Just because Tom sold his company doesn’t mean he is done
You might say well, Tom is just one person. Nice guys their luck runs out and good wins. Bloggers expose
being nice. He continues to consult with small business
really don’t finish first. What about all the bad guys their negative ways. Morale eventually sinks and so do
owners, helping them through management and life
with a “win at all costs” attitude who seem to have it profits. Employees leave because they don’t feel appre-
struggles. He also produces movies, writes books,
all. To answer this question, let’s first define what it ciated. And sometimes the bad guys even get caught
(His newest: “The Big Book for Small Business”
means to be nice. For this article, “nice” doesn’t mean being bad. One only needs to look at all the corporate
Harper Collins, February 2007) and continuously
sitting around holding hands and singing kumbaya scandals to see this playing out.
looks for ways to better himself, others and the
or running a company, division or team without any
The rule for business and life today can be summed
planet…and be nice. He’s already finished first in
regard to goals, work ethic, focus and results. But
up like this: Be nice or be history. Literally.
business. Now he’s just a nice guy taking a nice slow
rather a person who is nice means they are positive,
walk to the finish line of life and in this race I would
compassionate and empathetic. They hold people ac- Nice guys not only finish first in business, but they
bet he’ll be one of the people that come in last. I hope
countable and possess a high level of emotional intel- are likely to die last, living longer than their negative
you do, too.
ligence. They like people and people like them. They counterparts, according to numerous studies. One
don’t walk over people and they don’t let people walk reason for this is that nice, happy, optimistic people
Author: Jon Gordon is a leading authority on developing
over them. Nice guys want to win and they do so with are more likely to have more friends, which has been
positive, engaged people, leaders, businesses, schools
the support of others and a smile on their face. shown to be a key factor in longevity. According to
and teams and the author of the international
Robert D. Putnam, Ph.D., author of “Better Together,”
best seller “The Energy Bus: 10 Rules
The research and numbers agree. Daniel Goleman,
“social isolation is as big a risk factor for death as
to Fuel your Life, Work and
author of “Emotional Intelligence” explains that a
smoking.” Nice guys who reach out to others and de-
Team with Positive Energy.”
positively charged company will outperform its nega-
velop a network of friends and relationships increase
Learn more at
tive counterparts. Also, in a 2000 study by Yale Uni-
their likelihood of living longer. Another reason that
www.TheEnergyBus.com.
versity, it was found that the most successful leaders
nice guys die last is the pessimism/optimism factor.
– from CEO’s to PTA presidents – all treated their
Always expecting the worst was linked to a 25% higher
subordinates with respect and made genuine attempts
risk of dying before age 65 in a study conducted by
to be liked. This approach garnered support and led
University of Pennsylvania Psychology Professor Mar-
to greater success, according to Tim Sanders, author
tin Seligman. On the other hand, optimism is strongly
of “The Likeability Factor.” Sanders also offers several
linked to a lower risk of dying from heart disease
studies that demonstrate that nice, popular people are
and stroke. Norman Vincent Peale certainly was onto
more likely to receive pay raises and promotions and
something when he talked about the power of positive
achieve greater success in the work place.
thinking. And he didn’t even know back then about the
So what about the bad guys? Why do so many of them effect positive thinking had on emotions. Studies show
seem so successful? Actually, they are more the excep- that positive emotions associated with being nice and
tion rather than the rule. There just seems to be so happy could lengthen life span by 10 years.
many of them because they are more noticeable and
Turns out the same positive emotions that make you feel
more likely to stand out, like a blemish on a clear face.
good about yourself and others feel good about working
Like the villain in a movie, you can’t take your eyes
with you also make every cell and organ in your body
off them and so you focus on them. And while they
happy, enhancing your health and longevity…and this is
may enjoy the temporary spoils of wealth, power and
a good thing for you, me and Tom Gegax.
even fame, just as in the classic movies, eventually
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