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For years, weve been told that only the toughest businesses survive. The ones that adapt the fastest, compete the hardest, and run with laser-focused efficiency are the ones that win. In this way of thinking, resilience is about outlasting the competition, and success is measured in years, dollars, and market dominance. But what if weve been looking at it all wrong? A company can last a century, but longevity alone doesnt mean it made a lasting impact. The real question isnt how long a business sticks aroundits what it leaves behind. And after studying some of the worlds most successful immigrant entrepreneurs, Ive found that their secret isnt just grit or relentless competition. Its kindness. For these leaders, kindness isnt just a nice tagline or a feel-good PR move. Its at the core of how they hire, make decisions, and create real value. At a time when trust in institutions is fading and talent has more mobility than ever, this often-overlooked trait might just be the biggest competitive edge in business today. The unseen advantage Business often dismisses kindness as an impractical luxury that dulls competitive edge, slows execution, and dilutes financial performance. But my research disagrees. Immigrant entrepreneurs are statistically substantially more successful than their native-born peers despite often arriving in new countries without financial capital, connections, or credibility. But what they do have is an instinctive understanding of how to build social capital and create businesses that: Treat employees as partners, not cost centers. See customers as relationships, not transactions. Approach suppliers and competitors to collaborate, not just negotiate. Take Reem Hassani, the Iraqi American cofounder of Numi Tea, who grew a multimillion-dollar brand by prioritizing long-term impact over short-term gains. When I asked her why she insisted on organic, fair-trade ingredientsdespite the costshe didnt hesitate: Because business should be a force for good. If we have the power to do better, why wouldnt we? The success follows. Kindness is the foundation of Numis entire business model, and it has built a network of trust so strong that some small-scale farmers still sell exclusively to the company even when corporate giants offer them more. The business case for kindness Kindness in business is not about being a soft touch; hard data show it produces measurable results: Employees who feel their company genuinely cares about them are 87% less likely to leave. Companies with strong cultures of trust see 74% lower stress levels and 50% higher productivity. Purpose-driven businesses grow three times faster than their competitors. But despite this overwhelming evidence, many business leaders still assume that competition trumps connection and success depends on extracting the maximum from employees, suppliers, and customers. In contrast, immigrant entrepreneurs, perhaps motivated by their early experiences of hardship and dependency on community support, tend to operate differently. They integrate kindness into their businesses and make it a competitive advantage by: Focusing on others My research shows that immigrant entrepreneurs find success by creating businesses that are deeply rooted in their personal values and focused on serving others. Take Korean immigrant Saeju Jeong, who struggled during his early years in New York but remained committed to honoring the memory of his father, a doctor who had died of cancer. Remembering his dying fathers words about the importance of tackling the causes of illness, Jeong created Noom, a weight-loss app that uses behavioral psychology to help people make sustainable changes to their lifestyles. Noom, which Jeong cofounded with fellow immigrant Artem Petakov, is now valued at $3.66 billion. Prioritizing relationships over short-term wins In business, the pressure to scale quickly and maximize profits is relentless. But the immigrant founders I studied prioritized long-term relationships over immediate financial gain. Dominique Ansel, the world-renowned pastry chef behind the Cronut, received countless offers to turn his viral sensation into a mass-produced product. But he refused because, as he told me, When you love your craft, you dont sell out. Ansels decision wasnt just about protecting his brandit was about respect for the customers who waited in line for something special. His commitment to customer relationships and quality has given the Cronut longevity far beyond the average food trend and created a sustainable business thats still thriving. Sharing their success For immigrant entrepreneurs, success is not an individual pursuit nor are its fruits something to hoard. They build businesses to sell and to serve and are committing to sharing what they gain. The most enduring immigrant-founded businesses I researched constantly focused on their legacies by strengthening communities, creating opportunities, and ensuring lasting impact. That philosophy is embodied by Fadi Ghandour who founded the 1-billion-valued logistics company Aramex. Ghandour delivers impact through Ruwwad, a venture that funds education and entrepreneurship programs in marginalized communities across the Middle East and North Africa. His belief? A companys success should lift entire ecosystems. The quiet force that endures Kindness isnt a footnote to success but its foundation. All the immigrant entrepreneurs I studied had experienced firsthand how it can change lives and made kindness the cornerstone of their business because it was both the right thing to do and the smartest way to lead. Sometimes it appears that the world rewards speed and ruthlessness. But kindness is the quiet force that endures. It builds trust, deepens loyalty, and turns businesses into legacies. The leaders who understand this wont just succeed in the next decade. Theyll reshape the future of business itself.
