Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Welcome to Operation NICE!

The other day I was waiting for an elevator in my building with one other gentleman. As the elevator arrived, I hesitated. I usually let others enter first, as a courtesy. But this gentleman held out his hand, motioning me to the door. As I walked through, he said with a chuckle, "You didn't really think I was going to walk in here first, did you?" I responded, "Well, I don't like to take anything for granted nowadays."

That one minor gesture brightened my day! I started to think, "What a great world this would be if everyone had consideration for others." It's a shame that that's not the case currently. It's obvious that common courtesy is lacking in society today. Just drive down a major highway and you'll see that.

What we all need is a little NICE.

Operation NICE encourages individuals to be proactively NICE. Stop by to read some positive, upbeat news stories (yes, they exist) about nice people. Download some tools (coming soon!) to help you in your quest to communicate the concept of niceness. Share a story or two about how someone made your day.

It is not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game ever starts.
- Addison Walker


About Me
Hi there! My name is Melissa Morris Ivone and my goal in life is to be as nice as I can possibly be. Here's a little bit about me. I live in New Jersey and work in Philadelphia as a graphic designer. I love crafting. I'm married to a wonderful (and kooky) man. And if you really want to know more about who I am, you should check out my personal blog. Thanks for reading my blog!

31 comments:

The Lavender Lily said...

Hi Melissa,

I found your Melissahead blog through Artsy Fartsy and I just read your latest post about being nice. I had a similar experience at a McDonald's - the employees were so friendly and it seemed like they really were glad to assist me! I go back to that McDonald's as much as possible because their great attitudes truly make a difference! I love the idea for this new blog...I will definitely check back often. Thanks!

Artsy Fartsy said...

This is wonderful, Mel! I look forward to using your "nice" tools, and hope your blog inspires others to do as they would have others do unto them! You certainly have inspired me!

Geo said...

Hurray! What a great concept for your blog. I found you through A Little Hut. I've just subbed to your blog and am excited to keep up with you.

Julie said...

Well hi there stranger! ;-) Just found this through feterie's blog. What a great concept!

Anonymous said...

Hello Melissa

Operation nice is a fantastic and refreshing idea. If only this concept could be embraced into corporate culture... arhh...I dream.

In today's time poor society short cuts are taken. Unfortunately for many their short cut of choice includes being nice.

Much of society also perceives niceness as soft and weak. This is partly due to individual fear and insecurity. For change to begin some one needs to "stand up" for being nice and you have done that, congratulations!

When I appear to be one of the only few at work being nice and I start to doubt "niceness" your site will remind me to "stand up" for being nice.

So, thank you Melissa!

Deb Ferguson

kiwimeg said...

Hi Melissa

Your blog is so fantastic! There really is nothing nicer than being nice. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment otherwise I may never stumbled across Operation NICE!

Mel said...

Thanks for your positive energy Melissa! I found your site on Veer and I had to repost it on my blog! (http://designfix.collarfree.com) It's shocking how an act of kindness is so rare that it actually surprises me. I hope we can change that. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I was just referred to your site. I love the whole concept! I'm the one that will tell you how great you look or what beautiful eyes you have, just because. I know how great it is to get compliments from people. I also have a habit of making sure managers know when an employee is good to me-whether it be a store or a restaurant. What a great feeling! ;)

Aggie said...

Hi Melissa! I just randomly came across your blog from Stleberry...which I found from a comment on The Martha Blog...anyway, so glad I found your blog! I couldn't agree more with you...I consider myself a pretty nice person and am very proud of it!

I'm putting your badge on my blog to spread the Nice! Look forward to reading more from you!

Aggie :)

John P. Trotta said...

Hi Melissa,
An article about you in today's Sacramento Bee motivated me to respond.

On a daily basis I look for situatiions in which to offer a compliment or praise to a stranger.

Two weeks ago, I complimented an airport bathroom attendant on how clean his station was. His response was a huge smile. He shared that on one had ever praised him nor his work on the job. A human, personal connection occurred at that moment. Wonderful feeling all day that a simple word of praise could have such a powerful effect on a stranger's affect.

