Why Being Nice is the New MBA

I had a huge shift in my business a few months ago. It wasn’t anything difficult or groundbreaking. In fact, it was rather easy and started yielding HUGE results. My friends on Facebook noticed immediately.

“Are you on Prozac?”

“I don’t know what you are doing but keep it up”

“This is who you always should have been”

All I did was get a “Degree in Nice.”

Taking a cue from a few friends, I modified behaviors and focused on helping others.

*I stopped venting on Facebook

*I stopped posting divisive things that isolate people into groups. No more memes about pit bulls, gun control, politics, Monsanto, religion, or gay rights.

*Started showcasing my friends and recommending them to people that would hire them

*Reduced my online profanity by 95%

People that hadn’t contacted me in YEARS started quietly sending messages supporting this new me. Business owners started recommending me to clients. I got invited to podcasts and FB business groups.

We have forgotten the fundamental qualities of being nice and selfless. It took three people to bring me back. I want to publicly thank them. They pulled me back from a dark precipice and let the real Dr. Rob out. The guy that smiles at people during his morning run. The guy that pets cats and waves at kids. The guy that sees someone struggling to lift something into their car and helps them. That’s the guy I like being.

Lewis Howes is the host of the School of Greatness podcast. He is a bestselling author and makes his living helping people and connecting them. When he is not interviewing celebrities, he gets involved in companies like Pencils of Promise and travels to places like Ghana to help build schools for impoverished children. He is the epitome of nice and the kind of guy that you want as a friend.

Dennis Langlais is the host of Five Minute Bark, a video podcast in La Jolla, California. He is a former professional BMX rider turned media giant and gives hundreds of hours a year helping to promote others. He uses his high aptitude video skills to help other people reach their dreams and is a top level connector. The great thing about Dennis is that he will IMMEDIATELY help you and never ask for payment, he just does it to see you succeed. He is the epitome of selfless and I am grateful for meeting him. You can find him at www.codiedog.com.

Steve Simeone is a comedian that has been referred to as “The Nicest Guy in Hollywood.” I have met Steve three times in person and this is definitely an understatement. Steve is generous, has traveled overseas to entertain the troops. raises blood for hospitals and reaches out to sick children. Steve GENUINELY loves everyone in his life and his podcast, “Good Times With Steve Simeone” takes you back to the good memories of childhood, funny relatives, and the dynamics of hilarious family interaction. I cannot recommend it enough. You can find Steve at www.awesomesteve.com.

In closing, I just wanted to say thank you guys for teaching me far more about succeeding in business than I learned from a graduate degree. Being nice is already paying huge rewards and I can’t thank you three enough.

Rob