Be useful, be kind

by | Updated Dec 3, 2021 | Become More Awesome

Estimated Reading Time: 33s.

I’m not a big fan of mantras, but I am a fan of this one: be kind, and be useful.

I originally encountered it in a fun interview Barack Obama did with Bear Grylls (a nature adventurer). When asked what advice Obama gives his daughters, he rhymed off this mantra: they should be useful, and be kind.

It’s a piece of advice that’s simple, easy to remember and internalize, and one that helps you consider other people as you act and make decisions. And it’s a nice reminder to consider what you’re able to contribute to any situation.

As far as sayings go, it’s a pretty good one to live by.

Written by Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey has written hundreds of articles on the subject of productivity and is the author of three books: How to Calm Your Mind, Hyperfocus, and The Productivity Project. His books have been published in more than 40 languages. Chris writes about productivity on this site and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive without hating the process.

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