Those are the ones we seek, aren’t they? But what does “good” mean? Three examples, one lesson.
Yesterday, I accompanied my dad to a local political event. We never do this, but he knew the organizer, and a member of parliament from the conservative party showed up. A woman from the other end of Germany, she spoke with passion and empathy. She came prepared with numbers and arguments. I can’t even vote in this particular district, but man, she made a great case. It was such a breath of fresh air to see a real person act like a real politician for once. “Thank god. They still have good people,” I thought.
Earlier in the same day, I had a coffee chat with a fellow writer. He also happened to be my new colleague. It was the twelfth coffee chat in the last two weeks, and I haven’t left a single one without a solid piece of advice, a helpful document to read, or a recommendation of who else to talk to. “Wow,” I keep thinking. “These are all good people!”
At the very end of this very long day, I opened my inbox. There was an email from a book summary company who’s considering buying my Youtube channel. We’ve gone back and forth almost 20 times already. They ask for information. I send them screenshots. And repeat. She thanked me for “the comprehensive overview and the effort you’ve put into sharing these insights” and promised to get back again this week. I trust that she will. “Thanks again for your openness and for sharing such detailed background information,” she closed her email. “Wonderful,” I thought. “No bullshit. Just all cards on the table, and ‘let’s figure this out together.’ There are some good people in this space.”
We think “good” means “charming,” “skilled,” or “accomplished.” But none of those traits matter when someone is acting only in their own best interest. Good people are good because they keep choosing to do the right thing. Be good—and then find more good people.