I’ve been friends with Sylvia Baffour and have collaborated and partnered with her for many years now. I always enjoy her insights. While many might say she and I are different — Sylvia is an Emotional Intelligence (EI) Expert and me a Storytelling Expert — much of what we say overlaps and complements. Just from different perspectives and applications. I was especially inspired today to comment on her latest LinkedIn Newsletter #11, (link here). The article grabs you at the quote — it’s all about how we affect others — what she calls personal currency.
And my response/comment is at the bottom. Enjoy…
The Currency You Didn’t Know You Were Spending—Issue #11
There’s a quote by Jim Carrey that stopped me in my tracks:
“The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.”
Not dollars. Not titles. Not connections. The real currency we spend every day is the effect we have on others.
It’s in the way we show up. The way we listen. The words we choose. The energy we bring.
And whether we realize it or not, we’re always spending that currency. The question is: what is it buying us?
When we have a positive effect, it buys us more than we realize:
✅ Collaboration—because people want to work with those who respect and uplift them.
✅ Trust—because people remember how we made them feel, especially in tough moments.
✅ Loyalty—because feeling valued isn’t easily forgotten.
✅ Grace—because when we mess up (and we all do), people are more willing to extend understanding.
But when we rush, dismiss, or let stress leak into our tone? That currency is still spent, just not how we’d like.
So here’s a reflection I’ve been sitting with—maybe it will resonate with you too:
- Would I want to be on the receiving end of my own presence?
- Am I spending my daily currency in ways that align with the person I want to be?
None of us get it right every time. But the more aware we are of the imprint we leave, the more intentional we can be in creating moments that feel meaningful—for others and for ourselves.
Because in the end, how we make people feel is the legacy we carry.
➡️ If your presence was a currency, how would people describe the value you bring?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to reply. And if this sparks some reflection, share it with someone who’s had a positive impact on you lately.
Because if currency is meant to be spent, let’s spend it well.
Warmly,
Sylvia
My Response
I agree 1,000%.
I would also add, how do you act when people are NOT around?
Because, if the two sides of you are not congruent, your thoughts, your words, your stories, your actions, will be out of alignment and then negatively affect your “currency.”
To me, you have to be true to yourself so that you can be true to others.
Then you can truly be “aligned with the person you want to be.”
As always Sylvia, excellent insights and suggestions.
Photography Source: Sylvia Baffour
#EI #sylviabaffour #daretocare #chiefstoryteller
With permission from Sylvia Baffour
