Performance, Profit……and Kindness?

Kindness: The Most Underrated Superpower

Yesterday, I was hit by multiple acts of kindness. Not the grand, dramatic kind you see in movies—just small, everyday moments where people went out of their way to help, when they didn’t have to. And yet, they had a huge impact.

The Guy at the Post Office

I had to post a package, and I’d already paid for the postage online. The problem? I had no printer to print the label. No big deal, I thought—the post office will sort it out. 

Nope. Apparently, it was verboten.

Fine, I figured, I’ll just pay for another label. Annoying, but whatever—another 10 CHF down the drain. But the guy behind the counter wasn’t having it. 

“No, it shouldn’t be this way. Let’s find a way.”

And so, instead of just telling me tough luck, he got creative. Ten minutes later, after some brainstorming, we found a solution—I photocopied the barcode straight from my phone. Problem solved, money saved, all thanks to someone who decided to care.

Unexpected Support for My New Business

I have an idea for another business—Epiphany Horizons, a sailing venture. But it’s complicated, and I knew I needed guidance. So I reached out to a government office that supports startups, hoping for some general advice.

Instead, I got something completely different.

They took time. They listened. They wanted to help. They weren’t just ticking a box—they cared about my idea, asked thoughtful questions, and gave me real guidance. And the best part? This is just the start. Over the next few months, they’ll work with me as I shape this into something real.

Their kindness didn’t cost them anything. But it meant everything to me.

My Daughter and Lexi

We’re skiing this week, and some friends from Scotland are visiting—friends we met through sailing. Their kids and ours just click, the kind of friendship where everything feels easy.

But skiing isn’t easy for them. Living in Scotland, they don’t get much time on the slopes, and naturally, they aren’t as confident.

That didn’t matter to my daughter.

She spent the entire day with their youngest, staying on the baby slope, not leaving her side. Even when Lexi had a two-hour ski lesson, my daughter just skied behind, watching out for her. She could have been off, racing down the bigger slopes, but instead, she chose to be there for her friend.

That was her priority.

Watching her, I saw something so simple, yet so powerful. She wasn’t thinking about personal progress, speed, or skill—she was thinking about someone else. 

Kindness Is the Strongest Thing in the Room

These moments got me thinking.

For years, in the corporate world, I wasn’t always kind. Not intentionally unkind, but I was caught up in performance, efficiency, and results. I thought kindness was nice, but not necessarily useful. 

But I was wrong.

Kindness isn’t a weakness. It’s a force multiplier.

It builds trust. It builds teams. It makes people want to go the extra mile—not for a company, but for the people in it.

I didn’t always get this right. I wish I had understood it sooner. Because the impact of a single moment of kindness ripples far beyond what we see. 

So today, maybe we all try to be just a little kinder. And see where that takes us.