Unit 2 The Power of Words
The Power of a Note
On my first job as sports editor for the Montpelier (Ohio) Leader Enterprise, I didn't get a lot of fan mail, so I was intrigued by a letter that was dropped on my desk one morning.
When I opened it, I read: \good work.\It was signed by Don Wolfe, the sports editor. Because I was a teenager (being paid the grand total of 15 cents a column inch), his words couldn't have been more inspiring. 11 kept the letter in my desk drawer until it got rag-eared. Whenever I doubted I had the right stuff to be a writer, I would reread Don's note and feel confident again.
Later, when I got to know him, I learned that Don made a habit of writing a quick, encouraging word to people in all walks of life. \I make others feel good about themselves,\
Not surprisingly, he had a body of friends as big as nearby Lake Erie. When he died last year at 75, the paper was flooded with calls and letters from people who had been recipients of his spirit-lifting words.
Over the years, I've tried to copy the example of Don and other friends who care enough to write uplifting comments, because I think they are on to something important. In a world too often cold and unresponsive, such notes bring warmth and reassurance. We all need a boost from time to time, and a few lines of praise have been known to turn around a day, even a life.
Why, then, are there so few upbeat note writers My guess is that many who shy away from the practice are too self-conscious. They're afraid they'll be misunderstood, sound sentimental or insincere. Also, writing takes time; it's far easier to pick up the phone.
The drawback with phone calls, of course, is that they don't last. A note attaches more importance to our well-wishing. It is a matter of record, and our words can be read more than once, savored and treasured.
Even though note writing may take longer, some pretty busy people do it, including George Bush. Some say he owes much of his success in politics to his ever-ready pen. How Throughout his career he has followed up virtually every contact with a cordial response—a compliment, a line of praise or a nod of thanks. His notes go not only to friends and associates, but to casual acquaintances and total
strangers—like the surprised person who got a warm pat on the back for lending Bush an umbrella.
Even top corporate managers, who have mostly affected styles of leadership that can be characterized only as tough, cold and aloof, have begun to learn the lesson, and earn the benefits, of writing notes that lift people up. Former Ford chairman Donald Peterson, who is largely credited for turning the company round in the 1980s, made it a practice to write positive messages to associates every day. \scribble them on a memo pad or the corner of a letter and pass them along,\he says. \boost the people who work for you.
\about them. Too often we think, I haven't said anything critical; why do I have to say something positive We forget that human beings need positive reinforcement—in fact, we thrive on it!\
What does it take to write letters that lift spirits and warm hearts Only a willingness to express our appreciation. The most successful practitioners include what I call the four \
1) They are sincere. No one wants false praise.
2) They are usually short. If you can't say what you want to say in three sentences, you're probably straining
3) They are specific. Complimenting a business colleague by telling him \speech\precise.
4) They are spontaneous. This gives them the freshness and enthusiasm that will linger in the reader's mind long afterward.
It's difficult to be spontaneous when you have to hunt for letter-writing materials, so I keep paper, envelopes and stamps close at hand, even when I travel. Fancy stationery isn't necessary; it's the thought that counts.
So, who around you deserves a note of thanks or approval A neighbor, your librarian, a relative, your mayor, your mate, a teacher, your doctor You don't need to be poetic. If you need a reason, look for a milestone, the anniversary of a special event you shared, or a birthday or holiday. For the last 25 years, for example, I've prepared an annual Christmas letter for long-distance friends, and I often add a handwritten word of thanks or congratulations. Acknowledging some success or good
fortune that has happened during the year seems particularly appropriate considering the spirit of the Christmas season.
Be generous with your praise. Superlatives like \\\make us all feel good. Even if your praise is a little ahead of reality, remember that expectations are often the parents of dreams fulfilled.
Today I got a warm, complimentary letter from my old boss and mentor, Norman Vincent Peale. His little note to me was full of uplifting phrases, and it sent me to my typewriter to compose a few overdue letters of my own. I don't know if they will make anybody else's day, but they made mine. As my friend Don Wolfe said, making others feel good about themselves makes me feel good too.
