Nobody cares about how much you know, until they know how much you care. – Theodore Roosevelt

I’m starting a new series on Mondays called “Inspirational Mondays.” Our weeks typically start off with a bang, perhaps with a few fires to put out. I thought it would be a good idea to center ourselves a little bit before the wild whirlwind of “we need it yesterday!” begins.

So here we go.

Tomorrow I’m going to attend the funeral of a dear aunt. She is the only sister of my father and was the only girl in a family of eight boys. My father’s family was a hard-working farm family of German lineage. My aunt was one of those rare beings who always had a smile on her face, was always upbeat and positive when I saw her, and was warm and loving to all who came across her path. She had a splendid sense of humor and a lot of wisdom.

Being around her always made me feel good. It was a special treat if she was at a family reunion. About ten years ago, she had to start receiving dialysis three times a week. I can’t imagine having this procedure once, let alone three times, but she persevered, even though the medical process drained her energy. Still, she remained upbeat.

Her passing reminded me of another, more famous woman who also recently passed a few months ago: soap opera legend Jeanne Cooper. Cooper played the role of Kathrine Chancellor on the soap opera The Young and The Restless for 40 years. That’s a long time. But what was amazing was the tribute her cast members gave to her on May 28, 2013.

If you decide to watch it, you will notice a pattern emerging: Jeanne Cooper knew how to make people feel special.

Even if you’re not a soap opera fan, it’s impossible to deny the impact this woman made on her fellow cast members. Her children also attest to her character and having a very big heart toward her fans.

Which brings me to the question I ask of you and myself.

How do you make people feel?

When you’re networking, or attending a conference, or meeting someone for the first time, how do you make them feel?

Do they feel valued? Do they feel heard? Do they feel as though they matter?

I can tell you this. I’ve attended many, many events in my life and have met many people. The ones who left the deepest impression are those who didn’t focus on themselves right away but who focused on me. They asked me questions about what I did, why I liked doing it, and who I did it for. They paid attention to me as though I was the only person in the room. Like Roosevelt’s quote, they showed they cared.

Most people don’t do this. They say a few polite words and meanwhile, their eyes are looking around the room to see if there is someone else more important to connect with.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be aware of our surroundings and the potential opportunities that exist to meet new people. What I am saying is that when conversing with someone, whether they’re a new acquaintance or old, be in the moment.

See how you can make the other person feel as though you care.

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. – Zig Ziglar

When it comes down to it, people do business with those they know, like, and trust. People will only get to that place when you show them how much you care about them.

Because in the end, it isn’t about how many toys you acquired, if you produced the coolest videos that went viral, or how high your IPO went. What people will remember when you shuffle off this mortal coil is only one thing:

How you made them feel.