We’ve all heard the saying “It’s the little things that make a difference”; so much, in fact, that the phrase often times gets written off as a cliché.  The truth is, however, that the principle behind that statement is incredibly powerful.  The “little things”, when done correctly, can make the difference between getting the job, receiving that promotion, selling services to a client…or not.

This morning I was conducting my usual routine of reviewing the various social media channels for #LaurusCollege and I noticed that a top-level manager with one of our service providers (let’s call him “Tony”) makes it a habit of “liking” our company’s updates on a regular basis.  Not only does Tony’s gesture tell me that he’s in tune with today’s digital social landscape (an important characteristic for all service-industry organizations), but it also makes me feel a bit “warm and fuzzy” that Tony took the time to appreciate our company’s post.

In this particular case, I’m sure Tony is interested in keeping Laurus College as a client and in selling us additional services.  I know what his agenda is, I know what he’s trying to do…and it’s working!  When Tony sends me an email, I read it.  When Tony invites me to a webinar that his company is hosting, I attend it.  When I have a concern about a service or product issue with Tony’s company and he says he’ll take care of it, I believe him.

Obviously the example I’m using here is simplified; after all, Tony provides a lot more value to our organization than just liking Laurus College’s LinkedIn Updates.  However, it’s the little things that Tony does (i.e. following our LinkedIn page, sending me industry articles, etc.) that gives his company an advantage over his competitors.

Give yourself an advantage at school, at work and in your personal life by doing something “little” today!  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

– Show up for class and/or work 10 minutes early every day and make sure to wear your smile!
– Follow a company on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. that you would like to work for someday; make it a habit to “like” and “comment” on their posts.
– Attend or review one of the many great workshops hosted by the Laurus College Career Services department (learn more by clicking here).
– Take a 15-20 minute walk right after dinner with your significant other / loved ones to get the blood flowing, and more oxygen to the brain (the dishes can wait;).