How much do you love Maya Angelou’s stories, poems, and quotes?
It was a sad day yesterday when the world lost Maya Angelou. I’ve quoted her a few times in my blog posts, including one featuring a Union Bank commercial about what it means to do right. But today is all about her – her quotes, especially those that are relevant to customer experience – that inspired so many people.
Here are some of my favorites, with the first one probably being the most notable in this space.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.
All of us knows, not what is expedient, not what is going to make us popular, not what the policy is, or the company policy – but in truth each of us knows what is the right thing to do. And that’s how I am guided.
If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.
You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.
All great achievements require time.
If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.
I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.
Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.
We can learn to see each other and see ourselves in each other and recognize that human beings are more alike than we are unalike.
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
Nothing will work unless you do.
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.
When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
When you know better you do better.
… and finally…
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
That one speaks to my mantra that the customer experience is a journey. And we’re learning and evolving along the way.
What are your favorite Maya Angelou quotes?
The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind. -Maya Angelou
