Positive Reflection: Above PAR File & A Dog Named Klay

Friday has become a day of reflection for me. Years ago a very good friend of mine told me about something he called his GCP (initials) file. This file was in a folder he kept at his desk and in the folder was all the compliments he has received over e-mail. When showing me the folder he had all kinds of thank you e-mails and even personal letters inside it. To me it seemed like a great way to reflect on positive moments when you needed some positivity in your day.

My Above PAR file

After I learned about the GCP file, I decided to start my own Above PAR (Paul Andrew Ratner) file. For once the irony of my initials came into play. These initials had a back story. My older brothers determined, Andrew, would be a perfect middle name. This turned my initials into PAR. You may think that those initials paired with my past employer, the PGA TOUR, would mean I am a great golfer; but I am not. To me, PAR always meant the average or in this case, the bar I was trying to out perform. This is how I defined my "Above PAR file"; the captured moments where I raised the bar.

My most recent Above PAR moment

Last week I received a message from a woman I have known for probably about 5 years now. It was one of those Above PAR moments for me. We met when I worked for the PGA TOUR and we had tried to do an event together over the last several years. At one point she left her job and asked if we could meet for coffee. She has always been responsive, kind, and I wanted to help her if I could. In turn, her current role is at Guide Dogs for the blind. When we reconnected in her new role it lead to a conversation. Now we have a special Guide Dog out there named Klay, after Klay Thompson.

Karen sent me a thank you note conveying her excitement in meeting with Klay and she referenced a few of our touch points over the last five years. To her it was a simple note, but to me it meant a lot. I am very thankful to be able to collaborate with my peers to make this moment a reality. I look forward to being able to reflect on many more moments like this in the future.

As we head into the weekend I wanted to share my recent "Above PAR "moment and I hope this gives you some consideration to remember those positive moments if you are having a rough day or week.

Paul Ratner has an M.A. in Sport Management from University of San Francisco and is an active speaker on the subject of best practices in Social Selling.