| On April 24th, 2006, I took the day off to | | | | phone number from your website. |
| celebrate and reflect on the past 2000 days of | | | | 62. If a strange man named Stephen starts |
| wearing a nametag 24-7.I challenged myself to | | | | showing up at your office, it's probably a good |
| come up with a list of 101 Life Lessons Learned. | | | | idea to get a new job. |
| It wasn't easy, but I finally finished the list this | | | | 63. Tom Peters was right: dull encounters = dull |
| morning.I was always told, "Don't tell 'em what | | | | you; cool encounters = cool you. |
| you did, tell 'em what you learned."Therefore, | | | | 64. Stop worrying about which side of you chest |
| here are 101 life lessons I've learned from wearing | | | | to wear a nametag. Nobody cares. They only |
| a nametag 24-7 for the past 2000 days. Enjoy!1. | | | | care if they can read your name from ten feet |
| Friendly always wins. | | | | away. |
| 2. Be the first one. | | | | 65. You'd be surprised how many strangers will |
| 3. Be the only one. | | | | grab, touch, poke and molest your chest (and |
| 4. Be a sleeper. | | | | therefore violate your personal space) if you |
| 5. Be interesting. | | | | wear a nametag. |
| 6. Be UNFORGETTABLE. | | | | 66. When people ask you, "So, what do you do?" |
| 7. Be the world's expert on yourself. | | | | make your answer memorable, valuable and |
| 8. Be somebody who reminds everybody of | | | | unique. If their response isn't "Hmm, that's |
| nobody else in the world. | | | | interesting..." or "Cool!" you need to rework your |
| 9. It's really hard to beat up a stranger if you | | | | answer. Remember, even the most boring jobs |
| know his name. | | | | can be explained in an UNFORGETTABLE way. |
| 10. Nametags are NOT about you. They're about | | | | 67. Authenticity, not charisma. |
| everyone in the world except you. Don't boycott | | | | 68. Fans, not customers. |
| them. Wear your nametag for other people. | | | | 69. Never underestimate the power of |
| Always. | | | | approachability. |
| 11. Jack Canfield was right: if everybody says | | | | 70. People buy people first. |
| you're out of your mind, you just might be onto | | | | 71. Find a way to make people stop, think and |
| something. | | | | say, "Wow!" |
| 12. Everybody is somebody's somebody. | | | | 72. Create encounters that otherwise would not |
| 13. Never wear a nametag into a strip club. | | | | have existed. |
| 14. Never wash your shirt with a nametag still | | | | 73. The best way to make someone feel |
| stuck on it. | | | | comfortable is through self-disclosure. |
| 15. Never use your older brother's fake ID to get | | | | 74. Never apologize for your art. |
| into a bar and then forget to take off your | | | | 75. Respect people's no's. |
| nametag at the door. | | | | 76. The best swimmers are always in the pool. |
| 16. If the Washington Post calls you "The World's | | | | 77. Find a way to keep yourself visually |
| Foremost Authority On Nametags," you may as | | | | accountable. Wear a piece of jewelry that |
| well take it. | | | | symbolizes a personal value; tattoo a credo on |
| 17. Don't be different, be unique. | | | | your wrist, whatever. Anything to keep you |
| 18. You are what you charge. | | | | consistent. For me, it's really hard to be a jerk to |
| 19. Market yourself daily. | | | | someone else when I'm wearing a nametag, |
| 20. Nametags will not get you dates. If you're a | | | | which I do 24-7. Which means I can't be a jerk. |
| jerk, not even a nametag will make you | | | | (Good!) What about you? |
| approachable. | | | | 78. Mother Theresa was right: people don't |
| 21. Find a way to give yourself away. | | | | remember what you said; they only remember |
| 22. If you want 10,000 free nametags, you can | | | | how you made them feel. |
| always drop the name of the company that | | | | 79. Break the silence. Every day. |
| manufactures them on CNN. | | | | 80. If you don't smile, they won't believe you. |
| 23. The greatest compliment someone could | | | | 81. If you build it, they (might) come. |
| ever give you is: "Thanks for being yourself." | | | | 82. What's in a name? Everything. Your |
| 24. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. | | | | character. Your life. Your brand. Your values. |
| 25. Find a daily ritual. | | | | 83. If you walk into a hotel on New Year's Day |
| 26. Get a job that people couldn't pay you NOT | | | | wearing a nametag on the tuxedo you slept in, |
| to do. | | | | people are probably going to say something. |
| 27. Nerds, dorks and geeks rule this world. | | | | 84. If a two year old girl walks up to you in the |
| 28. Give people permission to talk to you. | | | | middle of Starbucks, smiles and points at your |
| 29. It's not easy to be yourself. | | | | nametag, it's best to peel it off and stick it to her |
