Gimme, Gimme

Life is full of givers and takers in both our personal and business life. If asked, we can all create a huge list of the takers we've met, whereas creating a list of the givers is a more difficult task. Don't believe me? In the next 30 seconds, I challenge you to make a list of the top ten most successful business people you know and the top ten list of givers. Ready, go!

Do you have any of the same people on both lists? As a culture, we seem to have the misnomer that nice guys finish last, and this saying probably evolved for a good reason. We hear stories of popular business people who didn't get to be where they are by being kind or giving, thus creating the belief that these two traits are mutually exclusive. However, they don't have to be.

Within our own life, there is a delicate balance between giving and taking. For most of us, giving is something that we do, not something that we are. Likewise, most occupations are something that we do, not something that we are. But what if you could find a way to combine them all into one and truly live a giving life that created prosperity?

Today's luminary, Dave Taylor, has built his business and his life around giving. Dave, a brilliant pioneer of the internet since 1980, built his site AskDaveTaylor.com to share his wisdom with others. He gives of his time and expertise so that others may benefit from his experience. From that intention alone, he has risen to the top of the internet world.

Dave has a philosophy that wraps it up in a simple way -- "Give with no thought of what you'll get in return." Not only is that the motto of his business, but of his life as well.

When we think of giving in today's business world, most of us think of a charity that we support or the check that we write at the end of the year and make giving an occasion, not a way of doing business. We make plans to give, rather than make giving a part of our everyday life and a cornerstone of our business philosophy.

Imagine the possibilities if giving were the rule rather than the exception, for giving offers opportunity. Living from giving creates not only benefits in the short and long term, but also makes the path to get there one worth walking.

There is a balance between giving and taking. The givers of the world have learned how to live to give and have been abundantly blessed for doing so.

We often make the excuse that we would give, if only we had something to give. No matter where we are in life, we all have the ability to give the gift of our time, our smile and our compassion and love to others.

A few months ago I volunteered to help the homeless in Santa Monica, CA. As we were preparing goody bags, a young homeless man walked into the shelter. He was ragged, thin, unshaven and looked like he'd had more than a few rough nights. We assumed he was here to ask for something from us, but instead, he approached our group, smiled and asked how he could help us.

This 24-year old, barefoot man shared his story of being on the street for the last few months. To add insult to injury, he'd been mugged the night before, was bruised and now had no money, no coat, no shoes, no ID, and no glasses. He wanted to be a giver too, and wanted to help us assist his brothers and sisters on the street in any way that he could.

We were dumbfounded. We all came from good neighborhoods, great jobs, and lives of abundance. For most of us, the worst thing we could imagine in life would be living destitute on the street. Compound our worst fear and you'd have this young man's life. He made giving real.

No matter where we are in life- homeless on the street or the CEO of a major company, giving opens up the magic of the Universe. Imagine a world where, "Give more that you'll ever expect to receive" is the motto.

Dave challenges us with this exercise. "Pay attention to how your day goes and try to tally up the amount of time, effort and energy you put into asking for things you want versus the amount you put forth to help other people, meet their needs and try to make the world -- or even just your tiny little corner of it -- a better place."

Give time when you're stressed and too busy and you'll find you have more time. Write a check when you feel poor and abundance will come your way. Help someone else with his or her problems and yours may well disappear. Create opportunities to give and watch life open unto you.

We invite you to listen to today's FREE Inspired Interview with host, Gail Lynne Goodwin, Ambassador of Inspiration from InspireMeToday.com and today's guest, Dave Taylor from AskDaveTaylor.com and DaveOnFilm.com.

 

Follow Gail Lynne Goodwin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/inspiremetoday

Comments

[Arithrianos]

08:27 PM on 06/03/2009

Generosity is exactly what you said giving with no hope of return, any thing else is an egoic business transaction, no matter what excuse is laid on it. If you want to leave your mark call it an investment, not a gift. Anyway great blog.

