The 30-Second interaction that restored my perspective

I wanted to share something special that happened during my school run sometime ago…

Have you ever felt like your efforts are just disappearing into the void? Like you are shouting into an empty room, wondering if anyone is listening?

Well, my story might change how you see your impact.

A while ago in my daughter’s school, during a routine school drop-off, a fellow parent rolled down his window with something more than just a casual greeting. “Your LinkedIn posts are very inspiring,” he shouted, his enthusiasm cutting through the morning’s typical background noise. But he did not stop there.

He shared how he had been following my LinkedIn content for months. “These posts have been my silent career mentor,” he explained. With a mix of gratitude and determination, he added a promise: “When I am ready to make my next career move, I will definitely reach out to you.”

In that moment, our impromptu “drive-by conversation” became something magical. Here was tangible proof that my seemingly random posts were not just words floating in digital space, but lifelines for someone actively navigating their professional path.

I smiled, shouting back my thanks, realizing that impact is not always measured by likes or comments, but by the quiet transformations happening in someone’s life.

Just hours earlier, I had been questioning everything, wondering if my content was making any real difference. Was I just adding noise to an already crowded digital landscape?

His spontaneous appreciation was like a lightning bolt of motivation. It was not a long conversation. It was not a detailed analysis. It was a simple, genuine acknowledgment that cut through my uncertainty and reaffirmed the value of what I was doing.

This experience made me realize something profound. We dramatically underestimate the power of appreciation. In a world where we are constantly connected, yet sometimes feel distant from each other, we often assume someone else will say “thank you” or that the person already knows their worth. But here is the truth, they usually do not.

Think about the colleagues who consistently go above and beyond. The team members who solve problems quietly. The friends who show up without fanfare. When was the last time you truly acknowledged their efforts?

Most of us wait, thinking “somebody else will do it”— but that somebody is you. Right now. Today.

Appreciation is a superpower that costs nothing but means everything. It can resurrect motivation, heal burnout, and remind people of their inherent value.

Action Points:

• Today, reach out to ONE person who has positively impacted you. Send a specific, genuine message of appreciation that highlights exactly what they did and how it made a difference.
• Create a habit of acknowledging at least one person’s effort or contribution. This could be a colleague, a service provider, a family member, or even a stranger who goes above and beyond.

Remember: Your words have the power to transform someone’s entire day, maybe even their entire perspective. Do not wait. Appreciate.