Your attitude is contagious. This is your daily message from Chad number 632 and this message is dedicated to a great storyteller Tom Henschel. His podcast “The Look and Sound of Leadership” is one of the best, which he has been doing for 20 years, since January 26, 2006.

Here’s a short story: In a small coffee shop, a barista, Mia, was what you’d call a sour puss. She wiped the counter with sharp, irritated swipes. Customers shuffled in, heads down, mirroring her mood without realizing it. Orders were curt, tips were scarce, and the air felt heavy. One regular, Tom, always left quickly, his usual cheer dimmed by Mia’s gloom.

Then came Lila, a new hire with a bright smile and a habit of humming softly as she worked. On her first day, she greeted Mia with a warm, “Rough morning? I get it—spilled coffee on my shirt before I even got here!” Mia smirked, softening slightly at Lila’s relatable clumsiness. As Lila chatted with customers—matching their tones, nodding at their complaints, then gently lifting the mood with a laugh—they began to linger, smiles creeping onto their faces. Tom stayed longer, joking with Lila about his own coffee spills.

Over days, Mia’s swipes slowed, her frown eased. She started echoing Lila’s casual warmth, saying “Yeah, Sundays are wild, right?” to a frazzled mom, syncing with her pace. The shop’s vibe shifted—livelier, lighter. Customers trusted Lila’s easygoing nature because it felt like theirs, and Mia, pacing alongside her, caught the spark too.

We had several messages this week about attitude. It is a choice. Attitude compounds. And as we just saw, it’s contagious. This story shows how Lila’s upbeat attitude spread, syncing with Mia and then the customers. By pacing—mirroring others’ energy and experiences—she built trust, proving we connect best with those who feel like us. Attitudes don’t just spread; they ripple through shared rhythms.

Share with me a story from your life about the ripple effect of attitude to my email fromchadsmith@gmail.com. You can read this story and hundreds of others at fromchad.com.