My name is Louis H. Kraus, and I’m 79 years old. I’m a Jewish baby boomer, an ENFP by nature, and someone who has always cared deeply about people and the way we treat one another. I’ve always been a sensitive person. I can be easily distracted, and, like most people, I’ve carried some things from the past with me. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that those experiences have helped shape who I am and, ultimately, why I created Better Outcomes.

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in a traditional Jewish home. My parents believed strongly in respect, kindness, and the importance of talking things through. When I said something hurtful or unkind as a child, they would remind me about what they called “Evil Speech.” At the time, I probably didn't realize how much those lessons would stay with me. Looking back, I can see that they were planting the seeds for much of what I would eventually teach others.

As a teenager, I delivered newspapers, participated in youth groups, and worked my way through school. I eventually earned a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Miami University and later received my M.S.S.A. from Case Western Reserve University while working as an Adult Parole Officer.

My career then took me in a different direction. I joined my parents in the family nursing home business and eventually took over the operation of our 100-bed facility when they retired. That experience taught me a great deal about people, families, difficult situations, and the importance of listening.

Eventually, I became a mediator. In many ways, it felt like I had finally found the work I was meant to do.

Three Experiences That Changed My Direction

There were three important experiences that eventually led me to create Better Outcomes.

The first was a lesson I learned the hard way.

I once said something that offended a former state representative while my wife was present. I was embarrassed, and the experience stayed with me. It made me think back to the lessons I had learned growing up about Lashon Hora, the Jewish teaching about harmful or “evil” speech.

The second was rediscovering an old lesson.

That experience led me to the writings of Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan and his famous work, Chofetz Chaim, meaning “He Who Desires Life.” The book focuses on the importance of using our words responsibly and avoiding speech that hurts others.

What I found in those teachings was something that felt remarkably relevant to the world we live in today. I began thinking about how those timeless ideas could be explained in a way that made sense to people in everyday life. That eventually became our “10 Steps to Speaking More Nicely.”

The third was an unexpected experiment in civility.

In 2005, as a founding member of the Maple Heights Chamber of Commerce, I was asked to moderate our Candidate’s Night. I decided to use some of the basic mediation skills I had learned throughout my career.

My goal was simple: keep the conversation moving, make sure everyone had an opportunity to speak, and prevent disagreements from turning into personal attacks.

And something interesting happened.

The evening actually stayed civil.

People noticed. It showed me that even when people strongly disagree, there are ways to have meaningful conversations without attacking one another.

The Beginning of Better Outcomes

In 2011, I started writing essays about communication, relationships, and the way we speak to one another. Those writings eventually became the foundation for Better Outcomes, which I formally established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2013.

Around that same time, I corresponded with Rabbi Abraham Twerski, who once again directed me toward the teachings of the Chofetz Chaim. His guidance reinforced something I had been coming to understand throughout my life:

Our words matter.

Words can hurt or heal. They can create distance or bring people together. They can start an argument, or they can open the door to understanding.

That is really the heart of Better Outcomes.

Our mission is to encourage civil discourse—helping people communicate with honesty, respect, and understanding, even when they disagree.

One of the teachings that has stayed with me is the idea that “Evil Speech” kills three people: the person who speaks it, the person who hears it, and the person being spoken about.

I believe there is a great deal of truth in that.

The answer isn't complicated, but putting it into practice can be difficult. We need to slow down before we speak. We need to listen. We need to give people the benefit of the doubt. We need to look for common ground. And, most importantly, we need to seek peace—and then pursue it.

Finding Common Ground

Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with people from different faiths and backgrounds. I've collaborated with a Rabbi, an Imam, and a Christian Minister.

Our religious traditions may be different, but I’ve discovered that many of the values we share are remarkably similar: compassion, honesty, respect, forgiveness, and the belief that we have a responsibility to treat other people well.

That is what I hope Better Outcomes can help accomplish.

We may not always agree with one another. In fact, I don't think we need to agree on everything. But we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can listen without immediately judging. And we can choose our words carefully.

I’ve spent much of my life learning that lesson, sometimes the easy way and sometimes the hard way.

If you believe that we can do a better job of communicating with one another, I invite you to become part of Better Outcomes.

Volunteer. Donate. Share our message. Or simply start by having one conversation today where you choose kindness over anger and understanding over assumption.

Because I truly believe that if we can change the way we talk to one another, we can begin to change the world.