Strangely, the statement “nice guys finish last” seemed to have become a mantra to achieve the ultimate work trait model that would lead a business to success. Many see kindness as a weakness they’d prefer to cut off and replace with a string of balloons labeled with persistence, determination, firmness and the like. What they don’t see is the reach and extent that kindness can go.

As VaynerMedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk tells us, kindness is not a passive trait—it’s a massive advantage. And it’s a powerhouse practice that can do wonders when you least expect it.

Kindness is the golden investment

In business, communication and relationships are essential factors in building your success. You’ll be meeting people of different personalities and different status with different needs and preferences. However, the common ground is how much you value them. Regardless of who they are and how they treat you, bringing kindness to every table banks an excellent investment for every relationship. As your reputation and these relationships build, you gain more opportunities to use at your advantage. You can use these investments to widen your network, to further your reach, and to make new connections. The opportunities stemming from a valuable investment like kindness is endless.

Kindness strengthens the lifeline of the company

We’ve all heard of cutthroat business cultures where tough it till you make it is the motto. However, sometimes too much toughness can easily translate to bad attitudes. It’s common to hear CEOs treating their people rudely or managers ruling with mean iron fists. It’s toxic. And it creates resentment in the workplace which could easily be the undoing of any business.

On the other hand, treating your coworkers with compassion and consideration builds a bond in the workplace. This strengthens the lifeline of the company. And it produces the necessary conducive work environment for the members of the company and the business to flourish and reach their full potential.

Kindness always reaps fruits

A remarkable thing about kindness is how it always comes back to you in unexpected ways. 10 years from now, you could be closing a deal that opens your business to new horizons with a man you’ve helped from a stumble on the streets. Or you could be the new partner of a company who’s owner once laughed at your ideas as you were humbly starting out. Kindness goes a long way.

People always watch and a lot of them remember. That’s why the number of opportunities and surprises are endless for those who act kindly without expecting anything in return. No matter how big or small, every act of kindness can affect another person’s life which can then affect yours as well.

Kindness is timeless

From your start up to this point in time to the next centuries, kindness will always be a golden asset. It’s an irreplaceable trait lying inside everyone. And one of the best things about that is that anyone could grab ahold of it and take the risks and opportunities at any point in their lives. It might be their key to recoup, to look at a business directly from a new perspective, or to build solid footing. It doesn’t mean you have to go soft or start soft. But rather, it means learning to use your leverage for something better.