Chapter 27 – Be Kind

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
~ Aesop “Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.”
~ Joseph B. Wirthlin “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
~ Leo Buscaglia “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
~ Unknown

Be kind to everyone. Everyone. Every person you come in contact with. When it does come to those you work with, staying true to this commitment to kindness is all the more important.

You could be spending close to 40+ hours communicating and performing with those around you, why would you not want to be a light in all the lives of those you’ll be around.

This is not to say be a pushover, be a fool, or be gullible. Rather, be willing to take the greater risk of being nicer and more empathetic. Do so not selfishly as you think it’ll help your career, but try to understand it as a greater calling that makes everything better.

Beyond being right, know that it’s the better path for your career though. The B Level designer who people remember as kind will always be sought out more than the A Level designer who’s a jerk.

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel”
~ Maya Angelou

You’ll be wronged. You’ll be taken advantage of from time to time. But that’s a sin the other will have to live with, not you. There is no true long term gain in anger and hate, so be the stronger larger person.

Always be kind.

What I’m NOT Saying:

• Become a punching bag
• Don’t make hard decisions because it “may not be nice”
• Give everybody what they always want

What I am saying:

• Always put in effort to be nice to people
• Empathize with others to consider what they’re going through and try to make their lives better
• You’ll be with many of your co-workers over 40 hours a week, you’d do well to make those hours nice
• Being kind serves your career in the long run