Not long ago at a community event, a friend complimented me on my shape—that I looked muscular (most people tell me how skinny I look; not usually what a guy likes to hear).
I believed him.
Though not the only motivation, his considerate comment has given me an extra boost to continue push-ups, pull-ups, weightlifting, etc., in the weeks since.
The point? Our words and our personal influence significantly affect others.
Benjamin Franklin explained, “I will speak ill of no man… And speak all the good I know of everybody.”1
One thing we cannot escape is the effect of our personal influence. 2
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”3
Pro tip
Speak encouragingly of others and thank those who encourage you! 
References
1. Carnegie, Dale. How to Win Friends and Influence People, 13.
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