Be Kind

“Be kind. You should do it simply to be decent, but do it even if you’re a ruthless mercenary because you have no idea where people will end up in 10 years. The balance of power is always shifting. People will surprise you.”
–James Clear

I’ve been trying to sum up this idea for years, and James Clear did it really well here. It’s fascinating how quickly success rises and falls, especially in the digital age. Someone could be your intern, and within a year of leaving your company, start their own business that profits more than yours. Things move fast out here.

It’s tempting to leverage old school hierarchy for your own advantage. But it’s exactly that: old school. The new world we live in and work in puts people on a level playing field, as far as what’s possible. 

As James Clear says, we should be decent to one another for its own sake. It creates a better world for everyone to live in. But your kindness will also pay dividends back to you in the opportunities that become available to you. So be kind–for everyone’s sake. Even yours.