Company Blog

The Greatest Kindness

by Adam Zack — July 2, 2025

“…what has been the greatest kindness bestowed upon you in your life?”

I read a lot, and am always seeking out things that either for business or on a personal level will lead to some kind of improvement or inspiration. I get a monthly blog from a young financial advisor named Stephen Nelson. https://birchwoodcapital.com/team/ He has impeccable morals, is an inspirational family man and is an all around great human being. If I had a son, I’d be very proud if he turned out like Stephen. So I got his July newsletter yesterday and it concerned being excellent at what you do, no matter what it is. In it an interviewer asked very successful investor Rick Buhrman, ”What was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for him?” Without reading any further, it made me ponder what the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me? More on that later. Rick’s answer involved his son being born very ill (as in he probably won’t live long) and the collection of doctors, nurses and critical care professionals from three different hospitals that cared for him in the newborn intensive care units for the first six months of his life. Initially, it’s not viewed as a kindness. They were professionals in their field who were doing their job, right? The kindness comes from all those medical professionals committing themselves whole heartedly to mastering their craft. By choosing to be the best in their fields, they have bestowed great kindness on countless families facing very dire circumstances.

So back to what was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me? That question has really got me thinking, and there are many great kindnesses I have received in my 60+ years of life. Just trying to list them in my mind fills me with appreciation for the life I have been able to live and the loving people who have helped me along the way. I’m going to think about it over the next week and try and narrow it down to the greatest kindness and will report back next week. In the meantime, I want you to ask yourself what has been the greatest kindness bestowed upon you in your life? I’d love to hear about it.