Kindness

A mentor of mine gave me one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s called Try Giving Yourself Away, by David Dunn. It’s about the experiences of a traveling salesman and the influence his kindness had on the those he encountered. He goes thru anecdote after anecdote of how his benevolence paid dividends for him throughout his life. The point of the book is that if you give without expectation, it comes back to you in the end. In essence, you become the biggest beneficiary of your own kindness through the good will you receive along the way.

When was the last time you gave someone a story to tell? I remember being in a breakfast line at a small airport. An elderly airport employee asked her coworker for change to pay for her sandwich. I handed the cashier the full amount before her friend could reach into her pocket. From her response you’d think I’d given her a new car. It was the best $4 I ever spent. In the end I think I received even more from that experience than she did.

What does it take to be kind? It begins with operating from the assumption that those you come in contact with share your kindness. Of course you will encounter a miserable person from time to time, but choose to focus on the 90% that are nice people. If you look for the kindness in people, you will find it.

I once missed a flight the night before my anniversary. Normally that results in big change fees and the possibility of having to wait for another day to leave. I spoke to a gate agent and told her how upset my wife would be if I didn’t get home. Not only did I not have status with the airline, the flight I was trying to get on was full. All I know is that she miraculously printed a boarding pass that showed me as a platinum member. I didn’t just get on the flight, I was upgraded to first class. The kindness of people never ceases to amaze me.

This week’s message is simple. Assume the best in everyone until proven otherwise. Go out of your way to be kind and leave your recipients with a story to tell.
The biggest beneficiary of the exchange may just be you. Please share your stories with me at [email protected].