便笺的力量
1 我当体育编辑，最早是为蒙比利埃（俄亥俄州）的《企业导报》工作，当时我很少收到体育迷的来信。因此，一天早晨放在我桌上的一封来信把我吸引住了。
2 打开来信，我看到了下面的话：“关于老虎队的述评很不错，再接再厉。”签名的是体育编辑堂?沃尔夫。当时我只是一个十几岁的小伙子（为每一竖栏写一英寸文字，稿酬总计达15美分），因此他的话最鼓舞人心了。我把这封信一直放在书桌的抽屉里，后来它的边角都卷起来了。每当我怀疑自己不是当作家的料时，重温一下堂的便笺，就又会树起信心来。 3 后来，我逐渐对堂有所了解，知道给各行各业的人写快捷而鼓舞人心的便笺是他养成的习惯。他告诉我说：“当我使别人充满信心时，我也感觉好极了。”
4 因此毫不奇怪，他的朋友圈子就像附近的伊利湖那么大。去年他去世了，享年75岁。电话与悼函像潮水般涌向报社，都来自于曾经得到过他激励（文字）的人们。
5 多年来，我努力效仿堂以及我的其他朋友，他们关心别人，常写一些鼓舞人心的话语，因为我觉得，他们这样做是很有意义的。在这样一个惯于冷漠、无动于衷的世界上，这种便笺给人们带来了温暖和安慰。我们都时不时地需要鼓励，大家知道几行赞扬的话会改变一个人的一天，甚至一生。
6 那么，这些激励人心的便笺的作者为什么寥若晨星呢我猜想很多人回避写，是因为他们太看重人们的看法。他们担心会被误解，怕别人觉得他们自作多情或者言不由衷。还有，写也要花时间，远不如打电话方便。
7 当然打电话的缺点是：说过的话留不住。而一张便笺使我们的良好意愿显得更加珍贵。便笺是白纸黑字记录在案的东西，而且我们写下的字可以反复阅读，细细品味并珍藏起来。 8 尽管写便笺会多花一些时间，但一些非常忙的人也在这么做，其中包括乔治?布什。有人说，他政治上的成功在很大程度上归功于他那枝随时准备写字的笔。这是怎么回事呢在他整个职业生涯中，每次与人们接触之后，他几乎都随后写封信，内容亲切——一句赞美之辞，一行表扬的话，或一段感谢语。他不仅写给朋友和同事，还写给萍水相逢的人以及完全陌生
的人——比如那位借伞给他的人，后来收到他热情的赞扬信，感到很惊讶。
9 那些通常做作的公司高层经理们，其领导作风只能被形容为强硬、冷漠、脱离群众。甚至这些人也开始学习写便笺去鼓舞人心，且从中获益匪浅。唐纳德?彼得森，福特公司的前主席，把每天写便笺鼓励同事当作一件日常工作。该公司在80年代时走出低谷取得成功主要是他的功劳。“我只不过匆匆地在备忘录或信的角上写一些鼓舞人心的话，然后传递出去，”他说道。“每天最重要的一段时间，就是鼓舞那些为你工作的人的那10分钟。” 10 “太多的时候，”他发表自己的看法说，“那些我们真正喜欢的人并不知道我们是怎么看待他们的。太多的时候，我们会以为，我并没有说过什么批评的话，为什么非得去说好话呢我们忘了，人类需要正面的肯定或鼓励——事实上，我们靠这个取得进步，获得成功！” 11 怎样才能写出振奋精神、温暖人心的信呢只要我们怀有要表示感激之情的心愿。写这种便笺的高手都具有我所谓的 “４S”技巧。 12 １）真诚 (sincere)。没人要听虚假的赞美。
13 ２）简短 (short)。如果不能用三句话表达出你的意思，你很可能过火了，写得太长。 14 ３）具体 (specific)。赞扬一位业务伙伴 “演讲精彩”太笼统含糊；告诉他“关于沃伦?巴菲特的投资策略讲得很精彩”才是一语中的。
15 ４）自然 (spontaneous)。这使得便笺充满了生气，洋溢着热情，并使读者的心灵长久地感受这种生气和热情。
16 当你非得到处找写信用品时，写出来的东西就难以自然，因此我总是把纸、信封和邮票放在手边，甚至在旅行时也是如此。信封信笺不需要很花哨，重要的是要表达的思想。 17 那么，你周围又有谁值得你写便笺表示感谢或鼓励呢一位邻居为你服务的那位图书馆管理员一位亲戚你的市长你的伙伴一位教师你的医生你不必富有诗意。如果你需要一个写的理由，就找一个生活中的重要事件，例如你们共同参加的某个特殊事件的周年纪念日、生日或者节日。例如，过去的25年里，我总是为远方的朋友每年准备一张圣诞卡，而且常常在上面亲笔写上一句感谢或祝贺的话。鉴于圣诞节的氛围，就一年来所取得的成功与得到的好运特意表示谢忱似乎是最恰到好处的。
18 不要吝啬你的赞美之言。像“最了不起的”、“最聪明的”、“最漂亮的”这种最高级的表达法——使大家都感到高兴。即使你的赞美之词稍稍超前了一点也没关系，记住，梦想的实现往往孕育于期望之中。
19 今天，我收到了以前的老板和精神导师诺曼?文森特?皮尔的一封温暖的赞扬信。这张小小的便笺上满是鼓舞人心的词句，这促使我坐到了打字机前来完成几封我早就该写的信。我不知道这些信会不会使别人的一天别有意义，但是，对我自己确实如此。正如我的朋友堂?沃尔夫所说的：使别人充满信心，也就使我自己感觉很好。