The Power Of Encouragement

I love podcasts. They help me pass the time at work. I've heard some amazing, true-life stories on podcasts. A couple of weeks ago I heard Suroosh Alvi tell how he started VICE Media on the "How I Built This" podcast. Check out the episode titled, "VICE: Suroosh Alvi" to hear the full story. When I got home that evening I told my wife a piece of the story that made a lasting impression on me. Suroosh was recently out of rehab, living in Montreal and about to publish the first issue of his first magazine, "The Voice of Montreal." He was really worried it might be a flop.

Then a friend said, "What's the worst that could happen? You might make one magazine that you could show people, 'I made this magazine,' or this might be really big."

Then he realized that his friend could be right; this might be the beginning of something big. And that humble little alternative magazine eventually became VICE Media. All because his friend believed in him. He finally had something to live up to and meaningful work to do.

After I told my wife this story I said, "when I heard that I realized the power of having someone who believes in you and your dreams. You can change someone's life when you help them see what's possible."

Our words have power. We can literally energize a person's spirit by saying something encouraging. Think of a time when someone said an encouraging word at the moment you needed it. How did it make you feel? Sometimes a simple compliment is all it takes to show someone that his or her effort is appreciated and it costs us nothing to say a few kind words. I only wish I would remember that more often!

Give people a chance. Most of us probably won't be there at the launch of the next big breakthrough, but we don't know what possibilities we'll unlock when we say a few encouraging words. You never can tell what people might accomplish if we give them the confidence to follow their dreams. Like Suroosh's friend did when he helped Suroosh believe he was about start something big. Most of the time all it takes is a few words and a mere moment of time to boost someone's confidence.

Put it in perspective. Often someone's failures aren't as bad as he or she thinks they are. Suroosh's friend showed him that the worst that could happen wouldn't be so bad. Even if his first magazine had been a flop, he could still take it to job interviews to show prospective employers what he had done. Often the fear of failure holds people back from starting and they just need to see that failure is an opportunity to learn. Better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all.

How have people encouraged you? Share your story in the comments.