Do you ever really stop to consider the impact of your words, what you say, how you say it, and what it means to the person receiving your message?

If you are like me, you probably wish that in any given moment you could be completely aware of what you are trying to say and the positive or negative impact it might have. Sometimes we get so caught up in the feeling of what we want to say, we blurt something out that we are either proud of or we wish we could immediately pull back into our mouths, delete, rewind or hide from.

You know that feeling, right — “open mouth, insert foot” or “did my inner voice just come out?”

Well I want to share a real life story of someone whose life was changed by a simple compliment, and how she now changes others’ lives with her glowing smile, personality and positive words.

A few weeks ago, I was traveling through Memphis on a business trip. On my return trip after getting through security, I stopped into a shop to purchase a bottle of water and a newspaper, and okay a candy bar too. What can I say, I had a weak moment. The woman behind the counter was so pleasant and so warm, she kind of took me by surprise. I enjoyed the quick exchange so much so that I couldn’t help but thank her for her smile and for giving me such a great impression of Memphis before I left their city.

Here is where the story gets interesting. She volunteered that several years ago she wasn’t this pleasant. She was kind of always in a bad mood. Couldn’t wait to leave her job, hated going to her job. Then one day, she was having a good day, not a great day she said, but a good day. She smiled at a customer with that beautiful smile of hers and encouraged her customer to have a good day. She said that the gentleman thanked her for being so nice, and that her smile made his day.

So the next day, she decided to keep it going, and sure enough, more people complimented her and thanked her for being so gracious and helpful. Her entire attitude changed. So for years, she has been making the day for the hundreds of people who come through her store just because one day, just one someone, acknowledged her. She told me she doesn’t continue this for her own accolades, she does it now because she knows she is making a difference for other people.

It’s the ripple effect, the tiny pebble in the water that starts a wave, or the butterfly wings that create a breeze. It was one man, one person who changed another person’s life, and now that person brightens the day of everyone she meets and greets.

Think about what you say, how you say it, and the life you just might change to create your own ripple effect in our world. I would love to hear about it at gotonorton@gmail.com. Say something nice to someone this week and I guarantee you will make it a better than good week for you and them.

Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com.