Meet Joe.
He’s a busy contractor, rushing down the street with his head down, phone to his ear, paying zero attention to the world around him. Along the way, he passes a youngster attempting his first business venture, selling lemonade. “Hey mister, get your cup of lemonade for only a dollar!” the young boy shouts.
The man on the phone stops, shoots the young boy a glower, and says, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone, kid? I’m working here, some of us have real jobs. You shouldn’t interrupt people like that.”
The young boy’s face falls, and disappointment clouds his eyes. “Gee, sorry Mister… I didn’t mean to interrupt your important business.”
The boy is crushed, in the space of a few thoughtless words now seeing his fledgling business venture as a waste of time, not nearly as important as someone else’s ‘real’ job. He packs up his stand to go home, and as a result of that one small moment in his young life, he never quite reaches his full potential as he grows into an adult.
Why?
Because instead of taking a moment to practice kindness, good old Joe was more concerned with making money. Good old Joe was focused on himself, rather than the needs of those in the world around him. Joe was too busy being busy, to think before he spoke.
The impact Joe’s thoughtless words had on the young boy’s excitement over his first attempt at reaching for a dream, stretched deeper and wider than Joe could ever have imagined. Isn’t that the way most things go? Words and actions can make such a difference.
Now consider the same story, but with a different ending.
The man on the phone stops, glances over at the young boy, and his face softens. “I’m going to have to call you back,” he says instead, hanging up and walking up over to the boy’s lemon stand.
“Well young man, looks like you’ve got a booming little enterprise going on here. Good for you for making it happen.” The man named Joe smiles, and ruffles the young boy’s hair. “I’ll take two, buddy. I’ve got a friend up the road I just know will love a cold cup of lemonade.”
The young boy’s face lights up in a grin. “That’ll be $2 mister, thanks!” The man hands the boy a $5 bill with a wink. “Keep the change, son. I love to see someone being fearless in chasing their dreams. Keep up the good work.”
The young boy is over the moon at the tip and the kindness of the stranger named Joe makes a lasting impression. His efforts in his first entrepreneurial venture are rewarded and validated by Joe taking 5 minutes out of his day to give the boy some encouragement.
The young boy goes on to create several other ventures through the course of his life. Some of them succeed, some of them fail. But he never forgets that first one, and the kindness of that stranger, and he never forgot the most valuable lesson he learned that day… a man rich in kindness is a very rich man indeed.
The best part is that kindness doesn’t cost a thing, yet the rewards are tenfold. Stop and show someone what kindness looks like today.