02, 2009 - 3:40:39

Linda and Robin Appear on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet

What a blast we had today during our appearance on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet!  We’d like to say a big thanks to Geraldo Rivera for taking the time talk to us about the small movement that is making a big difference. To view a clip, check out our SMALL tips, and hear the inspiring story of a young woman who thanks the millions of U.S. troops fighting abroad one note card at a time, visit their website here.

Linda and Robin with Shauna Fleming of A Million Thanks.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, June 02, 2009 - 11:00:53

A Note on Notes

image courtesy of papyrusonline.com

Last week marked a sad day for the hand written note.  Amid declining sales and a markedly decreased demand for its extravagantly priced fine papers, venerable stationer Mrs. John L. Strong announced it was closing up shop for good. As The New York Times reports:

In a news release on Thursday, Tom Kalenderian, a general merchandise manager at Barneys New York, said Mrs. John L. Strong “represents the best social writing paper of our time.”

But, unfortunately, “our time” also seems to quickly be forgetting the immeasurable value of the hand written note.  With the convenience of email, Twitter, Facebook, and more, we often turn to our computers as the fast and easy way to drop the people we love a quick line.  And that’s certainly not a bad thing!  After all, who doesn’t love getting a new message on their Wall or a snappy @reply from their tweeps?  It goes without saying that all of these new methods of communication are fantastic for their own reasons, but it’s important to note that they will never take the place of small-but-powerful letter.

And we’re not the only ones who think so.  To find out what others thought, we conducted a quick poll on Twitter and received a fantastic response from @Wendy_R who wrote “a handwritten thank you note is powerful today. The gratitude is felt more because one slowed down to care about another.”

Whether we had 140 characters or 140,000, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.  Handwritten notes—“thank-you” or otherwise—may not be the most practical mode of communication, when you can just pick up a phone or click a mouse, but they have their own SMALL power. A letter takes time, effort, and thought and shows someone you care.  In addition, from your penmanship to your choice of paper, it provides insight into your character. As Jamie Dunham writes on her blog, Cultural Relevancy, regarding a recent letter she received from her young son, “[a letter] is a mirror into his thoughts not usually conveyed in a quick conversation or text message.”  Inked with your own writing, and sealed in an envelope by your own hand, a letter is one of the most personal gestures a person could make. 

Of course, we’ve argued that handwritten notes are also a wonderful way to distinguish yourself in the business world.  Taking the time to send a well-written thank-you after an interview or important meeting expresses your gratitude in a way that a computer screen or voice mail cannot match.  And, sitting on top of the recipient’s desk, it’s a concrete reminder of your interest.

So, next time you toss aside the notion of the note, think again.  That little letter just might be the key to rekindling a romance, strengthening a friendship, or getting the job you’ve always dreamed of.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Tue, June 02, 2009 - 8:11:08

Watch Linda and Robin on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet Today!

More exciting news for our bestselling book, THE POWER OF SMALL!  Watch us this morning on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet to hear the inspiring stories of everyday people who changed their lives just by thinking small.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Fri, May 29, 2009 - 8:15:38

Two Lists to Start Now

image courtesy of workitmom.com

While trying to navigate our busy lives as business women, mothers, wives, and best-selling authors, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with our schedules.  That’s why we’ve become such proponents of the checklist, which we’ve discovered is the easiest way to shrink our days down into accomplishable tasks.  But, a recent post we came across on Peter Bregman’s blog, How We Work, opened our eyes to two new kinds of lists that exemplify another amazing way to put THE POWER OF SMALL to work for you.

In his post, “Two Lists You Should Look At Every Morning,” Bregman recounts a recent run-in with the CEO of his company.  One morning, on his way to work, Bregman stood in the office elevator, entranced by the screen of his Blackberry.  Being so distracted by his daily informational overload, he failed to notice the other person on the elevator and therefore inadvertently gave his CEO the cold shoulder.  The embarrassing event was a wake-up call for Bregman, who realized that his attempts at achievement were actually hindering his performance.  Although he was becoming more informed on world news and current trends by obsessively reading the latest articles, Bregman was missing out on the things that were happening right in front of his nose. 

