Remember the last time you were paid a sincere compliment? Remember how good it made you feel? Remember how you immediately wanted to do something in return for the person who complimented you?

Paying someone a sincere compliment is a great way to build a relationship or begin a conversation. It makes the other person feel important and acknowledges their uniqueness. We all need to feel this. We all like to hear complimentary comments to help reinforce our self image.

A compliment costs you nothing to give and can be the most rewarding gift you can give to another human being. There's a wonderful story from one of the old time sales trainers, Willie Gale, who was speaking about compliments to a group of salesmen back in the 1950s.

One of the men of the group, a door-to-door salesman asked Willie what he would do if he rang the doorbell and the woman who answered was all disheveled, dressed in a housecoat, looking absolutely awful. (Remember, this was the 1950s). Willie responded I would just stand there and keep looking until I found something to compliment her on.

A compliment must be sincere. People see right through false ones and ones without sincerity. Many a clothing sales person lost a sale by telling me something looked good on me when I knew instinctively it did not.

Make a habit of freely offering sincere compliments to people you encounter. This is so important, especially in our hurried, harried and seemingly impersonal society. There will be times when the compliment a person receives from you, a total stranger, is the only nice comment they hear that day. You can make a persons day with a simple nicety, spoken with caring and sincerity.

(Editor's note: In my happiness book, Habit # 8 is Choose YouBet people. Paying compliments is part of how you can be one yourself. Jim Donovan's self-actualization tip is in fact an important part of your daily happiness habits.)