Kindness is KEY to This Year’s Success

We hear it time and time again: pay it forward, pay compliments to people, do one nice thing for someone each day/week/month etc. But as much as the practice of kind gestures is suggested with the knowledge that acting on them will be emotionally rewarding – it easily falls by the wayside when ‘life’ happens and distracts us from making these efforts.

As most of us, especially in hospitality, intend to put our best foot forward each day and greet others with a smile — it doesn’t always happen that easily.

Let’s think about the business we are in for a moment: Hospitality.

Hospitality is the business of serving others. No matter what we do in life, there is most likely some aspect to our day where we are doing something for someone else at some point in time. Making that interaction a positively memorable one should be our goal.


Take the restaurant business for example. It’s been proven that the way someone is treated in your restaurant or business is actually more impactful than the food they are served. If someone walks out of your business feeling like their time has been honored and valued, they were comfortable, and had a pleasant experience overall, they are more likely to return (with others) or recommend you to a friend than if they came in and had a fantastic meal but were neglected or treated otherwise poorly.


Business aside, let’s think about how you choose to interact with others on a daily basis — whether they’re your customers, your family or your friends. How often do you acknowledge someone else’s accomplishments? How frequently do you simply say something nice about a person directly to them?

January 24th is National Compliment Day. There is no better way to make someone feel good than to pay them a compliment. Not only can a small gesture put a smile on someone’s face, but it could cause a domino effect when someone decides to then pay that compliment to someone else in their life.

From a business owner’s standpoint – think about how your staff would feel if you complimented them on their hard work, their ability to serve others with a smile, their dedication and work ethic. You will then be rewarded with employees who not only enjoy their work environment, but will stay longer, and help grow your business.

“When the customer comes first, the customer will last.”  -Robert Half

Positive energy that is put forth to your guests, friends, and family will never be a loss. There is no doubt that kindness comes full circle and you will be rewarded for it in one way or another. One of the best marketing tactics is to simply “Make friends”. When people like you, they not only want to see you regularly, but they talk about you to others in a positive way and they want to see you succeed.

As we embark on a new year, rather than making that resolution to work out in the gym more often, perhaps make a resolution to exercise your ability to compliment others. It may be the magic you need for a successful, and feel-good year ahead!


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