Don't Put Baby in a Corner

For most of us, the quote above elicits a variety of emotions, memories, and more - things like fun music, everything 80's, young love, and big hair. If you don't have a recollection of the quote above, you have a home work assignment: go watch "Dirty Dancing."

Now, you may be wondering, just what does this have to do with life, business, and all the spaces in between? As it turns out, just about everything.

Think about a baby. Not Jennifer Grey from "Dirty Dancing" - I mean of the newborn variety. Got an image? Good. Now, what happens when a someone enters an area with a baby in tow? 

Do people ignore that baby? Or does the IQ of just about everyone fall about 30 points as they "Ga-ga" and "Go-go" for about 10 minutes? 

Most of us get into baby mode and all of a sudden we are all smiles, raspberries, and laughter as we get to know this new human. Our curiosity peaks as we play peek-a-boo, shake rattles, and playfully pinch their little arms and legs. 

Let me ask another question: do you feel happy and uplifted when this happens...or do your feel miserable, sad, and otherwise cranky?

We feel happy and uplifted in most cases, right?!? Why is that - why does the promise of a new life fill our spirits with such happiness - even when the baby isn't our own? It's like a shot of Red Bull to our soul that lasts long after the baby leaves our presence. It's really an incredible phenomenon if you think about it.

Here's the thing...why do we limit this to babies? What if, when a customer, member or, I don't know, our significant other walked in the room we met them with the same enthusiasm? Now...I don't mean we start pinching them and saying things like, "Who's a pretty baby?" That'd be weird...and, at work at least, and HR violation. What I mean is what if we got excited? What if when we met a new person or someone we've known for years, we gave ourselves permission to get excited and be curious about them? 

It this easier said than done? Mabye. But the fact of the matter is it's so easy to take people for granted each day. Too many accounts are lost, sales are left on the table, and relationships falter because we fail to get excited and curious about those around us. To paraphrase Patrick Swazey, "We put baby in a corner." We don't give them an opportunity to shine, to be fawned over, and to be loved and listened too.

We shouldn't treat others like they are old hat; we should treat them like they are newborns. Why reserve the fun, happy, and joyful treatment of babies just for...well...babies? Why not choose to get excited and enthusiastic for the people that are all round us. Whomever your baby is: whether it's a friend, boss, coworker, stranger, or the love of your life - don't make the mistake we often make with them as we take them for granted: Don't put baby in a corner.