Harvey Mackay Column- Wear A Smile - One Size Fits All
In this May 21, 2026 column, Harvey Mackay extols the power of smiling as a universal, contagious force that can improve personal appearance, influence others, and boost business outcomes. He opens with a vivid anecdote of a smile spreading like an epidemic, then cites proverbs, quotes from Mother Teresa, George Eliot, and Jewish sayings that underscore the value of a smile. Mackay notes the existence of National Smile Month, Day, and Week, and argues that a smile is a low‑cost alternative to expensive cosmetic procedures. He highlights how numerous corporations—Amazon, Dairy Queen, Colgate, Kraft, and others—embed smiles in their logos and branding to convey joy, and recounts Sam Walton’s pledge for employees to greet every customer with a smile. A personal negotiation story illustrates how a humorous comment about a smiling frog broke tension and led to a successful deal. The column concludes with Mackay’s moral: “Everyone smiles in the same language,” reinforcing the idea that smiling is a simple, universal tool for personal and professional success.
Topics
The Contagious Power of a Smile
Mackay describes how a smile spreads from person to person like an epidemic, using a personal observation of passing a grin to strangers.
Proverbial and Literary Wisdom on Smiling
The column cites Jewish proverbs, a mother’s advice, and quotes from Mother Teresa, George Eliot, and others that frame smiling as moral and practical wisdom.
National Celebrations of Smiling
Mackay lists National Smile Month, National Smile Day, and National Smile Week, showing societal recognition of smiling’s importance.
Smile as a Cost‑Effective Beauty Enhancer
Contrasts expensive facelifts with the instant, inexpensive boost a smile provides, reinforced by personal anecdotes from his mother.
Corporate Branding and the Smile
Examples of companies (Amazon, Dairy Queen, Colgate, Kraft, etc.) that incorporate smiles into logos and missions to convey joy and customer focus.
Sam Walton’s Smile Pledge
Details Sam Walton’s employee pledge to greet every customer within ten feet with a smile, illustrating leadership’s emphasis on smiling.
Negotiation Story: The Smiling Frog Breaks Tension
A personal anecdote where Mackay uses humor about a smiling frog to defuse a tense negotiation, leading to a successful agreement.
Mackay’s Moral: Smiles as a Universal Language
The concluding moral that “Everyone smiles in the same language,” summarizing the column’s central thesis.