A simple rule with big impact: leave things better than you found them. From projects to relationships, this mindset can quietly elevate everything you touch.
It’s a simple principle that can apply in so many situations. Originally meant for campsites and trails: pick up trash (even when it isn’t yours), leave no damage, make a small improvement if possible.
At work, it could mean cleaning up a shared document, leaving clear comments in code, renaming tags so they fit the naming convention, saving links to important resources, or updating a task’s status for the next person.
In relationships, it can be about contributing positively, offering encouragement, reaching out to say hi, or simply being kind when it matters.
Even in casual encounters — a borrowed tool, a group project, a Slack thread — there’s always an opportunity to leave things a little better.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about respect, ownership, and being a team player.
The best part? It usually takes only a little extra effort – and it adds up.
Try it this week. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing – leave something better than you found it.
Someone will appreciate it, even if they don’t know who to thank.