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E-Commerce
While there seems to be no relief in sight for the high cost of eggs, it almost feels counterintuitive for people to celebrate two cracking, but it is a welcome distraction from the current political turmoil. Two bald eagles in Big Bear, California, have just become parents again to two chicks, with the potential for a third. This is egg-cellent news. Heres everything to know about Jackie and Shadows journey to parenthood: Jackie and Shadows origin story Jackie and Shadow have been together since 2018. Shadow actually stole Jackie from another male, which is unusual for eagles who normally mate for life. They successfully raised two chicks but also experienced their fair share of loss over the years. Humans have come to know and love them while watching live streams of two bald eagle webcams maintained by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. For the past two seasons, Jackie and Shadows egg did not hatch despite the parents’ best efforts making this seasons births even more special. 2025s egg timeline This season, Jackie laid three eggs, which is unusual for eagles. The first made its debut on January 22. Three days later, another one appeared in the nest. The last was laid on January 28. The first pip, or crack, was spotted on Sunday at 3:09 p.m local time. The second came around 8 a.m. on Monday. The first chick fully hatched around 11:30 a.m. on Monday while the second one made its way into the world at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Typically, parents do not help the chicks with this process, but Shadow has stepped in from time to time. Temporarily, the babies are known as Chick 1 and Chick 2. Eventually, a naming contest will help the nonprofit come up with much more creative monikers. This has not been formally announced yet but historically a third grade class in Big Bear has the final vote. There is still a chance the third egg will also hatch. March 4 marked 35 days since it has been laid, which is normally when the hatching period begins. Fans are rooting for this since Jackie and Shadow have never raised three chicks at one time before. What’s next for this family of eagles? Chick 1 and Chick 2 dont need to eat immediately because they absorbed the yolk on their way out of the egg. Eventually, Jackie and Shadow will bring them small pieces of raw meat. Some bird parents regurgitate their food but not bald eagles. At this young age, it is hard to guess the gender of the chicks. The only official way to tell is through a blood test, but once the chicks get to be around nine weeks old, their physical appearance will allow for an educated guess. Females tend to be larger. The chicks will stay in the nest for 10 to 12 weeks. Around this time they fledge or fly from the nest. For the next couple of months, they will remain close to home to test their wings. After that, they will typically head out to start their own adult life. How can I see the bald eagle action for myself? To watch the chicks grow up and root for another sibling, watch the two live-feed cameras. The first camera offers a close-up view of the nest while the second zooms out for perspective. As of Wednesday morning, almost 30,000 viewers were watching the nest live. We’ve also embedded the YouTube video below.
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E-Commerce
The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition, and incentivized buyouts, according to two people familiar with the situation.The people spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to disclose the plans.The layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency by closing agencies, laying off nearly all probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protection and offering buyouts to almost all federal employees through a “deferred resignation program” to quickly reduce the government workforce.A reduction in force of tens of thousands of employees would render the IRS “dysfunctional,” said John Koskinen, a former IRS commissioner.The federal tax collector employs roughly 90,000 workers total across the United States, according to the latest IRS data. People of color make up 56% of the IRS workforce, and women represent 65%.Already, roughly 7,000 probationary IRS employees with roughly one year or less of service were laid off from the organization in February.The organization also offered IRS employeesalong with almost all federal employees across the government”deferred resignation program” buyouts, though IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season were told earlier this month that they would not be allowed to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until mid-May, after the taxpayer filing deadline.In addition to the planned layoffs, the Trump administration intends to lend IRS workers to the Department of Homeland Security to assist with immigration enforcement. In a letter sent in February, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to borrow IRS workers to help with ongoing immigration crackdown efforts.Koskinen and six other former IRS Commissioners wrote in the New York Times earlier this month: “Aggressive reductions in the I.R.S.’s resources will only render our government less effective and less efficient in collecting the taxes Congress has imposed.”According to a White House memo sent to federal agencies in late February, agencies are to develop a report by March 13 on its reduction in force plansbut it is unclear whether the White House will approve the IRS’ reorganization plan and over what period of time it would be implemented.Representatives for the White House, the Treasury Department and IRS did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. The New York Times first reported the deliberations. Fatima Hussein, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
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