In the beginning, it all started out as an experiment. "What would happen if I wore a nametag all the time?" I wondered. Maybe people would be friendlier. Maybe people would say hello to me. Maybe people would stare at me and think I was a complete weirdo!

Either way, I predicted that people's reactions to wearing a nametag would be pretty interesting. What I did not predict, however, was that wearing a nametag would be such an effective tool for making this world a friendlier place! And, it has changed my entire life, as well as the lives of everyone around me!

Believe it or not, close to three years later I am still wearing this nametag! Over this time I have found that a nametag serves as a wonderful ice breaker. I like to look at a nametag as a “front porch” because it invites people to overcome their apprehension and talk with new people. In short, a nametag is a mechanism for increasing approachability.

Front porches were created thousands of years ago for that sole purpose: to make people feel welcome. Although their origins trace back to the Greek times, they were a major part of American culture in the early 1900’s. However, throughout the last fifty years, dramatic sociological and technological changes have caused our lives to become more demanding, mobile and individualistic than ever. Fortunately, we still get everything done. The only problem is that in our haste, we often isolate ourselves thereby sacrificing the types of friendly communications that once flourished in our society. In short, front porches don't seem necessary because people are either too busy or too scared to step onto them.

The simple truth is that we, as a society, don't talk to each other enough. Essentially, people don't want to step onto someone else's front porch, and they don't want them stepping onto theirs. Here's a good example. Have you ever purposely looked off into the distance or stared at the pavement right as you passed another person solely to avoid acknowledging them? People do this all the time. Another situation that may be more prevalent is the immediate fixation of one's eyes on the floor lights once they have entered the elevator. Ever notice that? I guess most people would rather brush up on their basic counting skills than talk to a stranger. Not me.

Every day, I find that people are friendlier and more willing to say hello to me because I wear a nametag. Every day people come out of their shells. The gratifying feeling I get when I see someone step out on a limb and communicate with a total stranger makes me realize how something so simple can be so effective.

If you’ve ever walked a dog or a baby in public, you can understand the inner workings of this “front porch.” Front porches help people feel more comfortable. They reduce uncertainty. The truth is that I never try to convince people to wear nametags, but to simply find a way to make this world friendlier in their own way. In fact, there are millions of front porches out there for everyone: smiles, unique jewelry, hats, pets, clothes, books, etc.

One of the reasons front porches are so effective is because they often serve as, or lead to acts of kindness. Simply saying hello to a stranger can be an act of kindness. Offering yourself for conversation to others can be a comforting notion for a shy person. People have the psychological need to be appreciated more than anything, so when I make myself accessible to others for interaction, I help them feel welcome. Such an offering can be very contagious too. When you get a random greeting from a stranger on the street, it makes you feel great! It also makes you want to do the same thing for another person. People just need to be willing to take that first step in order to give and receive the kindness.