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Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift
Why Giving and Acts of Kindness Are the Ultimate Mindset Shift for Business Success
Let’s talk about the Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift. There’s a question I get asked all the time by business owners and professionals who want to perform at a higher level: “Steve, what’s the one thing I can do to dramatically shift my mindset and improve my life — both personally and professionally?”
My answer almost always surprises them. And I’ll be honest — most people expect something more complicated.
Give more. Do more. Connect more.
That’s it. And while it sounds almost too simple, the science of human connection, the neuroscience of generosity, and my own decades of real-world experience as a keynote speaker and Mindset Adjuster all point to the same truth: when you make giving and acts of kindness a consistent practice, you don’t just help other people — you fundamentally rewire the way you see the world. And that shift changes everything. Not someday. Not gradually. Everything.
See For Yourself
Without a doubt, one of the greatest attributes of your HUMOR BEING is when you indulge in an act of kindness. Giving of yourself is the one activity that makes you realize that we’re all connected — and that it’s this connection that plays a big part in making the world a wonderful place to be. I can honestly say that I’m the happiest when I’ve done something nice for someone. Don’t just take my word for it. Try it and see for yourself. The next time an opportunity arises, take the initiative and perform an act of kindness for someone — even a stranger — and notice how you feel. I’ll bet it catches you off guard just how good it feels.
And here’s what makes this especially powerful for those of you in leadership roles. Your HUMOR BEING doesn’t just benefit you in a general, feel-good way. It strengthens your leadership, deepens your relationships, and makes you someone that others genuinely want to be around. In business, that’s an incalculable advantage. It’s all about an acts of kindness mindset shift — and once you make it, you’ll wonder how you ever led without it.
Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift: The Mindset Connection: Why Giving Is a Professional Superpower
As someone who has spent years on stage helping business leaders and professionals GET THEIR SHIFT TOGETHER — mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and professionally — I can tell you without hesitation that the most successful people I’ve encountered share one common trait. They give generously without expecting anything in return.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. “Steve, I run a business. I don’t have time to be out there paying for strangers’ dinners.” And I hear you. But here’s what I want you to understand: giving is not a distraction from your professional goals. It IS one of your most powerful professional tools.
In fact, when you shift from a scarcity mindset to a giving mindset, you open the door to a level of fulfillment, purpose, and human connection that no quarterly earnings report can replicate. Furthermore, that sense of fulfillment becomes the fuel that drives everything else — your creativity, your leadership, your resilience, and your relationships.
This isn’t just philosophy. This is practical, applicable wisdom that I’ve lived, and it’s something I share from every stage I stand on.
The following stories in this chapter are not being told to impress you, but to impress upon you the power and dare I say, miraculous gifts of giving and acts of kindness.
A Story That Changed My Life: The Newlyweds in Maui
Years ago, I was having dinner alone at a wonderful restaurant at a hotel in Maui, Hawaii. A couple in their thirties dined a few tables away. I don’t know what it was about them but glancing their way I could see that they were completely engaged with each other, and it made me feel good. Next, I overheard them talking to their waiter and discovered they were on their honeymoon. I watched as they held hands and gave thanks for the meal. Then they clinked their glasses softly and made a toast. I felt inspired by them and was moved by their obvious affection for each other.
As I finished my meal, I called the waiter over and told him that I wanted to pay for the couple’s dinner. I billed their meal to my room and asked him to add a generous tip for himself. I also asked him not to reveal who paid the bill and handed him a note to give to them when they left. This is what the note said: “One could tell at first glance that you belong together. I wish you peace and joy.”
The Note on the Floor
The next morning, I found a note on the floor by my door. It was from the waiter:
“Dear Mr. Rizzo,
I believe what you did last night was a wonderful gesture, but you need to know the true impact you had on our newlyweds. When I told them that someone paid for their dinner, they were surprised to say the least. But when they read your note, they were overwhelmed with emotion. Then they explained why your note had such an effect.
Our newlyweds are having a tough go of it at home. For reasons they didn’t say, their families, including children from their previous marriages, are not too keen on them getting married. So, rather than having a wedding ceremony filled with people who really didn’t want to be there, they decided to come to Maui to get married.