[Flavor]

08:44 AM on 06/03/2009

Mrs. Goodwin what a right on article, just recently on the huffpost I tryed to ecourage others to do just that (give), you see a lot of people think well if I were rich I would give, and this is what I say to that if you don't give where you are then if you get rich you won't give. There are many ways to give and not all the time is it money, if you live next door to a mommy who has three children and maybe one is disabled why not you go and see if she may need a helping hand like maybe she may need something from the local store or just a lending your ear or if you have single mother or dad in your neighborhhood invite them over for a barbecue you don't know what kind of smile you'll get. Sometime people are so alone and they think no one sees them we need to start recognizing the many ways to give, or even the only senior in your neighborhood whose grass is always needing cut, well go and talk to her and you'll find out she can't afford to get it cut, and she has no family so your next in line to do it there is great reward in giving it will clearly get your mine off of yourself.

[Gail Lynne Goodwin]

08:11 PM on 06/03/2009

Dear Flavor,

Thank you for your kind comments. Your recommendations are excellent! I hope our readers are inspired to see how they can give in their own communities. These little things add up to be so significant to others.

Thanks again for sharing with us.

Hugs to you,

Gail

[Frankenliberal]

10:17 PM on 06/02/2009

Mr. Askdavetaylor's altruism, though laudable at first glance, is built upon a monetary motivation. The free offer and answered questions is quality "Ad bait" which earns him a nice living. He/the site also offers to answer those burning questions that absolutely, positively must be answered, no ifs ands or buts within a certain amount of time. For such a burning desire he asks for a modest stipend: $100 bucks in round figures, payable immediately on-line.

The notion of giving purely out of the goodness of one's heart, especially when it's being delivered over the Internet, is more often than not purely money-driven and not entirely heartfelt. All visitor traffic becomes a platform for earning $ for every visit. Every mouse click pays a penny which add up to many, many dollars over the course of months and years. So though the story writer may be impressed with free content, I say follow the money and you'll find the real motivation behind a Web purveyor's altruism. It's the same time-proven model pioneered by newspapers and the media. The shows and content are mere delivery fodder for advertising that actually pays the bills.

[Gail Lynne Goodwin]

08:10 PM on 06/03/2009

Dear Frank,

I'm sure Dave's site is benefiting financially, but I'd like to go back to the original premise. Give more than you'll ever expect to receive. By Dave doing just that- he built a business where it also flows back to him. Isn't that the way it should be?

I also know Dave personally and I can tell you, this is one giving man. He's given to so many- his time, his expertise and his talents, with no reward in return other than friendship and respect.

If someone can create a business that gives to others and the bi product also creates abundance in their own life- I say BRAVO! There are too many takers who are building their living off of taking. I'm all for congratulating someone for creating a win-win situation where both parties benefit.

Hugs to you,

Gail

[cktirumalai]

10:28 AM on 06/02/2009

Giving without any thought of a return is central to the teaching of Jesus. Even those who have trouble with the theological aspects of Christianity can be moved by it and live accordingly. A further question is this: those who have a great deal can give more but they tend to get caught up in getting more, even using charity as a means of self-advancement, one reason some very rich folk give anonymously. A college at Cambridge University owes its existence to a man who genuinely wished to remain unknown, though it subsequently came to be named after him. For centuries people have been looking for the elixir of life, which would keep one forever young. That elixir is likely to be the spirit of true giving as much as anything else. Giving can take many forms. There are illnesses which do not have a cure yet. Those who selflessly dedicate themselves to finding cures, sacrificing personal comfort, not in order to win the Nobel Prize but to alleviate human suffering, will be great benefactors.

[Gail Lynne Goodwin]

08:14 PM on 06/03/2009

Hello,

Thanks for posting your comments. I agree with what you've shared and appreciate your taking the time to write to us.

There are endless ways to give. May we all find one that makes our heart sing- knowing that our contribution, whether it be time, talent or treasure, is making a difference in our world.

Hugs,

Gail