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Step no. 2: give verbal encouragement

Visit or call the person you want to encourage. Ask how he or she is doing - not in a glib "Howzit goin?" way, but with genuine interest. Tell that person you are praying. That's the kind of encourager and cheerleader Rich has been to me and to countless other people, both in one-on-one encounters and in large groups.

Retired Amway employee Tom Michmershuizen recalls the early days of the company. "Rich's verbal encouragement was a big part of the meetings for independent distributors and the meetings for employees. He would always arrive early and stay late, talking with people, encouraging and motivating them, signing keepsakes, patting people on the back. Everyone wanted to be around Rich because he was such a source of inspiration.

"Each month we had an employee meeting, and Rich would get up and tell us the latest on where the company was going. Then he would have each new employee get up and talk about her job and what her hopes for the future were. And Rich would always have some word of affirmation for the great job each person was doing. The meetings were fun and filled with excitement and enthusiasm. Everybody looked forward to them.

"Rich would even conduct a special meeting for the corporate truck drivers. He would show up in denim overalls, and he'd just be one of the guys - shaking hands, swapping jokes and stories, and telling the drivers how much he valued the work they did. He wanted everyone in the company to know that they were valued and appreciated, and that their work mattered."

Step no. 3: send cards and notes

Send notes of appreciation, encouragement and inspiration. Rich DeVos says, "For years, I've been sending letters of congratulations out to people for things they do in the community. I may read about it in the paper or someone may mention some good deed someone has done. I'm often inspired to just drop that person a note. It only takes a few minutes to write a note, but it can be a powerful act of inspiration and encouragement."

Step no. 4: offer your time

Would you like to be a life enricher for a friend, a neighbor, your pastor, your coworker or your boss? Then go to that person and say, "I have so many hours that I want to give you. Let me serve you. Let me wash your windows or organize your files or watch your children so you can have an evening out." The gift of your time can be a powerful encouragement and life enrichment for others.

Step no. 5: give a gift

It doesn't have to be expensive. Give something small, thoughtful and encouraging - some token of your kindness and encouragement.

Step no. 6: celebrate for no reason at all

How about inviting a friend out for dinner and a show? Or a home-cooked dinner at your house? Or a party? A round of golf or a few sets of tennis? Or a night together with no agenda except a lot of laughs and a closer friendship? One of the best ways you can be a cheerleader and a life enricher for others is to celebrate special moments, milestones and events - or celebrate for no reason at all!

Step no. 7: accept and affirm people when they fail

Lift people up when they fall. Allow people to be human and make mistakes. If you see someone drop the ball, encourage that person to get back into the game.

Step no. 8: defend reputations

Do everything you can to put an end to gossip, criticism and character assassination. Nothing is more discouraging than being the target of a rumor mill. If someone comes to you with gossip, say, "I'm not going to listen to this. If you have a complaint against someone, you need to go directly to that person. Don't bring it to me and don't spread it around." Life enrichers stand up for people who aren't present to defend themselves.

Step no. 9: pray

Prayer is a powerful source of encouragement. As you pray, let people know that you are praying for them. Pray specifically about that person's spiritual, emotional, health, family and financial needs.

Step no. 10: be a mentor

A mentor is an in-depth life enricher. Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship of teaching, guiding, sharing and cheerleading. (The issue of mentoring is so vitally important that we will devote the entire next chapter to it.)

Meanwhile, if you want to be a life enricher like Rich, then you'd better practice your handsprings, cartwheels and cheers. Look around you. Everywhere you turn, there are people in need of a cheerleader. Go tell them that they matter to you, that you believe in them, that you're cheering for them. Make a difference in just one life every day and see how your life changes!

© 2004. All rights reserved. Reprinted from How To Be Like Rich DeVos by Pat Williams. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher.

Tags: Business Life

About the Author

PAT WILLIAMS is the senior vice president of the Orlando Magic, a renowned speaker, and the author of How to Be like Mike, The Magic of Teamwork, and Go for the Magic.