7-year-old Boy Teaches How to Create a Buzz through Compassion

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Owen Shure is one of my most favorite people, ever.  His dad should win father of the year, too!

In one of my posts yesterday, "Marketing Tip: Branding Yourself through Helping," one of the things that I mentioned is to help someone who really needs it, even if he or she cannot help you.

I was going to write about something else today, but then I was distracted by a headline in Yahoo, "7-year-old’s note to NFL Player."

(NOTE: Link to article is no longer active.)

When I read this, I saw that this is a PERFECT example of my point within that blog post.


Who is Kyle Williams?

Some of you might already know who Kyle Williams is, already, but I am going to explain it, because it sets the stage for you to understand my point.

Kyle Williams plays for the San Francisco 49'ers NFL football team.  The 49'ers were just one game from going to the Super Bowl.

Kyle Williams is a receiver who was the acting as the emergency kick and punt returner in the absence of another injured player (Ted Ginn Jr.).  This is not a great job, anyway, because you get the ball, and all 11 people on the other team are trying to kill you by tackling you while you are running toward them.

Unfortunately, Kyle Williams fumbled the ball--twice, and he was a big reason why they lost a game that they should have won.  It did not help matters that Kyle Williams made a mistake that cost the team a trip to the Super Bowl.

He fumbled the ball in overtime, and essentially he fumbled away an opportunity for his team to win the NFL Championship.

Kyle Williams had a HORRIBLE game, the kind that our worst fears might not even produce.

Kyle Williams did not have too many fans.

When people mention the name Kyle Williams in San Francisco, most of them are probably not saying very nice things, unless they happen to be New York Giants fans.

However, some of this displeasure has gone too far.  There have been some people who have made death threats.

One really young fan (a 7-year-old) was understandably disappointed.  While tears in his little eyes and sniffing, he asked his dad, "Why did he have to fumble the ball?"

These are not the best days for Kyle Williams.

A 7-Year Old Learned a Lesson More Quickly Than Many Adults

After that 7-year-old asked his dad that question, he mentioned, his dad responded with a question of his own.

"How do you think Kyle Williams feels?"

At that, the son asked if he could write a letter to make Kyle Williams feel better.

According to the posted story, this is what the letter said,

**** Letter from 7-year-old boy ****

"Dear Mr. Williams:

We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be very proud, so I wanted to say thank you.

I am your #1 FAN!

Owen Shure

Los Angeles, CA

p.s. your awsome"

**** End of Letter from 7-year-old boy ****

The Lesson and the Buzz

Owen had nothing to gain from writing this letter.  He was a heartbroken little kid who (through the amazing prodding of his father) took time to write a thoughtful letter.

The outcome of the game will never change, but this little kid probably made Kyle Williams, the unfortunate football player, regain some of this perspective on life.  At one of the lowest moments of his professional career, Kyle received a reminder of what a great season he had...oh, and he also had received forgiveness from his little fan.

This little kid certainly was not trying to get attention.  He just focused on trying to help someone in need.

Now, this kid is getting some serious buzz--really good buzz--about his good deed.

If he spends the rest of his life doing things like that, do you think that he might be welcome in a few places?

Lesson Learned: Even a little child can make a great name for himself by helping someone in need.

Is there any reason you can't do the same?  Who knows?  You might even benefit from it, but don't expect it!

It's a way of life.  Sometimes, the benefits will follow.

If a 7-year-old can generate a buzz, realized that you can, too.  Just ask yourself what have you done to create a buzz lately?  If you aren't sure what to do, try helping someone.  It just might work!

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