This post was most recently updated on March 26th, 2014
I’m sure you have heard the term “Go-Giving” many times in the internet marketing world.
It is usually referred to as taking the first step to engaging others. But this is not about how to go-give in business, nor is it a lesson on marketing. Rather, I would like to point out Go-Giving as a life style.
Here is a real life situation that happened to me just this week.
I live in what is referred to as a “small city”. Ha Ha. I’ll say it’s “small”… to me it is a sleepy little town, but hey, I’m a NYC gal. As long as I have a pretty neighborhood and sidewalks so I can wear my heels and be a few blocks from the nearest coffee shop, I can survive happily.
I live in a quiet neighborhood with tree lined streets and a mix of Victorian and mid-century homes. Everyone plants awesome flowers and shrubs and on a summer day, it is so enjoyable to take a walk and look at the gardens. I love my own gardens that I have planted over the years, and enjoy sitting outside having my coffee as soon as Spring arrives.
Meanwhile, I have a great neighbor with the most horrid fence facing my property.
This fence is a total eye-sore! It is made of woven redwood that must be 40 years old. Over the past ten years I have tried to fix the slats, and have just generally struggled with trying to do anything I could to get eyeballs off this fence. I like looking outside but the fence always catches my attention and no matter what I do, that five foot wonder just makes everything drab.
A few days ago, we had wind. I mean wicked wind. In the end, my friend mother nature knocked two six foot sections of this fence down. Although I was happy, I hurriedly ran out to save my tulips struggling from beneath the upended wreck. My neighbor came out and just shook his head. So here I was doing a happy dance in my head that he will FINALLY get a new fence. WRONG!
As we were fighting the wind and securing the fence with nylon cord, he took an old treadmill off his back porch to support it. Hmmm.
I know he is a frugal guy, so I just blurted out “Hey, why don’t we put up a new fence? I’ll pay half the cost. He jumped at that and agreed. FINALLY…the day has come, after ten years of that eye sore. Yippie, a brand new fence and more landscaping for me!
BUT THAT’S NOT THE STORY………
As I talked to my friends to share my joy, each one of them reacted by saying “Why are you paying for half his fence?”
I was puzzled.
Hey, why the heck not?
It is something I wanted for a long time, and I knew my frugal friend would only patch things up. So to me it was a win win situation. Many friends I talked to told me that I give too much.
Now, I don’t think this was giving too much at all. My neighbor is happy to save some money, and I didn’t care what it cost. It enhanced my property and my enjoyment of the yard.
As I thought about it, I concluded that this is only a part of Go-Giving! When you become a go-giver, it effects every part of your life, not just your business. You see the outcome of a good situation for everyone involved, and just GIVE to make it happen! No thinking involved! It is purely intuitive.
So boys and girls, that is my lesson for today. It’s a great feeling when Go-Giving becomes part of your lifestyle. It’s a great business posture to take, but it’s even more important to assume it as part of your personality. It will never fail you because in the end, making others happy will greatly improve your own life and well-being.
So now it is your turn. Am I giving too much? Or… Does this all make sense to you? I would really like to know!
Blessings,
Donna
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