| February 1, 2005 ROMANCE YOUR FRIENDS In this issue... A BE NICE Story Monthly Audio Message People Profile Do Something! Quote of the Month And on BeNiceOrElse.com: Featured Article Romance Your Friends Past Newsletters January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 Send this newsletter to everyone you know or mean people will track you down! Listen to Finalist — (Or Else!) identifies the factors that keep people from being nice — and how to overcome them. Learn More Testimonials Buy the Book Quantity Pricing
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"A famous swami once told me years ago that someone who’s nice always gains... Winn Claybaugh is a remarkable guy and one of the best motivational speakers in the country. In this terrific work, he brings you easy-to-use concepts that could bring interesting rewards." |
 Hi Everyone,When it comes to the gifts we offer, many of us were taught to give certain gifts to some people and different ones to others. When I mention gifts here, I’m referring to levels of emotions, niceties, sentiments, and passions. For example, to your best friend and confidant, you might offer 80 percent of your gifts of fun and lightheartedness, but perhaps you’ll give that person only 10 percent of your passion. To your spouse and lover, you may deny your lightheartedness (marriage is serious business!), but give full access to your passion. Here’s a radical notion: Treat your lover more like a friend, and treat your friends more like a lover. I’ve been blessed with a circle of friends who are funny, talented, passionate, loyal, caring, and giving. How do I know they’re all those things and more? Because we erased the boundaries and did away with the stiff constraints that dictate how we should and should not experience each other. Simply put, we chose to romance each other, even though several of us have spouses or partners of our own. I love the nuance and awareness of the word romance. It implies a different purpose, motive, and mind-set for my thoughts and actions. In some ways, the notion of romance sets me free and offers more possibilities for expression, honesty, and support. Applying all of that to my platonic friendships has added immeasurable depth to my soul and has skyrocketed my confidence as I take on the world. This month, with Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, look for opportunities to share romance with your friends. Pamper them when they’re sick. Write them love notes now and then. And most important, remember to be nice! Thanks for helping me live my fantasy of spreading this BE NICE message and giving nice people a voice! XOXO, Winn A BE NICE Story Laura Landino and her husband Mario own the North Haven Academy, a Paul Mitchell Partner School in North Haven, Connecticut. Laura’s letter is a wonderful example of what a business owner can do to exemplify a nice, profitable organization. Dear Winn, 
I shared with our future professionals the article, “Let’s Start a BE NICE Revolution” from your Web site, and a light bulb went off. I asked each person to write at least one love note to another future professional or learning leader and to share the BE NICE revolution. The response has been AWESOME! Love notes are being sent throughout the school. Our learning leaders have them pinned on as ties. Everyone is buzzing. Here are a few examples: “To Laura: You are a great leader, an admirable business woman, and an example for all of us.” Have a great day! I save many of the love notes I’ve received from my friends. I constantly carry a couple of them around with me in my planner, and I read them often, until they’re replaced with a more recent note. Walk the talk and wear the talk. Winn Claybaugh’s Be Nice (Or Else!) The Newsletter! |
Everyone occasionally gets trapped in a bad mood for one reason or another, and their bad moods can lead to bad actions. Defusing people means giving them a dose of something that could alter their mood or thinking. 