I am a father, husband, son, friend, and the superintendent of Marion Center Area School District. I take each of these roles very seriously, and my daily success depends on my efforts to make sincere, emotional investments in the people in my life.

Clint Weimer, Superintendent at Marion Center Area School District

In our daily lives, we face extreme obstacles and hardships. The easiest way to overcome these challenges is by collecting on the investments you have made in the people around you. Make it a priority to be sincere when talking to a colleague or having a discussion with your daughter about homework. People know when you really care or when you’re just going through the motions. Each interaction will either build rapport or cause an emotional disconnect, enhancing your success or fueling your failures.

Emotionally investing in people and the situations that surround them can be exhausting, but the rewards can be tremendous. We all seek approval, acceptance and support, and these can’t be obtained by offering phony investments spawned by shallow ambitions. People must know you are passionate about them, and that their well-being is at the top of your priority list. Put others first, or at least make them feel as if their problems come first. Never look for a return on your investment, people will simply be there for you when needed.

With the pervasiveness of electronic communication, we are losing the emotional connection and accountability that comes with genuine communication. I am much more likely to call you or just show up at your door for a conversation. I rarely text, I do not use Facebook, I have never tweeted, and I have never seen a need to Snapchat or access Pinterest. I find therapy in talking to people, reading their body language and attaching emotion to the conversation.

As we endure our daily struggles, please treat the people around you with attention and care. Have face-to-face interactions with all of those who are important to you. Recharge your batteries by taking the time to connect with others.

There is nothing more important than those around me, and it’s rewarding to surround myself with people who value one another. I continually make the effort to invest in people, and I challenge everyone who reads this to do the same. Over the next week, at least once a day, put down your electronics and communicate with someone in a good, old-fashioned conversation. The outcome will be productive and rewarding.