This article was written by Richard Hellen, owner of Pathways (a leadership/relationship organization) and serves as a speaker, trainer, author, and coach for the John Maxwell Team

In the words of Dr. King: “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Several years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop focusing my life on trying to make a living but to spend the rest of my earthly existence making a difference. This doesn’t mean that earning a living has less value but it fails in comparison to the feeling I get from making a difference in the lives of others. This difference does not make the local news, Facebook or CNN but it leaves the recipient knowing that he or she has value.

Each day I attempt to make a difference by asking people how they are doing and attending to their answer. Once a week I take my car to Mr. Car Wash in Round Rock. As I get out of my car, I call the attendant by name. I shake his hand and ask how his day is going. From time to time an attendant will express some life challenge he or she is experiencing. I give him or her my full attention and listen. I seldom tell them anything about me but make the entire interaction about them. People may not remember my name but they will never forgot how I made them feel.

I have to admit, I was not born with this disposition. However, as I began to grow as a leader I soon realized that leading is about finding ways to serve, connect and add value to others. As a leader, I can choose to serve others or I can serve myself. I have found that life is much more fulfilling when I intentionally serve others.

What is the benefit of serving and adding value to others? In some cases, the people we interact with daily don’t attend church, have not had a compliment in weeks, nor has anyone attempted to make them feel valued. By simply asking someone how they are doing and attending to their answer, you just demonstrated to him or her they are important. This value that has been added creates a sense of self-worth, pride and confidence to continue this journey we call life. Recognition is one of life greatest rewards. Children desire to be noticed by their parents; students hope to be recognized by their teacher, and spouses need each other’s recognition.

John Maxwell often states “Before you can move someone’s hand, you have to first touch their heart.” This begins with having a genuine concern for others. It is never about how much we know, but about how much we care. Whether you are a janitor or the CEO of an organization, everyone wants to know that someone cares for them.

The church we attend has the greatest impact on others when they see the church operating in us. Before we can begin to tell others about the church on the corner, they must first see the church in our heart. We can all add value to the world around us by simply taking the time to ask people how they are doing and listening to their answer. People’s value is not solely based on their race, religious affiliation or political position but on how they are moved by love and care for their fellow man. We all can be great, as Dr. King says, by intentionally finding ways to serve others.  It can start by a question as simple as “How are you doing?”