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Give More, Get More
Give More, Get More
"... I’m pretty sure that my future grandchildren won’t want
to hear stories about all the money I made. Experiences matter more."
“Ever been on a helicopter?” asked the general.
“Yes,” I replied, “I’ve been a couple of times.”
“Ever been on a helicopter in Washington, D.C., at an altitude of
200 feet?” he followed up.
“No,” was my obvious answer.
A week later, I was scurrying around our nation’s capital in a
Bell UH-1 helicopter with the doors pulled back at altitudes of 200 feet and
less. If you’ve ever seen a movie about the Vietnam War, then you know what
kind of helicopter this was. Big and loud, the Huey was the two-rotor workhorse
of the time.
It was a remarkable experience. We didn’t fly over the Washington
monument -- we flew next to the Washington monument. We took a pass by the
Pentagon in restricted airspace.
The question is: Why would the Air Force let me piggyback on one
of its birds as it ran an exercise around the capital? The answer is simple:
service.
Before this whole surreal adventure began four years ago, I would
go into meetings or meet people with the hope of getting something from them.
It wasn’t a bad thing, per se, as I had something to sell and I wanted them to
buy it. Of course, I wanted to do good work for my clients and wanted to grow
my business at the same time. It didn’t matter what it was -- a new piece of
business, a boost to an existing piece of business, more money, or more work --
more-more-more was the mindset. That was how it was before I discovered the
Why.
If anyone ever accused me of being too aggressive, my rationale
(to them and to myself) was always the same: “If I don’t seize the
opportunity, someone else will.”
Money Before Happiness?
When growth was my primary objective, no one ever offered me an
opportunity to fly in a helicopter. In fact, before the Why, I had only a few
of those experiences of the kind we hope to recount to our grandkids one day.
Back then, it was all about building the business. Sadly, for all
that effort, I’m pretty sure that my future grandchildren won’t want to hear
stories about all the money I made.
Experiences matter more.
Discovering the Why set me on a new path -- one of giving without
worrying about what I’ll get in return; a path of serving the people and causes
that matter to me without a thought of what I could get out of it.
Does it still count as giving if you expect something in
return?
“...if I didn’t eventually get anything back for all my giving, I
would speak up, or the relationship would naturally drift apart. It was clear I
had no idea what the concept of giving really meant."
It was clear why the general had offered me the opportunity to
take the flight. "You’re generous with your time and your energy,” he
said. “I’m grateful for what you have given me and the Air Force and I don’t
want to take advantage.” (Something rarely, if ever, heard from companies)
“Sir,” I replied, “what matters to me is making progress where progress can
be made". We’ll let
the wheels of bureaucracy grind forwards should we decide to formalize a
relationship, but until then, consider my time my way of serving my country.”
And that’s when he made the offer to join the flight.
Generosity Is Not Sold
The maxim is so well known, we can all recite it
together: The more you give, the more you get. I, like everyone else,
have always known the maxim, but I didn’t know what it really meant until now.
“Giving,” as it relates to this context, is to do something for someone
without any expectation or want for anything in return. It is a mindset, not a practice. Prior to four years ago, I thought of it more as an equation -- if
I give, then eventually I’ll get. So I gave and expected something back in
return at some point in the future. My idea of “doing good” was having
the patience to wait a long time before I asked for anything in return. I
kept a mental scorecard, and if I didn’t eventually get anything back for all
my giving, I would speak up, or the relationship would naturally drift apart.
It was clear I had no idea what the concept of giving really meant.
That flight was a remarkable treat, a once-in-a-lifetime
experience that I could never buy or demand. It is one of those wonderful experiences that stems from one
thing and one thing only -- the gratitude expressed for something given
without any expectation of payment or return. That kind of experience only comes as a
genuine expression of thanks. It would not have
happened as part of an exchange or a business deal. This was an expression of
value, one based on service to a common cause.
The Value Of Giving
I can say, without a doubt, that I have had more of these amazing
experiences in the past four years than in my entire previous professional
life. And I can say, without a doubt that this remarkable journey all began
when I learned what it means to give.
Give More
You only reap rewards from giving when there is no expectation of
anything in return.
Life experiences matter more than financial success.
Doing good with the expectation of reward is not actually
"doing good.”
I love your way of art.
ReplyDeletethank you, means a lot! :)
ReplyDelete