Givers Gain
I was in a business networking group years ago called BNI whose philosophy was “givers gain”. The president of our chapter, Joe Demarco, told new members that the key to our success was to help others in the group be successful. In giving fellow members business referrals, we win by developing deep and lasting relationships. What we get out of the business connection is secondary to what we give. Its about helping others.
I practiced “paying it forward” in my personal life, but I hadn’t applied it at the same level in my professional life. It didn’t take me long to get on board. I got so much out of connecting my friends with professional contacts who could respond to their needs. And along the way, I got referrals too.
I thought there were only pockets of truly giving people like this in the world. I was so wrong. When I partnered with a few friends to launch two new businesses, we did so on a budget. To bring our idea to life, we had to do most of the work which required learning new skills. This took us to YouTube. It was here that my partners and I learned how to build a website, edit images, shoot video and create our brand. This was all because the video authors were unselfish teachers who shared their knowledge for free.
My experience with my first business networking group and YouTube has introduced me to a broader way of helping others and supporting humanity. I’m inspired to give to others in a brand new way. Join me in paying it forward to more people. We all win!
Keith
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