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Life As a Daymaker: How to Change the World by Simply Making Someone's Day
Go Ahead, Make My Day Make someone's day, and you'll make your own - that's the principal behind David Wagner's book Life As A How to Change the World Simply by Making Someone's Day. Wagner poses one "Why have random acts of kindness when you have intentional acts of goodwill?" Life As A daymaker offers wealth of oppertunities to spread cheer, encouragment or advice to anyone who opens it's cover. Author David Wagner offers suggestions on how to make one's life meaningful and rewarding, using a single, simple premise.
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First published December 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 24, 2015
A woman at a spa in Denver gave this book to me and my husband when we were treating our niece and nephew to massages after they'd spent 15 days backpacking with Outward Bound. She said she thought we were "daymakers." And she certainly was by giving us this book, as well as other kindnesses that day, such as picking us up from the hotel and driving us to the spa.
The premise of this book is simple: be a "Daymaker" by being kind. Make someone's day. That's it! But it's super powerful. Hair stylist/mogul David Wagner got the idea when a client came in for a hair cut. He gave her a great scalp massage, joked around for a bit, and she left with a big smile. A few days later she sent Wagner a letter that she was having her hair done because she'd planned to commit suicide that night, but their interaction led her to seek help instead.
Wow! I cried several times. Then there are practical tips for making someone's day, from opening a door for someone, to sending your parents flowers on YOUR birthday, to massaging your spouse and remembering to say "thank you." Really a positive, beautiful little book.
Lots of inspirational quotes too:
"Remeber that just so much are you adding to the pleasure or misery of other people's days ... Whether each day of your life shall give happiness or suffering rests with yourself." - George Merriam
"The quality of a life is determined by its activities." - Aristotle
"I know some good marriages - marriages where both people are just trying to get through their days by helping each other, being good to each other." - Erica Jong
"Power can be seen as power with rather than power over, and it can be used for competence and cooperation, rather than dominance and control." - Anne L. Barstow
The premise of this book is simple: be a "Daymaker" by being kind. Make someone's day. That's it! But it's super powerful. Hair stylist/mogul David Wagner got the idea when a client came in for a hair cut. He gave her a great scalp massage, joked around for a bit, and she left with a big smile. A few days later she sent Wagner a letter that she was having her hair done because she'd planned to commit suicide that night, but their interaction led her to seek help instead.
Wow! I cried several times. Then there are practical tips for making someone's day, from opening a door for someone, to sending your parents flowers on YOUR birthday, to massaging your spouse and remembering to say "thank you." Really a positive, beautiful little book.
Lots of inspirational quotes too:
"Remeber that just so much are you adding to the pleasure or misery of other people's days ... Whether each day of your life shall give happiness or suffering rests with yourself." - George Merriam
"The quality of a life is determined by its activities." - Aristotle
"I know some good marriages - marriages where both people are just trying to get through their days by helping each other, being good to each other." - Erica Jong
"Power can be seen as power with rather than power over, and it can be used for competence and cooperation, rather than dominance and control." - Anne L. Barstow
August 9, 2008
Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.--Edmund Burke
September 12, 2023
Simple to the point of being repetitive and a tad redundant, the formula Wagner uses to approach this advice/self-help novella is quotes, heading, example. It reaches a crescendo right at the start about *why* he decided to write it and then uses the rest of the book to explain all the ways that it can be implemented. Whether you're a young employee or a veteran employee, whether you're a "worker bee" or a head of a company, Wagner explains the simplicity of being someone's daymaker. It's not just at work but at home, to friends, to kids, to strangers.
I read it as a recommendation from a new employee at our school and I'm glad I did. I know what my next move will be.
*The weight of the book is evident at the start-- he was sent a letter from a regular client of his who came in in between her regular hair cut rotation so she could look beautiful. They chatted and had fun and she got the cut. She left. What he didn't know is that she was planning to go home and attempt suicide. She didn't after that interaction, got help, and wrote to tell him thank you for being her person that day.*
I read it as a recommendation from a new employee at our school and I'm glad I did. I know what my next move will be.
*The weight of the book is evident at the start-- he was sent a letter from a regular client of his who came in in between her regular hair cut rotation so she could look beautiful. They chatted and had fun and she got the cut. She left. What he didn't know is that she was planning to go home and attempt suicide. She didn't after that interaction, got help, and wrote to tell him thank you for being her person that day.*
May 23, 2019
Fabulous little book filled with nuggets of great wisdom.
My daughter was given this book when she was doing her cosmetology education with Aveda. The author of the book has been a leader with Aveda for many years now.
The whole idea of “Day making” is a beautiful concept of living every day to make someone’s day better.
I especially enjoyed the parenting sections of the book. My husband and I read this together before bed or on our errands in the car over the course of several weeks. We both loved the ideas presented in the book!