They said that they made a toast and asked for a sign that they did the right thing. You, Mr. Rizzo, were the answer to their prayers. They said you confirmed, through divine guidance, what they already knew about each other. They asked me that if I ever saw you again, to please tell you, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for being their messenger of hope.”
Answered Prayers
I’ve been called a lot of things growing up in New York, but never that. Consequently, it became one of the most profound reminders of my entire career: we are all, at any given moment, capable of being someone else’s answer to a prayer. That’s not just a spiritual idea — it’s a mindset shift that changes how you show up in every room you walk into, every meeting you lead, and every interaction you have.
The point is that we all have opportunities to be messengers of hope when we give of ourselves and indulge in acts of kindness. These acts of kindness are spontaneous gestures that are driven by a sense of connection with other people and a realization that we’re all dependent on each other as we go through life. It’s really your higher self’s way of reminding you that this is what life is all about. When you give of yourself, though, you are actually giving to yourself. It gives you a sense of hope in a world that sometimes seems hopeless.
Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift: Laughter…The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Story of David
I want to share with you one of the most meaningful experiences of my entire life and career as it relates to an acts of kindness mindset shift.
It was the first week of April 1992, and the third night of a week’s stay at the Funny Bone comedy Club in Columbus Ohio. The manager of the club approached me before the show and handed me a letter that was addressed to me. I took the letter and walked into the lounge to read it.
It was from Susie Murray. She thanked me for making her nephew, David, and the rest of her family laugh at a time in their lives when even a smile appeared to be obsolete. She explained that David had cancer of the stomach and was getting progressively worse. He was only twenty-four years old, and he was the only son of her sister, Rosie. To see David laugh, after everything he had been through, gave all of them a sense of hope that life could still be enjoyed on some level, even in the midst of so much physical and emotional duress.
A Mix of Emotions
I stopped reading for a moment. The sincerity of her words affected me greatly. I felt uplifted and worthy that I was able to help in some way. Yet, I felt sympathy and compassion for the pain this family must have been experiencing.
I continued reading, Susie stated that the day after they saw my show David was walking around the house reciting parts of my act. She said it was a joy to see him in such good spirits, and then requested to purchase one of the T-shirts that I was selling at the end of my show. Susie stated that that it was wonderful and ironic that I was giving the proceeds to “The National Children’s Cancer Society.”
That’s when it hit me. I met David the night he and his family came to see me perform. He was the young man who approached me after the show when I was selling T-shirts. I remembered there were people everywhere. David approached me with some hesitation, shook my hand and said, “Thanks for making me laugh. I don’t have any money on me now, but I think it’s wonderful that the proceeds are going to The National Children’s Cancer Society.” He told me he had cancer. I asked him how he was dealing with it. He said with a smile, “Well, I can still laugh!” I was very impressed with his attitude. I turned around and opened up a new box and pulled out a T-shirt for him, When I turned to give it to him, he was gone.
The Phone Call
The next day I called Susie at the number she had written at the bottom of the letter. I told her I had a Steve Rizzo T-shirt for David. I also asked if it would be all right if I talked with him. She said he would love to hear from me.
I called David the next day and we bonded immediately. We talked about what he did for a living and what he enjoyed doing most. But he seemed especially intrigued at what I did for a living. He wanted to know what it was like to live the life of a comedian. We had quite a few laughs during our conversation. He asked so many questions that I thought I was being interviewed on a late-night talk show. We ended our conversation with me telling him to keep the faith and to keep laughing. I also told him I was sending him a Steve Rizzo FOR-GET-ABOUT-IT! T-shirt and some videos from some of my TV Specials.
I continued to keep in touch with David and his family. Rosie told me David wouldn’t take off my T-shirt, and that he constantly watched my videos. She said David had my act down with such perfection that if I ever decided I didn’t want to perform one night, he could take my place.
Bad Goes to Worse
On April 26 I received a letter from Rosie. Davids’s condition was getting worse. He was in a lot of pain, and the doctors had confirmed that the cancer had spread to his liver. He was to be admitted to the hospital for a week to undergo more tests and heavy doses of chemotherapy. She thanked me once again for being a part of David’s life.
On May 5th Rosie left a message on my answering service. David was in critical condition and getting weaker by the minute. I dialed the number that was a direct line to David’s hospital room. Rosie answered the phone and told me he was too weak to talk and was not taking calls from anyone. I told her I understood and to please tell David I was asking for him.