I've thought many times of creating a t.v. station, Positive New Network, PNN. We need more positive information to be shared, too much negativity nearly everywhere.

Best to you and yours from a former Jersey City native.

John P. Trotta

Tom said...

It's ironic that this started your blog, nice idea that it is. As I understand elevator etiquette, the gentleman is supposed to board first. This stems from the days when elevators were not the safest of modes of transport: the gentleman would board as a test of the elevator's safety (if it was empty, at least). Further, it is deferential to enter first, because the last to enter is the first to leave. Which means while the nice gesture was well-intended, it was technically not nice.

Sam G said...

If everyone felt just a little bit better about themselves and their fellow man, maybe they wouldn't have to buy "things" to make them feel noticed or worthy.

Kai said...

WOW! MY KIND OF THINKING! I believe - really BELIEVE - that old saying, "If you see a man without a smile, give him YOURS." The power of a GENUINE smile, a kind word, a small goodness is HUGE. I think you ROCK and my friend Laura at My Little Orange Kitchen linked us to you! I hope you won't mind if I mention this on my blog, too!

sema said...

hi,
what a wonderful concept.the world will be a better place when we act more thoughtful and nice to all. i came here through scoutle and am happy finding this blog.i am an artist and i have created 'motivart' with quotes printed on my paintings to motivate myself and others .

Heather said...

found your blog through stacy julian's All Together Too Happy blog. I love this idea. I posted about it on my private blog to share the inspiration of Kindness that you share with others. Great idea!

Rebecca said...

Very nice to meet you Melissa! I love your blog, and I visit often. Keep it up it's awesome!

Maria said...

I totally totally agree with everything you say in this first entry. I'm glad to meet you! I"ll be back...Maria

Ra7aLaH said...

LOVE THE IDEA!!!! Operation NICE reached Kuwait...
http://ra7alah.blogspot.com/2008/11/be-nice.html

Jen Pringle said...

What a fabulous blog. I'm loving operation nice. Will spread this amongst us brits, we could do with a little NICE here too! Very inspiring :-)

allison strine said...

Yay! I love being NICE! Your blog is the bestest way to start my new year!

twiggypeasticks said...

Hi there
I found your fab blog and fantastic idea through The Toy Society. The funny thing is I was bemoaning the lack of niceness around us and said we should start a Ooo Be Nice campaign, you've already done it. The fab news is unsurprisingly as the bloggy world is full of lovely folks, lots of people have said to me I want to join in too!!!
So, if it's ok with you, I'm going to put a link to you on my blog and start spreading the niceness throughout the UK. Keep up the great work.
Twiggy x

Teresa Jane said...

Wow! I found this blog's button on another blog and I'm so impressed by your initiative. I would love to join you. I will definitely become a follower of your blog to see what comes next.

- Teresa Jane :)

Anonymous said...

I like nice! It's so necessary as it provides us with a polite and gentle society. Thanks for creating and blogging this site!

Melissa said...

Hi Melissa,

You had such a wonderful idea and iniciative! The world need more nice people. I think it really makes a difference to be a nice person. Let me join in your operation!
Have a really nice day!

Linda said...

Nice is very nice! It makes me grin.....

Ooty said...

So simple and such a brilliant idea!
=0) I'm in!

Conversation Pieces said...

I love this idea... After all, it's nice to be nice ;)

I'm in too x

Rich Pizzuti said...

Fantastic Idea, Fantastic Approach and Fantastic Follow Through... You had me at 'nice'... More awesomeness for my G-Reader... Thanks!!!

Isabella Golightly said...

My grandma always used to say "it's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice". I'm in. I love the idea.

Sasaki Creations said...

Aloha Melissa!

Love your blog! I just stumbled upon it by reading Lori's blog at www.TheDirtyLowDown.blogspot.com
Keep up the positive posts!

Barb Sasaki
www.SasakiBags.blogspot.com

Becky Carroll said...

What a breath of fresh air to find another positive blogger! My blog, Customers Rock!, tells good customer stories from companies treating customers well (as opposed to all those blogs that feature rants). I would love to be more involved with what you are doing, as I feel I have found a kindred spirit.

Keep it up. You rock!