A Good First Impression Can Make Another Person’s Life Better

“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.”

-Maya Angelou

Although many believe this quote was written by Maya Angelou, there is no evidence to support that claim. In fact, the Internet seems to give more credence to well-known poets than lesser-known writers when it comes time for attribution—so let’s just say this one was hers and be done with it.

What matters most in your daily interactions isn’t so much the specific actions you take or words you say, but how someone was made to feel: listened to or ignored, included or left out, or big instead of small. This is the essence of it. 

People tend to remember how they feel long after the initial emotion has faded. So if you want to be in control of your relationships, it’s important that you think about how others will feel when dealing with you and then make sure not to give them reason for those feelings

First impressions have lasting effects, and a bad one can be hard to erase.

You can make a person feel good about themselves in many ways, making for lasting impressions.

To illustrate: being prepared, asking questions about them and their work, remembering names, offering genuine compliments—and avoiding reflexive pessimism.

The first impression you make with someone is important, and it can affect your relationship for years to come. If you want to make a good first impression, be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else just because you think they have what it takes to make a good impression. If you are yourself, chances are that person will like you for who you really are.