| 30. Figure out exactly who you are and then go | | | | hand. Trust me on this one.85. Boredom is the |
| be that person every day. | | | | enemy. |
| 31. Find a way to paint yourself in a good corner. | | | | 86. In the history of the world, nobody has ever |
| 32. Everyone has at least one big idea. | | | | yelled at another person for "Communicating too |
| 33. Own a word. | | | | much." |
| 34. Be that guy. | | | | 87. Don't try to impress. Inspire first. Then |
| 35. Confidence is king. | | | | people WILL be impressed. |
| 36. If you really want to show (not tell) people | | | | 88. Steve Pressfield was right: when people see |
| that you're committed to an idea, you can always | | | | you begin to live your authentic lives, it drives |
| tattoo that idea on your chest. They'll never | | | | them crazy because they're not living their own. |
| doubt you again. | | | | 89. If you wear a nametag around Mexico, locals |
| 37. The world cannot resist a man on a mission. | | | | will more than likely smile at you and simply say, |
| 38. Intentional Discomfort is the greatest teacher | | | | "Mr. Escott!" |
| of all. | | | | 90. If you wear a nametag around Switzerland, |
| 39. Everybody should write a book. | | | | locals will more than likely smile and you and |
| 40. Life is not about finding yourself, it's about | | | | simply say, "Bonjour Scott!" |
| creating yourself. | | | | 91. And if you wear a nametag around New |
| 41. Validate your existence on a daily basis. | | | | York City, locals will more than likely not smile and |
| 42. Do something cool on a daily basis. | | | | simply say, "Get the hell out of my way, Scott." |
| 43. There's nothing more approachable than | | | | 92. Some people are just not friendly. |
| authenticity. | | | | 93. If you get an email out of the blue from |
| 44. Consistency is far better than rare moments | | | | someone who just saw you speak and he said, |
| of greatness. | | | | "Your speech changed my life," you're probably |
| 45. Don't be selfish with your knowledge. | | | | doing a good job. |
| 46. Just because the Today Show sends a | | | | 94. If you get an email out of the blue from |
| camera crew to St. Louis to follow you around all | | | | someone who said, "You're nuttier than a bag of |
| day doesn't mean they will actually air your | | | | trail mix," you're definitely doing a good job. |
| segment. Jerks. | | | | 95. Coming up with a list of 101 Life Lessons |
| 47. You don't know intimidation until you've given | | | | Learned from Wearing a Nametag 24-7 for the |
| a speech to 300 people who are twice your age, | | | | Past 2000 Days is pretty hard. |
| have three times your experience and know four | | | | 96. Which is why I'm running short on ideas. |
| times as much as you do. | | | | 97. (Well, almost.) |
| 48. You are an empty sheet of paper in the | | | | 98. I saved the three most important ones for |
| minds of people you encounter. | | | | the end...99. If a 7 year old kid says he wants to |
| 49. You have less than three seconds to create | | | | be an author - then 15 years later actually |
| a first impression. | | | | becomes an author - he's probably doing the right |
| 50. Hate mail is a gift, even if it's true. | | | | thing with his life.100. If a 19 year old kid wins an |
| 51. Indiana Jones was right: it's not the years, it's | | | | award for "The Speaker You Could Listen to For |
| the mileage. | | | | Hours," then actually becomes a professional |
| 52. If you don't have a blog, you're a putz. | | | | speaker 4 years later, he's definitely doing the |
| 53. If you don't carry your business cards with | | | | right thing with his life.101. And if all of that stuff |
| you wherever you go, you're a putz. | | | | happened to him simply because he decided to |
| 54. Make daily appointments with yourself. | | | | wear a nametag 24-7 to make people friendlier, |
| 55. Everyone has a story. And everyone wants | | | | there must be a God.LET ME ASK YA THIS... |
| to tell that story. So ask them. | | | | What was the single biggest learning experience |
| 56. Smiling will never get you in trouble. | | | | of your life?LET ME SUGGEST THIS... |
| 57. If someone is wearing a nametag, use their | | | | Compile a list of 101 Life Lessons Learned from |
| name. It makes them feel great. | | | | that experience and email it to me!© 2006 |
| 58. It's impossible to be too friendly. | | | | All Rights Reserved.Scott Ginsberg is a |
| 59. It's not cool to be an asshole. | | | | professional speaker and the author of HELLO my |
| 60. It's impossible to be too friendly. | | | | name is Scott, The Power of Approachability and |
| 61. If a strange man named Stephen starts | | | | How To Be That Guy. He helps people MAXIMIZE |
| calling you every single day for three weeks, it's | | | | their personal and professional approachability - |
| probably a good idea to remove your home | | | | one conversation at a time. |