We all have the power to lift others with a few intentional words.
Sometimes, it only takes one sentence to change someone’s day — or even their life.
Watch the short video below where I share a powerful lesson I learned from a retired Marine on a Southwest flight — and how a few simple words can create lasting impact.
It was February 8th, one of my last flights home after a keynote before the world changed in 2020.
I boarded my usual Southwest flight and looked down the aisle — my normal exit row was taken.
So, I took the aisle seat in the first row and glanced to my left. The man sitting there wore a hat that read: “Retired Marine.”
I leaned over, smiled, and said, “Sir, I’m grateful for your service to our country.”
His eyes lit up.
He extended his hand.
“Sergeant Chuck Johnson,” he said with quiet pride.
What followed was one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had at 30,000 feet.
Sergeant Johnson told me about his service, his Purple Heart, and the long road of recovery after being wounded in battle. He spoke about the charities he supports and the ways he continues to serve others even after the uniform.
His story was moving — but what he did next left an even deeper impact.
A Small Phrase, a Big Shift
Our flight attendant, Jennifer, came by — smiling, efficient, the kind of energy you expect on a great Southwest flight.
As she leaned in to take drink orders, Sergeant Johnson looked at her and said something simple, but powerful:
“Jennifer, I’m glad you came to work today.”
She blinked. You could tell she hadn’t heard that before.
Then she smiled—really smiled—and said, “Thank you, sir. You made my day.”
I watched her the rest of the flight. That one moment completely changed her energy.
Her joy multiplied. Her connection with passengers deepened. And her light, in turn, lifted everyone she served that day—all because one man chose to speak a few intentional words.
Authenticity Creates Momentum
Afterward, I asked Sergeant Johnson about it.
“Do you always do that?” I said.
He nodded.
“I try to do it every day. You never know who needs to hear it.”
That’s what struck me most — he wasn’t performing. He was practicing. His words weren’t rehearsed; they were real. And he made it a daily commitment to encourage others — a small act that built momentum over time.
Authenticity, when practiced with intention, has a ripple effect. It doesn’t just lift one person. It lifts everyone they touch afterward.
Leadership Starts Where You Are
You don’t need a title or a stage to lead.
You don’t need to be someone’s boss to brighten their day.
Leadership begins in those micro-moments — the times you choose to notice others, to acknowledge them, and to speak life into their work and worth.
Maybe it’s a teammate who’s been pushing hard without recognition.
Maybe it’s the barista who remembers your name.
Maybe it’s your own family, who just needs to hear: “I see you. I’m glad you’re here.”
Those small acts of commitment build a culture of gratitude, one person at a time.
They create momentum that spreads far beyond the moment.
A Simple Challenge
Today, try it.
Tell someone, “I’m glad you came to work today.”
Or find your own authentic way to say it.
Be intentional. Be sincere.
And watch how your words — just a few seconds of kindness — can shift the energy of an entire day.
That’s what leaders do.
They notice.
They lift.
They create moments that multiply.
Let’s all step up like Sergeant Johnson — with gratitude, with authenticity, and with a quiet commitment to lift others up.
Because leadership doesn’t always happen in the spotlight. Sometimes, it starts in Row 1 of a Southwest flight.
