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www.i-am-magazine.comleadership is about lifting others, notstanding on top of them.That changed me. I started making %u201cHow may Iserve you?%u201d my signature line, not just because itsounds good (although let%u2019s be real%u2014it doessound good), but because it shifts the energy. Itmoves the spotlight from me to we. And let metell you, when you make people feel seen andsupported, they rise. Every single time.The Secret Sauce: Serve with a SmileNow, don%u2019t miss this part%u2014it%u2019s not just aboutservice. It%u2019s about how you serve. I don%u2019t care ifyou%u2019re handing someone a cup of coffee, givingcareer advice, or helping them pack for a move%u2014do it with joy. With lightness. With a smile thatsays, %u201cI%u2019m happy to be here.%u201dYou ever met someone who%u2019s technicallyhelping but looks like they just bit into alemon?Bless their hearts.That kind of energy isn%u2019t contagious, it%u2019scontagious in the wrong direction. But you?You%u2019ve got the power to light people up, notweigh them down.Smiles are free. They%u2019re powerful. And they saymore than words ever could. When I say %u201cservewith a smile,%u201d I mean: bring the energy you wantto see in the world. Be someone%u2019s sunshine,even if it%u2019s a cloudy day. Especially if it%u2019s acloudy day.Why Altruism Isn%u2019t Just About Them (It%u2019sAbout You Too)Here%u2019s the twist that will blow your mind: whenyou serve others, you grow. Your empathyexpands. Your confidence strengthens. Yoursense of purpose deepens. Altruism isn%u2019t justfor the people you help%u2014it%u2019s for you.I remember mentoring a young woman who wasso uncertain about her next step. Every week,we%u2019d meet for coffee (well, espresso for me%u2014because I like my mornings bold, strong, andslightly overcaffeinated). I listened. Iencouraged. I shared what I knew. Monthslater, she sent me a card that said, %u201cYou helpedme find myself.%u201dTruth is, she helped me too. She reminded mewhy I do what I do. She reminded me thatsometimes, just showing up for someone isenough. Service isn%u2019t just action. It%u2019s presence.27