Martin Luther King Jr's Legacy

-by Jaime Willis

"But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness. And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant."

From "The Drum Major Instinct" sermon by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. While we remember the great legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., I challenge each one of us to live his legacy today. King's legacy is one of service and of compassion.

Cory Booker, the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, and probably the most prolific political Tweeter, asked people this weekend to share how they make the world better in small ways. Here are a few of their suggestions.

@SelkieBlue I sometimes anonymously leave box of non-perishable food on stoop of my 93yr old neighbor lady. Its 2 hard 4 her 2 shop

@dwaynetodd just saw a man leave a bag of lunch next to a sleepitwitng homeless man in DC.

@alycyamiller I compliment some1 when I sense they're feeling down

@MzCaliRich: tell grocery bagger thank u or bank teller have a nice day acknowledge ppl who seem invisible smile & look in the eye

@DanielleinDC: shoveling snow for my elderly neighbors

@rainbowlite: I donate old books, magazines , CDs and DVDs to library. I let someone w 1 or 2 items go in front of me at the store. #MLK

@hsmaury: Volunteer at your local animal shelter. #MLK

@hsmaury: Move errant shopping carts out of the parking lot so cars don't get hit. #MLK

@PhilNobleSC: I pick up resturant tabs for service people, especially at airports.

@jenbrentano: my daughter and I get bagels and coffee and bring them to our local fire department.

@mcrumr: leave hidden notes of appreciation for a person to find

I know that I will be spreading the legacy of MLK today, and I hope that this attitude of service lasts longer than today for us all!

Your Golden Rule

- by Jaime Willis

For years, Nordstrom’s Employee Handbook was a single 5×8” gray card containing these 75 words:

Welcome to Nordstrom. We’re glad to have you with our Company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Set both your personal and professional goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to achieve them.

Nordstrom Rules: Rule #1: Use best judgment in all situations.

There will be no additional rules. Please feel free to ask your department manager, store manager, or division general manager any question at any time.

During this time, Nordstrom had the highest sales per square foot performance in the retail industry – by almost double. (hattip: 37signals.com)

In our goal setting courses, we spend a big chunk of time talking about core values because we know how important values are to goal execution. Your core values should act as your operating manual for your life, and need to be specific and clearly defined.

But values don't work if you don't *use* them in your day to day life. I like the idea of putting together your own golden rule as a shortcut to your core values, reminding you what you believe when you are faced with the daily grind of life.

Nordstrom's Golden Rule: "Use your best judgment."

Wil Wheaton's Golden Rule: "Don't Be a Dick."

Jaime's Golden Rule: "Do the Right Thing."

What's your Golden Rule?