Somehow, David knew it was me on the phone and motioned his mom that he wanted to talk. He was too weak to hold the phone, so Rosie held it for him. I knew he was in pain and heavily sedated. I told him not to talk, just listen. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly what I said, but it was something about a typical hectic day in the life of Steve Rizzo. I somehow sensed the urgency to tell David that I would always stay in touch with his family and that my prayers were with him and them.
On May 6th, only hours after our conversation, I received a call from David’s stepfather. David had passed away.
Many Smiles
A few days later, Rosie told me that she didn’t know what I had said to David in our last conversation, but something I said had given him the last of many smiles he had put on his face since our paths crossed. She couldn’t thank me enough. Then she said something that totally took me by surprise; David was being was being buried with my T-shirt clutched in his hands.
When I hung up the phone I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions. Not just because of David’s passing away, but because of the profound effect I had on his life.
I had only met David once. How and why did I have such an impact? I was only doing my job. I’m supposed to make people laugh. I didn’t have any idea as to how or why I was affecting people on such a personal level. But I was. That much was certain.
Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift: The Plaque
Below are the words on a plaque, that was given to me by Davids family after my performance at the Funny Bone Comedy Club in St Louis, (Where the National Children’s Cancer Society was based.) Rosie read the words out loud to the entire audience. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
To Steven Rizzo
You had no way of knowing
What your simple words would do
They put a smile on his face
And kept him from feeling blue
You had no way of knowing
You made his world seem bright
You gave him a sense of being
And a friendship he knew was right
You had no way of knowing
Your laughter was so needed
It brought him joy and pleasure
When he really felt defeated
You had no way of knowing
How much we needed you
But somehow you always knew
Just exactly what to do
“Steve, thanks for all your kindness, caring, and deep concern for David and all of the family. You will always be in our hearts and thoughts, not only as a friend but also as a very important person in our lives.”
Keep them Laughing!
The David R. Davies Family
Lifting Spirits
Not only did my HUMOR BEING lift David’s spirit and help him embrace his death and overcome his fear, but it also lifted his family’s spirits and helped them embrace his death and overcome their fears as well. What started as a simple T-shirt and a phone call had quietly become something none of us could have planned or predicted. The entire experience was miraculous healing for all involved.
In other letters that followed, Rosie and Susie told me I was the answer to their prayers and a hero to a twenty-four-year-old boy. They also stated that I was David’s ray of hope — that extra touch that family sometimes just can’t give. They thanked God for the gift I have and urged me to never stop making people laugh. I’ve carried those words with me ever since, because they fundamentally changed the way I understand my own purpose.
Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift: We Have an Obligation
And here’s what I want you to take from David’s story: many times throughout our lives we are drawn to people who are in need of our assistance. I believe we all have a special gift to give. Don’t ignore a call for help. Reaching out to someone who is suffering, even a total stranger, is more than just a nice thing to do — it’s our obligation. It is a part of what makes us feel connected. The reward is in the giving itself. It’s an exhilarating feeling of completeness and total peace.
The beautiful thing is, you don’t need a stage or a microphone to create that kind of impact. Sometimes all it takes is your willingness to listen, or to show that you care. At times, all that is needed is a hug or a word of encouragement. In the case of David and his family, it was my simple ability to ease their pain and lift their spirits through the power of one of God’s greatest gifts — a sense of humor and our ability to laugh. HUMOR BEING to the rescue!!!
The Professional Takeaway: Giving Is a Mindset Strategy
So, what does all of this mean for you as a business owner or professional? If you’ve been reading these stories thinking they’re sweet but separate from your work life, think again.
It means that your mindset is not just shaped by your goals, your strategy, or your work ethic — though all of those matter enormously. Your mindset is also shaped by your capacity to connect, to give, and to show up for others with generosity and compassion. Strip that away, and even the sharpest strategy starts to feel hollow.
To that point, here’s something I’ve witnessed time and again: professionals who regularly practice acts of kindness — who give without expecting a return — consistently demonstrate higher levels of resilience, creativity, and emotional intelligence. They make better leaders, build stronger teams, attract loyalty, and experience greater personal fulfillment. The data backs it up, but honestly, so does every room I’ve ever stood in.
