Benjamin Franklin in a 1842 letter to Benjamin Webb is often credited with the "pay It forward" philosophy. It is his idea of not paying back a loan, but instead, passing that payment on to someone else, that spawned the book and subsequent movie, "Pay It Forward".

 

When researching those that practice this philosophy, I learned that there is not just one reason that people practice kindness. For instance, in the recent Starbucks drive thru incidence, the gentleman that started the all day chain reaction of paying for the coffee in the car behind you, did it not to be nice, but for self preservation. The story goes that when the guy behind him kept yelling at him he started to get angry. Realizing that he needed to change his mental attitude, he diffused his own anger and got back in balance, by counterbalancing - doing something nice.

 

I have heard of those that help hikers on long hiking trails, by cooking them a hot meal in their home. They claim they do it because someone did something nice for them. They pay it forward.

 

Some that do it professionally, like those that work in soup kitchens, have said it is because it makes them feel good. Others, because it makes them feel humble.  Still others say they practice acts of kindness because they can and should.

 

Whatever the reason, research has shown that feelings are contagious and our feelings are influenced by our actions. Actions of kindness matter because giving feels good and so does receiving.

 

So consciously (that's important) do something nice for someone everyday and you'll feel better about you and help someone else feel better about themselves. Pretty soon it will become habit. You'll be happier, your relationships will be more fullfilling and your sales, through the roof.

 

You mighty even try counterbalancing that angry client with a conscious act of kindness. You might just start something.