Ask a member of a Boy Scout Troop what the Scout law is, and he will immediately recite “A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.”

At every Boy Scout weekly meeting, the members of the troop open with a recitation of the Boy Scout Law. It is the guiding principles by which a scout is to live.

I believe it can and should serve as the guiding principles for a business owner, as well. There isn’t a point in the entire Scout Law that doesn’t serve an entrepreneur well, either as a business or as a person of integrity. Today, I’d like to focus on the fifth point – Courteousness.

Being courteous demonstrates that you, as an individual, and those with whom you interact, have intrinsic value. Our showing of civility makes every person feel important and acknowledged. The next time they come in contact with you, they want to be around you and to help you. Courtesy is like a magnet. It makes you attractive to others.

Courtesy takes time. It takes time to type out a nice greeting or make some small talk before the real reason for the conversation happens. But I would suggest that we don’t have time enough not to be courteous. Life is too short to be rushing about, not slowing down to acknowledge each other. Relationships and genuine connections are essential to leading a happy life, and the less time we have for them, the less happy we will be.

Courtesy doesn’t cost anything other than a little time and thoughtfulness. It’s mighty easy to tell a passing stranger that you like his shirt, or ask the grocery store clerk how her day is going. These small gestures can make a big difference to the person receiving them. It can change the mood of their whole day.

The gift of happiness we pass on to each other is the whole point of courtesy. Courtesy slows down and recognizes personhood. It affords respect to absolutely everyone, even if the interaction is only in passing.

Our lives are marked by great loves – friendship, spouse, family – but equally important are all the small loves, the courtesies. The great loves have their time and place, but the small loves we can practice every single day.