Be Clever, But Be Kind — A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way
When I was a kid, a friend’s mom once told me: “Being clever is good, but being kind is better.” I didn’t understand it then. I do now.
I grew up resourceful, started a small tech repair shop, and learned quickly how easy it was to overcharge people who didn’t understand technology. I told myself it was just business.
Then one exhausted mom trusted my shop, recommended me for a grant, and changed my life — even though I hadn’t treated her fairly. Later, my employee quit and built an app to expose unfair tech repair pricing. Instead of anger, I felt shame.
That was my wake-up call.
I rebuilt my business around honesty: clear pricing, no fluff fees, free consultations. I made less per job — but earned something better: trust. Word spread. Business grew. And for the first time, I felt proud.
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