A.A. Milne's 7 Tips for a Happy and Successful Life

Maybe you didn’t recognize his name at first, but you probably remember the willy, nilly, silly old bear he created—Winnie the Pooh. Although A.A Milne is most widely known for his work as a children’s author, he was also a World War I veteran, a playwright, and a poet.

As I thought about what this week’s tips and tricks would be, I knew it’d be a perfect time to draw on the inspiration of A.A. Milne. He’s an author I turn to when I need extra support and motivation to live a happier life. So without further ado, here is the top 7 life lessons I learned from A.A Milne. I hope you find these tips for a happy and successful life as helpful as I have.

1. Be Patient

“If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”

Although working with people has its rewards, it’s not an easy job. Sometimes, your customers will be upset that the makeup they ordered wasn’t correct. Other times, customers might not be listening to everything you’re saying to them, and they’ll ask you to repeat yourself. And yes, we know it can be tough to keep calm but patience is worth it.

When you’re patient with your customers, you’ll provide a better service, but it doesn’t end there. Patience in your work spills over to the enjoyment you find in life.

2. Forget the Competition

“You never can tell with bees.”

We’ve all had experience with competition, haven’t we? From our time on the school playground, to auditioning in a play, we’ve always felt in competition with someone. But as A.A Milne said through the voice of Winnie the Pooh, “you can never tell with bees;” you can never tell with your competition.

My biggest advice for you is that although you work to make a living selling wonderful products and helping women succeed in earning a living, you can never tell which route your competition might take. But you always know yours. Take it, believe in it, and I promise, you’ll live a happier, more successful life.

3. Have Empathy

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.”

One of the most important skills to have in your job is empathy. Truly caring about your customer’s happiness and wellbeing makes a world of difference, trust us. Many women turn to makeup to hide and cover their insecurities. But your role as an Independent Beauty Sales Consultant, a Director, or an NSD is to help women see their true beauty. Makeup doesn’t hide beauty, it just highlights it. Show your customers all the compassion and empathy they need. It will help you see the happiness in your life, too.

4. Always Improve Yourself

“But now I am six. And I’m clever as clever. And now I think I’ll stay six now forever and ever.”

Do you act the same way when you were still in high school? Probably not. We all grow, mature, and change—so why settle for the same tricks you did last year or even yesterday? Every day the world gets older, you get wiser, and life changes.

Whether it’s in life or in business, you should always strive to get better each and every day. Always work to improve yourself and your business; find your strengths and identify your weaknesses. Learn what you need help with and ask other Mary Kay professionals for advice; you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the result.

We can’t stay six forever.

5. Communicate Better

“Drinking your milk and talking at the same time may result in your having to be patted on the back and dried of a long time afterwards.”

As a working professional in the customer-service world, it can be difficult to make complicated information easily understood. My word of advice: teach people as you would teach a small child. This is not to say you need to speak slower or softer, but give instructions that are easy to understand, remember, and later put into action.

Also, the more you communicate and reach out to your Unit and your customers, the more of a bond and relationship you’ll form. And with the launching of MyUnitBuzz in January, reaching out to your Unit will be easier than ever.

6. Be Attentive

“Pay attention to where you are going because without meaning you might get nowhere.”

The mark of a true professional is their ability to listen to someone when they’re speaking. Paying attention to people not only gives them a greater appreciation of you, but it also shows your appreciation of them.

For instance, you have a customer who is struggling to find the words to explain that she is insecure about her blemishes and would like to purchase a heavier concealer. Although she might not say, “I need to hide these blemishes.” She might say, “I’m looking for something that provides great coverage and helps blends my uneven skin tone.” Make sure you listen to your customers, and other people in your life; they might be saying something you’d like to hear.

7. Love

Piglet: “How do you spell love?”

Winnie the Pooh: “You don’t spell it, you feel it.”

When you love what you do, the rest comes naturally. When you follow your passion, you’ll be able to share the message of your business more effectively. When doing a job you love, you’re more excited, willing to go the extra mile, and always ready to start the day. Of course, we all have tough days, but there are never as many when you love the job that you do.

This comes with life, as well. Loving your life not only makes you happier, but it makes life come easier. Fill yourself with love and the rest will come naturally. 

Whenever you need more motivation in your life, remember that the UnitWise Heroes will always be here to pick you back up again. Also, if you haven’t already, share the goodness of UnitWise with your fellow Directors. For every four eligible referrals you make to UnitWise, you’ll get a month subscription free. And now friends, this has made me want to watch Winnie the Pooh.

TTFN—ta ta for now!