LAYTON—There’s value in connection. According to a study at BYU on the importance of friendship, not having friends has the same effect as second-hand smoke and drinking. 

Amanda Dixon, co-host of “Utah’s Morning News” on KSL NewsRadio shared her thoughts, mixed with humor, on connecting with others both in person and in business as the keynote speaker at the Davis Chamber’s Business Expo.   

“Mankind is your business,” she said. “We’re all in the same business – we just express it differently.”

It’s not all roses and chocolates on Mother’s Day for everyone, said Dixon. “We have to ask ‘how can I be of service?’ My job is showing up for people any way I can that day. My goal is to be sincere.”

Everyone is growing apart on all levels, she said. “Children are growing apart from their parents, we’re growing apart from each other and growing apart politically. We only see what’s different than seeing what is the same.”

Dixon said when she meets someone she wants to know them as a person. “What I see doesn’t define you. I don’t want you to write me off for a bunch of things. You won’t find that connection on Facebook. It has to be face-to-face, not what you see on a little camera on Xbox.”

It’s all about service, she said. “The more you help other people the happier you are. I think someone must need me for something.”

Set the example for kids, they need connection, Dixon said. “I meet high school kids who tell me they have anxiety. I tell them don’t think about yourself, forget that and focus on what’s good for someone else.”

Teach kids to find their purpose, she said. “My purpose has mostly been KSL but now I am substituting in school.”

There is an abundance of opinion right now, said Dixon. “I have many people text me at KSL and tell me what they think. It used to make me cry but now I think ‘that’s a person who is suffering in life.’ I’m glad they lashed out at me instead of their spouse. It’s good – I saved a marriage.”

Make a powerful argument by example, example, example, she said. “Don’t tell me I’m wrong, show me what you’re doing is right. I can tell by the light off of your face and the service you give.”

Connnection is the most important thing in business, Dixon said. “The way you get customers is through word of mouth. Just volunteer if you don’t have enough customers.”

The hardest thing is just leaving the house in the first place, she said. “I have to get up at 2:30 in the morning for work. If I think about it for 30 seconds I don’t care about anything I just hit snooze. So when the alarm goes off I’m in the shower.”

There’s a negative hormone response to complaining, said Dixon. “Give up on complaining for 24 hours. The second bad hormone response is when you’re in the presence of someone who is complaining.”

Dixon used the acronym EGBOK. “That stands for everything is going to be OK. Those exact words felt true. There’s something uniquely true about that phrase. It’s the concept of change. It’s going to change so hang in there.” λ