In other words, giving isn’t separate from your success strategy. It IS your success strategy. And the best part? You can start right now, right where you are, with what you already have.
It doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic. Some of the most powerful acts of kindness cost nothing at all.
A Few Simple Ways
The following are just a few simple ways to start make the act of giving a daily practice:
- Tell someone they’re doing a great job — and then tell their supervisor, too.
- Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line.
- Write a letter or send a message to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, letting them know you’re thinking of them.
- Listen fully and without distraction when someone needs to be heard.
- Let the person with three items go ahead of you at checkout.
- Tell a child how truly special they are.
- Acknowledge the people who often go unnoticed — the mailman, the sanitation crew, the building custodian.
These are small actions. But small actions, when done consistently and with intention, create a culture — in your home, in your office, in your life — where generosity becomes the norm. And cultures of generosity produce extraordinary results. This is the power of an acts of kindness mindset shift.
Acts of Kindness Mindset Shift: Giving Up a Little Leg Room: The Marines at the Airport
I’ll leave you with one more story, because I think it perfectly illustrates what I mean when I say giving can transform your mindset on the spot. And like the best lessons in life, this one came when I wasn’t looking for it at all.
Once I was at a departure gate at an airport in Dallas, waiting to go back home to New York. I was having a conversation with three Marines who had just returned from Iraq, when the gate agent informed them that she had tried to get them an upgrade to first class, but unfortunately there were no seats available. Without hesitation, something in me just knew what the right move was. Flying coach was such a trivial concession that it was an easy decision to make. You should have seen the looks on all three Marines’ faces when two other passengers and I gave up our first-class seats as a gesture of appreciation for their service. It goes without saying that the looks on those soldiers’ faces were well worth giving up a little leg room.
Beyond Expectations
Here’s the clincher. You should have seen the look on our faces as we deplaned and saw all three Marines standing at attention saluting us! None of us expected that. None of us needed it. But in that moment, something extraordinary passed between a group of strangers that no business transaction could ever replicate.
I want to be clear: that moment didn’t just feel good. It shifted something inside me. It reminded me who I want to be, how I want to move through the world, and what matters beyond the next deal, the next keynote, or the next booking. That kind of reminder is invaluable. And honestly, those reminders don’t come from spreadsheets or strategy sessions — they come from moments of genuine human connection. In fact, it is the very foundation of the mindset I try to cultivate and share with every audience I address.
Make Giving a Habit, Not an Afterthought
Here’s my challenge to you, particularly if you are a business owner or professional committed to growth — both professionally and personally.
Make giving a habit. Not a quarterly initiative. Not a social media moment. A genuine, daily, intentional habit. An acts of kindness mindset shift. It doesn’t require a grand gesture or a perfect moment — it just requires a decision to start.
When you feel stressed or stuck or overwhelmed, look around you. Chances are, there is an opportunity to do something kind within arm’s reach. Take it. Then notice how your mindset shifts. That small pivot — from inward focus to outward generosity — is where real transformation begins.
As your Mindset Adjuster, I can tell you: what you give from your heart comes back to you. Not always in the form you expect, and not always on your timeline. But it comes back — in the form of deeper connections, greater resilience, renewed purpose, and a life that feels genuinely meaningful. And once you experience that return, you’ll understand why the most fulfilled people you know are almost always the most generous ones.
Watch What Happens to Your Mindset
The best performers I know — the best leaders, the most successful entrepreneurs — don’t just work hard. They give freely. They’ve learned that the act of giving doesn’t deplete them. It restores them. That’s not a coincidence. That’s a pattern worth following.
So what are you waiting for? Your HUMOR BEING is calling. Answer it with generosity. Nourish it with kindness. And watch what happens to your mindset, your leadership, and your life.
As Louis Armstrong once sang — and I believe with everything I have — it really is a wonderful world. Especially when we remember that we’re all in it together.
Steve Rizzo is a Hall of Fame motivational keynote speaker, former national headline comedian, and author of the bestselling books “Get Your Shift Together” and “Motivate This!” He helps business professionals and organizations shift their mindset from failure to success through the power of humor, practical strategies, and unstoppable attitude. Learn more at steverizzo.com.
