In the Business World, Do Nice Guys Finish Last?

"We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that."- Charlie Chaplin (in The Great Dictator) I'm going to go out on a limb here for a minute and admit to you that I believe what Charlie Chaplin said. I think we DO all want to help one another. It's just that some of us get taught wrong for some reason. Or else we've run into one too many other people who were taught wrong and we got hurt.

But down deep, I think we want to help and feel good when we do. We want to be nice. And now, the news is out that being nice not only makes us feel good, it's good for our finances and careers as well. I read a great report about malpractice suits that said doctors who are nice don't get sued. The report went on to say that in almost every malpractice suit, part of the complaint was that the doctor was rude, or "Wasn't even nice to me."

While I haven't seen any reports, I'd venture to guess that lawsuits against Realtors follow the same pattern. Think about it. Who makes you mad enough to want to get even? People who "Aren't even nice to you."

So no... nice guys do NOT finish last. Nice guys finish first, for the simple reason that nearly everyone who comes in contact with a nice person wants to be nice in return.

When you treat your customers well and show them that you're interested in them and have their best interests at heart -even if you make an occasional mistake - they want to help you in return. That's where you get referrals and repeat business. That's where you get the word of mouth advertising that money can't buy.

I'm sure you were already nice, but now you don't have to worry about "finishing last." Go out there and be as nice as you want, knowing that you will "finish first!"

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter who specializes in making people feel good about buying products or services, or donating to worthy causes.

She has extensive experience in writing search engine optimized web copy, direct sales letters, postcards, space ad copy, press releases, and more. She is also available for marketing plan creation and editing services.In the Business World, Do Nice Guys Finish Last?


"We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that."- Charlie Chaplin (in The Great Dictator) I'm going to go out on a limb here for a minute and admit to you that I believe what Charlie Chaplin said. I think we DO all want to help one another. It's just that some of us get taught wrong for some reason. Or else we've run into one too many other people who were taught wrong and we got hurt.

But down deep, I think we want to help and feel good when we do. We want to be nice. And now, the news is out that being nice not only makes us feel good, it's good for our finances and careers as well. I read a great report about malpractice suits that said doctors who are nice don't get sued. The report went on to say that in almost every malpractice suit, part of the complaint was that the doctor was rude, or "Wasn't even nice to me."

While I haven't seen any reports, I'd venture to guess that lawsuits against Realtors follow the same pattern. Think about it. Who makes you mad enough to want to get even? People who "Aren't even nice to you."

So no... nice guys do NOT finish last. Nice guys finish first, for the simple reason that nearly everyone who comes in contact with a nice person wants to be nice in return.

When you treat your customers well and show them that you're interested in them and have their best interests at heart -even if you make an occasional mistake - they want to help you in return. That's where you get referrals and repeat business. That's where you get the word of mouth advertising that money can't buy.

I'm sure you were already nice, but now you don't have to worry about "finishing last." Go out there and be as nice as you want, knowing that you will "finish first!"

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter who specializes in making people feel good about buying products or services, or donating to worthy causes.

She has extensive experience in writing search engine optimized web copy, direct sales letters, postcards, space ad copy, press releases, and more. She is also available for marketing plan creation and editing services.