3-22-20 Logo, Business Card, Trademark

Quote: “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and the way you make others feel is your trademark.”

My grandma has given me lots of advice over the years, but one piece of advice has been on my mind a lot lately.  If I was ever in a season where I was making bad decisions or was contemplating doing something I knew I’d regret later, she would gently say to me, “Danielle, don’t shame the name.”

It was her way of saying, your actions and words speak volumes about your character.

When someone’s name is mentioned, people usually answer 1 of 2 ways.  Either, “Oh yeah, I know him!  Great guy.  Always looking out for others.  Man of his word.  Honest.  Would give you the shirt off his back.  Loved his family and friends.”  Or, “Let me tell you what she did one time! Biggest hypocrite you’ve ever met.  So judgmental.  Only looked out for herself.  Her goal in life is to make herself happy and everyone else is second.  She acts one way at one place and is a completely different person at another place.”  Yikes.  I bet many of us are hoping our name gets a response more like the first description!

There are a lot of people I’ve hurt over the years with my words and actions.  Everybody messes up and hurts others.  No one is perfect.  We live in a fallen world – it’s going to happen.  By no means am I saying to hurt people and just ask for forgiveness, nor am I saying to put on a mask and pretend to love everyone.

But we do need to realize something important: how we handle situations that are thrown at us and the choices we make can have a huge effect on everyone around us.  The people that are in our lives right now should smile when they hear our name, not cringe.  They should instantly think of how we’ve helped them.  How we served them without being asked.  How we loved them, despite not agreeing with them on a certain topic.  How our words brought them happiness and encouragement.  How when we walk into a room, we bring LIFE…not death.

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”  I’d choose having a noble character over having money or prestige any day!

What do people say when your name is mentioned?  What do you want them to say?  How can you make that happen?  I think remembering these 3 things the next time you go to speak to someone or make a decision will help you decide the kind of person you want to be known for being.

Your smile is your logo.  Your personality is your business card.  The way you make others feel is your trademark.

Don’t shame the name.