What will you do on Extra Mile Day?

Today is Extra Mile Day. I don’t know if you celebrate this day or not, but I do, starting this year. Today. Right now.

I’m going to celebrate today by going above and beyond to be extra nice to everyone I come in contact with, online and offline, and be fully congruent with who I want to be, every day.

A few simple ways you can celebrate Extra Mile Day:

Wish everyone a sincere happy birthday — If you know it’s someone’s birthday, go the Extra Mile. Don’t just post “HBD” (Happy Birthday) on their Facebook wall. That’s NBD (no big deal)! And while it’s too late to send a card that will arrive today, if you live close to them, you can go to where they work and wish them a happy birthday in person. That’s going the extra mile. If you don’t, pick up the phone and call them. Or Skype them. Or if you know what their favorite way of communicating is, use that. It’s all about THEM — not about you. That’s going the extra mile — to find out someone’s preference and do that! How will you go the extra mile for other’s birthdays?

Say nice things that other people post on social media — This is easier, but it’s still going the extra mile. Read what someone posted, and make a sincere, thoughtful compliment in response to it. One of my friends just got back from Italy, and I’ve been following her journey. Today she posted 10 observations she made from her trip. It would have been easy enough to just say “Great observations” and let that be enough. I chose to go the extra mile, and thanked her for sharing her entire trip with us, and how much I enjoyed following her journey. Just a little bit more — and based on her comment, I know it made more of an impact than just “great observations.” Who will you choose to go the Extra Mile for today?

Smile at the cashiers and others you come in contact with, and use their name if you know it — I go to a local Starbucks a few times a month. OK, it’s a few times a week when I’m in town. Anyhow, there is one barista who is super helpful and remembers my name most of the time (he sees 10,000 people a week or more, I am always surprised when he does), so I always use his name — without even looking at his name tag. It’s a little thing — but he always smiles back at me and wishes me a good day. I do the same thing at the grocery store I shop at, and though I don’t remember most of their names, they wear name tags, so I can pay attention, give them a warm smile, and engage them in a bit of chit chat while they are providing excellent service. Who needs your smile today?

There are countless other ways to go the extra mile, every day. Though today is THE Extra Mile Day, you can make EVERY day the extra mile day by doing something extra. What’s important is not when you do this, but that you do this. It makes all the difference in my world, because it puts me in a better mood, and I almost always get great service from those I go the extra mile with.

What about you? How will YOU go the extra mile today?

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