Kindness is contagious. We know that. Studies even prove it. A study published last July in the journal Emotion found that (I hope you’re sitting down) kindness is contagious at work, too, and it’s actually good for business.

The study is called “Everyday Prosociality in the Workplace: The Reinforcing Benefits of Giving, Getting, and Glimpsing.”

The upshot, when translated into common language: When people do nice things for other people at work, they’re happier; and the receivers start doing nice things for other people. “People who were “receivers” in the experiment paid it forward by doling out volumes more acts of kindness compared to the control group – 278% more!”

The work environment is more pleasant, people have a sense of ownership and belonging—and feeling appreciated can help make workers more successful. 

While the article doesn’t overtly cover other areas of interaction, like social media, we would like to think that kindness here (instead of the usual, anonymous vitriol) would also apply.

Read the full article by Richard Davidson, Neuroscientist.

*Mural Art by Lettering Designer Gina Lu

We feel-good stories. And people are awesome.

Not only that, but giving back is a great way to stay connected – with family, with friends, with fans, with customers. Here are some great examples to inspire you.

The owner of a local strip mall slashed his tenants’ April rent in half. Other businesses are going even further: Landlord’s advice to tenants:  ‘pay employees’ instead of rent

On a grander scale, actor John Krasinski has launched his weekly SGN show on YouTube- It stands for “Some Good News”. This week, he brought the cast of Hamilton back together (virtually) to serenade a young fan who missed out due to the corona virus. 

Support small businesses!

Yesterday I bought a 5 lb bag of coffee from a local roaster (Pirate Coffee Company- for real!). They were thrilled, as was I! (please pardon any caffeine-induced typos…)

We’ve heard about many people buying gift cards from local small businesses (especially restaurants, salons, and other services) to use later. Restaurants and ad hoc community groups are providing meals for kids who depend on schools for breakfast and lunch.

Did you know that you can now take virtual tours of some of the most famous castles in Europe? Yes, please! And many museums and concert halls are making their art digitally available, for free. 

We can’t visit seniors, but we can check on our senior neighbors, kids are making cards, stores are making special shopping times just for seniors and other vulnerable groups.

At times like this, kindness and connection are key. What else can we be doing?

➤ Want another feel-good story? Why not?! Check out my post on The Power of Civility

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If you are receiving this email it is because I consider you a friend or I greatly respect you and your work.

I feel as a nation we are facing two very dangerous curves that if not checked will create a crush with devastating long term consequences. The first we are addressing with #SocialDistancing.

This is helping us to not overwhelm our healthcare system, limit contagion and allow our healthcare workers to methodically help those in need.

The second curve, the one we are not addressing, is the current blow to our economic system and our own financial lives. Obviously, there are some businesses and industries that will have a difficult time no matter what. If you are in the travel industry or work in a restaurant or hospitality, you will have to wait for a recovery. However, in my colleagues’ clients, I am seeing a lot of people ceasing to do business out of fear or just holding to see “where this is going.” I am comparatively insulated from this, unlike many working Americans who are living completely check to check. I was raised in extreme abject poverty but also graduated from the London School of Economics, spending a full year studying the 1929 global economic crisis––the Great Depression.

Here is the issue. If we fall into the category of businesses that are “holding off” out of fear––the majority––I am exceedingly nervous about the domino effect we are setting up economically. If we all shut down––even though most of us offer products and services, remotely deliverable, that are still vitally needed by all––we shut down the economic system. If our economic system shuts down, the long term effects of this will have severe, even longer-lasting effects on our physical and mental health. Many will perish if there is a global economic crisis, as they did during The Great Depression. We cannot wait for our national governments or hope that a stimulus package will solve this.

We must do what we can, together, NOW. The economy is a human health issue.

This weekend David Paull, CEO of Engagious, posted across his social media his thoughts about turning the “economic curve.” The writer Michael Lewis did an interview on CNN echoing the same. If we want to take our lives into our own hands we need to make #DoBusiness relevant in the world as a message, share what is working, discourage paralysis created by fear, and ensure we all––as a collective––prevent an economic crush that could destroy lives. This is the most, yet relatively unexpressed, truth in the world right now. Obviously, supermarkets and toilet paper manufacturers do not need to be “holding” in their efforts to do business. Many of us are still offering vital products and services that we all need, but are holding out of fear. Let’s STOP holding and turn the curve, freezing the domino effect that comes from holding––by DOING EVEN MORE BUSINESS REMOTELY––for all of us who can. The world must go on, the world will go on and, as it does go on, commerce needs to go on––to save lives and prevent any more suffering. We need to work together––#DoBusiness––to stop the domino effect.

You can help by SPREADING #DoBusiness

1- POST the #DoBusiness graphics below (3 JPEGs attached) to your social media. Pin them to the top of your feed and make them your cover pages.

2- Post these once a day and then, with the below images, share content that expresses your thoughts in your field, in your life, and what you are doing to TURN THE ECONOMIC CURVE.

3- Make the sentiment of us continuing to provide each other the vital products and services we still all need––#DoBusiness––as popular a notion as #SocialDistancing so that we can all start addressing the second curve that is equally vital to our global physical and psychological well being.

Here are three assets for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn created by me and a local industrial designer.

PLEASE COPY/SAVE THEM AND POST URGENTLY REPETITIVELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY––AND PUSH OUT TO YOUR NETWORKS––ASKING THEM TO POST REPETITIVELY AND EXHAUSTIVELY.

To download: Right-Click > Save Image As…

We’re proud to support the Community Transitional School’s vital work in providing a safe and stable learning environment to Portland-area children who are living in temporary or transitional housing. You can learn more about the organization and ways to support them by visiting the CTS website.

Here at Engagious and Dialsmith, we’re as guilty as anyone else of getting caught up in the business of our business.  But every once in a while, we need to remind ourselves that there’s important work being done outside of our focus area. That’s why every September, Dialsmith gets involved in supporting the amazing efforts of Portland’s Community Transitional School (CTS).

The Community Transitional School provides a safe, stable, and welcoming educational environment for children who are experiencing homelessness or are in transitional housing. They support these families by providing flexible transportation throughout the greater Portland area so kids are able to attend the same school year round, developing a stable sense of community and support. CTS also offers after-school programs so students can be involved in sports and other activities they might otherwise miss out on.

A small way we, at Dialsmith, help support CTS is through a donation of new books requested by CTS teachers for the school year. This year, we donated copies of two requested books: Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk and Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo.

Another, more traditional, way we’ve supported CTS is through their annual holiday gift program where we’ve been able to purchase and deliver items from the students’ wish lists.

It’s been a humbling and rewarding experience to get to know CTS through the support we’ve been able to provide. It’s also a good reminder that while giving during the holiday season is always welcome. There are 10 other months of the year where great organizations, like CTS, can also use our support.

To learn more about the Community Transitional School, please visit www.transitionalschool.org.