101 Life Lessons Learned From Wearing A Nametag 24-7

On April 24th, 2006, I took the day off tophone number from your website.
celebrate and reflect on the past 2000 days of62. If a strange man named Stephen starts
wearing a nametag 24-7.I challenged myself toshowing 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 this63. Tom Peters was right: dull encounters = dull
morning.I was always told, "Don't tell 'em whatyou; 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 wearingto 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 ofunique. 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 youanswer. Remember, even the most boring jobs
know his name.can be explained in an UNFORGETTABLE way.
10. Nametags are NOT about you. They're about67. Authenticity, not charisma.
everyone in the world except you. Don't boycott68. 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 says70. People buy people first.
you're out of your mind, you just might be onto71. 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 still73. 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 get74. Never apologize for your art.
into a bar and then forget to take off your75. 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's77. Find a way to keep yourself visually
Foremost Authority On Nametags," you may asaccountable. 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 awhich 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 canhow you made them feel.
always drop the name of the company that79. 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 could81. 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 NOTwearing 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 gohand. 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) people88. Steve Pressfield was right: when people see
that you're committed to an idea, you can alwaysyou begin to live your authentic lives, it drives
tattoo that idea on your chest. They'll neverthem 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 aboutsimply 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 than92. 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 momentssomeone 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 a94. If you get an email out of the blue from
camera crew to St. Louis to follow you around allsomeone who said, "You're nuttier than a bag of
day doesn't mean they will actually air yourtrail 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 givenLearned 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 four96. 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 the98. 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 createbe 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'saward 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 withright 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 wantsthere 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 theirCompile 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 startsHow To Be That Guy. He helps people MAXIMIZE
calling you every single day for three weeks, it'stheir personal and professional approachability -
probably a good idea to remove your homeone conversation at a time.