My daughter was given this book when she was doing her cosmetology education with Aveda. The author of the book has been a leader with Aveda for many years now.
The whole idea of “Day making” is a beautiful concept of living every day to make someone’s day better.
I especially enjoyed the parenting sections of the book. My husband and I read this together before bed or on our errands in the car over the course of several weeks. We both loved the ideas presented in the book!
June 5, 2020
Meh...3 stars for content and good intentions, but I honestly felt like it was just a recap of the speaking event that I attended. David Wagner is a very dynamic speaker!! He is great in person and maybe that’s why I was expecting more out of the book. He is certainly passionate and I hope that people who aren’t already living this way will pick the book up and learn from it.
August 26, 2018
I loved this little book, mostly because I love the experiences I have at Juut. nice collection of quotes, good reminders of the things I believe matter.
September 1, 2019
A wise little book. Excellent idea about changing the world through one kind act at a time. Highly recommended!
September 8, 2019
Nice quick read about being intentional in making someone’s day each day and that in doing so you will create happiness for yourself as well as others. Great read for anyone who runs a business.
May 26, 2020
Wonderful quick little read!
January 10, 2022
This book is all about spreading positive ripples one person at a time.
August 8, 2022
A quick read with lots of ideas to make someone's day brighter The goal is for it to be a lifestyle. I loved all the quotes throughout the book.
October 30, 2025
Quick, easy read! Highly recommend - gives a positive perspective on life.
March 12, 2021
Easy read, very inspiring
Loved this book, it made me smile on just about every page. Full of easy-to-implement ideas for making others’ days, which en make yours. (p.s. to David or the publisher: as a proofreader, I would be happy to point out the many typos free of charge. They are a bit distracting.)
Loved this book, it made me smile on just about every page. Full of easy-to-implement ideas for making others’ days, which en make yours. (p.s. to David or the publisher: as a proofreader, I would be happy to point out the many typos free of charge. They are a bit distracting.)
January 1, 2017
This was fun to read. It was recommended by Alexandra Franzen as one of the books that inspired her to write ">so this is the end.", and...frankly after reading that book I would do just about anything she told me to do. Yeah, it's every bit as cheesy as you'd imagine, and then some. And if I weren't in the mood for that, I might have turned up my nose at this. But I'm glad I got to experience it when I was in the right state of mind to appreciate it. A delightfully over-the-top optimistic read.
December 29, 2012
From book: Hairdresser David Wagner, a self-proclaimed "Daymaker," explains how he helped prevent the suicide of one his clients by just spending an hour chatting with her and making her feel good about herself. In this book, he admonishes readers to become Daymakers themselves by sharing their time with those in need of kindness.
February 29, 2008
I learned I've been employing many of these principles for years, too. It was nice to have them validated. I also realized we followed quite the same path--within blocks of each other in downtown Mpls. in the 1970s.
June 12, 2017
This is the book I was hoping "What Would Buddha Do?" was going to be... Filled with helpful advice, anecdotes and common sense. And best of all it is written by a local author - David Wagner - founder of the JUUT Salons.
READ THIS BOOK!
READ THIS BOOK!
September 13, 2010
Easy, quick, read. I heard the author speak and really enjoyed him and his story. His book is a lot of what he spoke about, but still enjoyed reading it. Plus, what a great idea, being a daymaker, making people's day!
March 7, 2015
This book embodies all of the things I believe in: kindness, love, tolerance. A Daymaker is someone who changes the life of someone else for the better - even if it's just for a moment in a day. Making someone's day not only benefits the recipient; it also benefits the Daymaker.
July 3, 2008
Pretty good, pretty short. Contains some nice ideas on how to do pleasant things for others.
January 26, 2009
A great book - quick and inspiring read!
On another note, David Wagner owns Juut Salons in MN, which I discovered over the holidays this year and love!
On another note, David Wagner owns Juut Salons in MN, which I discovered over the holidays this year and love!
February 18, 2009
Another quick-read...honestly a great way to look at life. Worth the read.
February 24, 2011
very motivating, and uplifting! Everyone should read this book!!
January 23, 2012
Great, Positive inspiration! Go out and make someone's day, everyday!
March 23, 2013
Couldn't put this book down, an awesome quick read. Little over 120 pages.
April 10, 2014
Amazing
loved everything about this book. it was an easy read that kept me engaged the entire time. Truly life changing.
loved everything about this book. it was an easy read that kept me engaged the entire time. Truly life changing.
March 17, 2016
Very inspirational ways to be kinder to those around us while making their day & ours.
January 21, 2023
Simple. Straight forward. Empowering. Refreshing.
May 23, 2023
Cool short book on being a positive force in your everyday life. Not too repetitive and loads of personal examples and excerpts from the author. Got this from my salon and would pass it on.
January 7, 2013
A little cheesy but generally good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews