Two Kinds of Compliments

“Young man, I want to pay you two compliments,” he said – with a wink in his voice before even so much as ‘hello’ in our weekly phone call.

These calls always make me nervous. What if we’re tracking downward? What if the things we’re doing aren’t working? But, you make the call.

You do the hard thing especially when you’re worried it’s not working.

He and I are finishing up our first year together. We’re about ten months into our partnership.

“First,” he said, “I am humbled by your greatness.”

“Sir,” I said, “It’s awful early to be drinking.”

“No, sir,” he said, “How in the world you listen to me ramble on and on about the business and customers and somehow come back with just the right thing to say to bring us new customers … well, I just don’t know how you do it.”

I have learned and repeatedly practiced saying simply, “Thank you, sir.” I do not take compliments well – particularly these kind of compliments.

“Second,” he continued, “we closed out January and made our goal by $940. Last January, we missed our goal by $81,000. And I want to thank you.”

Those kind of compliments, I take very well. We each swung our own hammer to benefit the business. We did what needed to be done.

Today, we spent a few minutes sharing in the success, and then we got back to work. It’s a tall mountain, and we’ve only just begun to climb.

As I look outside and see the dim pallor of the day and hear the guy on the radio talk about snow coming this way, I can help but think it’s a beautiful day.

Success is so much sweeter when shared with someone who makes you smile.

Thank you, sir.