The Most Overlooked Secret of success

If anyone knows the secrets of success, it is S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A restaurants. Mr. Cathy overcame huge set backs to build his fast food chain, which now has over 1500 restaurants.  He has given millions of dollars to charities and is well known for conducting business with excellence and integrity.   On his website, Mr. Cathy gives “11 proven rules for entrepreneurial success.”  Rule number 10, according to Mr. Cathy, is “be kind to people.” I believe that kindness is the most overlooked secret of success.

A big part of being kind is treating everyone with courtesy and politeness.  A fascinating study was recently conducted at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.  The study found that patients of doctors who were courteous had more successful outcomes and were more likely to survive surgeries than did the patients of grumpy or rude doctors.

This outcome makes sense when you realize that doctors who were polite and courteous were more likely to receive extra help from their coworkers.  Because the doctor was friendly and kind, nurses, pharmacists and other staff were more comfortable and willing to make suggestions to ensure that no mistakes were made.  Even in a technical and scientific field like medicine, it is essential that the medical team like each other and want to help each other.  That is why kindness is such an important key to success.

Kahlil Gibran once made a profound observation about kindness. He said, “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness, but manifestations of strength and resolutions.”   As you treat everyone with kindness, you will find yourself making more friends.  As you go the extra mile to help others, you will be happier and ultimately more successful.

“When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; As I grow older, I admire kind people.”                     -Abraham Joshua Heschel