Why You Should Always Do the Right Thing
By: Alice Greschkow
Tags: Helping Others, Empathy, Wisdom, Self Improvement, Community

Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

What do most successful people have in common? Along their paths to success, they had helpers who changed the course of their lives. Countless invisible individuals paved the way by inspiring, supporting, and teaching the ones who later became to be known. Sometimes, it only requires a small act of kindness, which can have a massive impact on future scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and artists.

How a neighbor paved the way for vaccine inventor Uğur Şahin

Uğur Şahin and his wife Özlem Türeci became famous for being the inventors of the corona vaccine distributed by Pfizer. Their company BioNTech provided the crucial research that made the breakthrough possible.

Both Türeci and Şahin are children of Turkish immigrants to Germany. Şahin was born in Turkey. In the 60s and 70s, German society was welcoming guest workers — so-called Gastarbeiter — and invited millions of people from across Europe to help with the economic recovery in the post-war era.

However, attitudes towards the workers were still reserved. Many believed, they would only come to get the job done which they were appointed for and not move beyond that.

Young Şahin experienced those attitudes himself. As a bright child, he wanted to attend the type of high school that would qualify him to enter university.

Germany has three types of high schools of which only one paves the way to academia — the Gymnasium — while the other types are focused on practical professional paths and apprenticeships.

According to Şahin, teachers wanted to deny him entry of the Gymnasium although his grades were good enough.

However, he eventually was allowed to enter the path that would allow him to become the successful scientist he is today.

How? His neighbor took action and spoke to the teachers, convincing them that the young boy was bright and there was no reason not to allow him to attend the Gymnasium.

This person will forever be unknown — but he was a crucial contributor to the success of the scientist when Şahin was still at the very beginning of his professional path.

It didn’t require him much effort — just a selfless conversation.

As simple as it may sound, many people probably would have stayed passive with a careless attitude towards the boy.

“Just do right”

In the competitive era we live in, it is easy to dive into an egoistic approach of “You do you”. Everybody has to fight for themselves, build a personal brand, and expose their individual interests on social media.

Yet, serving others can be one of the most fulfilling experiences a person can have. The late poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said:

“Just do right. Right may not be expedient, it may not be profitable, but it will satisfy your soul.”

Angelou encouraged people to be the best version of themselves and be helpful to others — regardless if in the classroom, in your church or family — “because it is right to do”, she said.

In her view, she believed that people intuitively knew what is right. You can tell by the way how people react to you if you provide meaning and help to their lives.

The act of giving and helping creates meaning and connection between people and it makes a life fulfilling while working only for yourself with your elbows out might only lead to regret and emptiness.

Remember the ones who helped you

From personal experience, I know how important a little help from another person can be.

Graduating from high school, I knew I wanted to attend university. However, I knew that it would be a financial challenge that I had to solve somehow.

One afternoon, the teacher asked me to stay a little longer. It was just a few weeks before the finals. He took me aside and told me: “Look, your grades are really good. I think you should apply for a scholarship.”

I didn’t even know that this option was available to me as I believed that you were only allowed to apply for scholarships once you’ve been enrolled at university. Additionally, I doubted my merit. I knew I would graduate with good grades, but was that even enough? Scholarships always appeared to be elitist and I didn’t consider myself to be part of the elite by no means.

“I will write you a letter of recommendation, you’ll need that”, he told me.

I agreed to try. Fortunately, I passed the application process and started studying with a little more money than planned.

A few years later, I wanted to study abroad for a term — something I would have never even considered years before due to the additional costs. But I went to have wonderful months in Madrid thanks to the scholarship I received.

After my stay abroad, I decided to call that teacher. I had been out of high school for already three years, but I knew that a large chunk of my best experiences was attributed to the help I received from this man. I thanked him cordially. He was already a pensioner but remembered me and was moved by the gratitude. I cherish this connection to the present day.

Helping others will change your view on life

There are countless stories about rich and successful people being lonely and miserable. In particularly competitive sectors like finance, people are encouraged to only think of their own success. Yet this lifestyle often leaves them with a sense of emptiness and a lack of understanding.

Only focusing on yourself will make you forget how life can look for others, what challenges they face, and how easy it could be to help them out.

Most people don’t need big favors — they need a recommendation, a solid piece of advice, or a useful contact to help them thrive. It is the mundane challenges of everyday life they are facing, which to others might be easy to solve.

Understanding the impact of a small gesture on another person will change your view on life. It expands your understanding of human needs and proves to you that you can be useful to others. This is the secret sauce to live a purposeful life.

All it takes is a little attention — there are always people around you who need a little help in some areas of their lives. If you listen and observe them, you will easily see what it is you can contribute.