108. The Need for Greater Kindness in Business and the World

This is Entrepreneurs of Faith, a Sunday episode of Monetization Nation. I’m Nathan Gwilliam, your host. In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss portions of a sermon by a church leader named Gordon Hinckley about the world’s need for greater kindness, and we’ll discuss how kindness can help us make a difference as entrepreneurs.

The World We Live in and Why We Need Kindness

Hinckley described the kind of world we live in today, saying, “I have wondered why there is so much hatred in the world. We are involved in terrible wars with lives lost and many crippling wounds. Coming closer to home, there is so much jealousy, pride, arrogance, and carping criticism; fathers who rise in anger over small, inconsequential things and make wives weep and children fear.”

He continued, “Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.”

With all the hate, jealousy, pride, arrogance, and criticism in the world, not to mention the wars and violence, we need to be kind. We need to do what we can to push back against all that negativity and show the world that it is still good in people. 

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” (KJV Galatians 6:10)

Kindness in Business

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”

– Amelia Earhart 

We can drive our businesses forward through acts of kindness. Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of the New York-based company Kind Snacks, does this. He takes the subway to work every morning, and when he sees someone commit an act of kindness, he gives them a #kindawesome card, which is an invitation to enter an online code to receive free Kind bars. He also gives them a second #kindawesome card to give to a selfless stranger (Source: bthechange.com). 

The gesture is part of a company-wide cause marketing movement to trigger a chain of random acts of kindness around the world. It has generated more than one million kind acts. This kind of tactic creates loyalty in existing customers and awareness for potential customers (Source: bthechange.com).

Strategies like these are great ways to spread kindness and help our business. They show customers that we care and we are willing to put in effort when it comes to being a good business. Instead of being ruthless and uncaring in our pursuit of profits, we should focus on being good to our customers and community. We can only do this “when there is kindness, respect, and love,” Hinckley said. 

Kindness in COVID

When the pandemic hit the world, there were many people and businesses that were impacted negatively. Some businesses had to close, causing people to lose their jobs. Many have been directly impacted by the virus, and we all had to adjust to doing things differently. However, some businesses saw this as an opportunity to do some good. 

For example, Wild North Flowers, a company in Toronto, was forced to transition to an online-only model when the pandemic hit. Though the business took a hit financially, Jennifer Fowlow, founder and owner, did what she could to make a difference in the community (Source: shopify.com). 

Previously the company had a monthly tradition of a nomination-based flower giveaway. Fowlow turned this into a daily giveaway to workers on the front lines. “With the COVID-19 pandemic turning our worlds upside down,” Fowlow said, “this kind of gratitude is more important than ever.” The company also donated pre-paid flowers that were from canceled events (Source: shopify.com).

Another company, Summersalt, found a different way to make an impact. Summersalt is a brand dedicated to joyful moments like swimming, traveling, sleeping, and lounging. However, its apparel basics were also perfect for those who have had to isolate—something that usually isn’t a joyful moment (Source: shopify.com). 

In response to COVID-19, “the brand launched Joy cast, a free SMS-based emotional support hotline that connects those in isolation with members of their team who text back positive diversions—a meditation video, a self-care tip, or puppy GIFs.” (Source: shopify.com)

While the pandemic has been hard in different ways for everyone, we can be a force for good through sharing kindness. 

Humanitarian Efforts

In Hinckley’s sermon, he went on to describe numerous humanitarian efforts happening throughout the world. He described “volunteers reaching out to supply food, clothing, and other needed items to those in distress” and “lifting thousands out of the slough of poverty and into the sunlight of knowledge and prosperity.”

J.K. Rowling, who has lost her billionaire status from the millions she has donated, has said, “You have a moral responsibility when you’ve been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently.” (Source: Lifehack.org)

“There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others,” Hinckley said. “Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us,” he continued. “In the words of the Lord to Joshua, brethren, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God [will be] with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Key Takeaways

Here are some of my key takeaways from this episode. To read or watch the full sermon click here.

1. The world is filled with all kinds of heartaches and heartbreaks. We need more kindness to fight against that.

2. Kindness grows roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. Likewise, our actions of kindness can spread and multiply. 

3. When we are blessed with more resources than we need, we should give back and help those who need them.

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