Episode Details

Do you think of yourself as a kind person? Or maybe you’re nice? There’s a huge difference between nice vs. kind and that’s what I’m talking about in this week’s episode.

A Nice Story

Let me start with a story. Something happened recently that threw me off more than it should have. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it messed with my head—and honestly, it didn’t need to happen. The whole thing could’ve been avoided.

That’s what got me thinking about this topic – the essential difference between being nice vs. kind.

I couldn’t stop reflecting on what happened. I had some thoughts on what separates these two acts, but I did a little digging to get clearer. I discovered there’s even a spiritual angle to this. But first—the story.

I felt drawn to this nonprofit because I liked their mission and I figured I could help! I’ve got an MBA and decades of marketing experience. This seemed like a worthy cause.

So I started asking questions about their marketing plans. The first woman I spoke with said, “Oh, you should talk to Alice. She’s the one who working on that stuff.” I set up time to chat with her.

Confusion Sets In

Alice was honest and said the group wasn’t into marketing. They wanted things to grow “organically” without any help. I figured, okay, maybe they’re not into it and I started let it go.

The next thing I know, the founder of the group reached out that same day and asked if I wanted to talk with her. Imagine that! Maybe there was still a chance?

When we spoke, I was surprised by her positivity. I shared four super simple, no-cost ideas—and she loved them. I wasn’t looking for payment, I just to offer my services.

She even commented, “Spirit must have sent you,” and asked if I had more ideas. I said yes, more will come but let’s start with these. The next step was telling the board at their next meeting – she would bring it up.

I was so excited. It felt like the stars had aligned! Maybe Alice had it wrong or there was a shift happening? After the board meeting, the founder said they loved my ideas. She told me to reconnect with Alice to get things started. I was thrilled.

A Misunderstanding

Things changed during my follow-up with Alice. She mentioned a couple zoom groups and monthly trainings I could join. I was so confused and even a bit angry. What? Why weren’t we talking marketing?

Alice didn’t miss a beat. “This isn’t a business, and we’re not doing any marketing,” she said. Just like that. I wasn’t mad, just completely confused. Not the response I expected based on conversations with the founder. What happened?

I emailed the founder again. She said, “Let’s talk.” When we spoke, everything shifted. She said they move slowly, they want to get to know me better, maybe I should join some groups to see how I fit with them.

The Aha Moment

And that’s when it hit me. Th