In the long run, giving in to too many distractions can not only lessen your productivity, it can derail your journey to the top. So, Bregman advises that everyone devise two lists, “The Focus List” and “The Ignore List”, and then to use them as a roadmap for attaining your ultimate goals.  Keeping them on your desk as a reminder, Bregman explains, will help you to “pause, prioritize, and focus.”
In your Focus List, write down all of the things that are important to you and that you know are deserving of your time.  Then, in your Ignore List, write down all of the distractions that impede you from achieving your goals.  Remember, they do not all have to do with your work and there are no right or wrong answers.  Most importantly, be honest with yourself.  After all, it’s your list!

When we are young, we often think about our future aspirations, but as we make our ways through life, we tend become distracted by all the clutter that comes with it.  These distractions, in turn, keep us from doing all the little things that really matter to us, and ultimately prevent us from reaching our BIG goals.  But, each of us has the small power within to make real changes in our own lives. That’s what made Bregman’s post so inspiring.  The simple act of writing these lists could, in fact become a revolutionary event in your life.  By digging deep and really thinking about all the things that matter, you can learn more about yourself, your life, and what you truly want out of it. 

It’s up to you to make it happen.

Posted by Linda and Robin

Thu, May 28, 2009 - 8:25:41

Use the Force

image courtesy of Gamespot.com

We might not be Jedi Knights, but one thing is for certain: when it comes to thinking small, the force is with us! That’s why we just had to contribute our thoughts on Leo Babauta’s recent post on the “Art of the Small,” a Star Wars technique with which Jedis could manipulate the force in order to literally shrink their problems down to the molecular level. 

Babauta’s discussion draws on this metaphor to emphasize the importance of narrowing one’s focus in order to solve life’s biggest problems and whether you call it The Art of the Small or THE POWER OF SMALL, we know this sensible approach is the key to long term success on any scale. Whether you’re trying to get ahead in your career during this tough job market, trying to wrangle a house full of kids, or just trying to manage a hectic day at work, you can think like a Jedi to make real changes.

Unless you happen to live” long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away”, you probably can’t physically shrink your problems down to size, but don’t let that discourage you.  In order to tap into SMALL’s real power, and use the SMALL force to defeat the “dark side” of life’s biggest challenges you have to start thinking small. 

Over the years, “thinking small” has gotten a bad rap.  It used to be that thinking big was the answer—that big ideas led to big successes.  But as the old cliché goes, “God is in the details” and that’s where you’ll discover the tools to awaken your inner Luke Skywalker.  So, instead of looking at your problem head on, break it down into tiny pieces.  Use the power of visualization to slowly take it apart, bit by bit.  Close your eyes and channel your energy.  Focus on the miniscule elements that make up your bigger problem.  As you open your eyes, you’ll begin to see your problem with a whole new, “shrunken” outlook. 

You can even sharpen your focus with a few more tips:

Make a checklist: Instead of a lightsaber, let a pen become your most powerful weapon.  Imagine your hectic day and break it down into individual moments.  Write them down and check each one off as you complete them, one at a time.

Mini-task: While you should always keep your eye on the prize, the best way to reach your biggest goals is to achieve them one mini-task at a time.  For example, if your big goal is to buy a house, let your first mini-task be to save an extra $100 this month toward your down payment.

Count Down the Minutes: Having trouble getting motivated?  Try our trick for keeping ourselves on the Stairmaster, which also works for many other hard-to-complete chores.  Set a timer for five minutes.  When the timer goes off, set it for four, then three, and so on.  Before you know it, you’ve squeezed in a productive work session.

We won’t pretend our problems don’t feel overwhelming at times, but just remember that narrowing your approach will lead to the greatest rewards.  The force is with you, my friends.  So, get small and get going!

Posted by Linda and Robin