I have written countless blogs at this point in my life that included the concept of "give to get" whether regarding my personal or business efforts. And I would like to think that anyone who has known me in the past or now in the present would describe me as someone who is constantly giving of my time and energy for a variety of reasons. Whether it means taking meals to someone who is sick, had surgery or just going through a rough time as well as coordinate a fundraising effort or dropping off donations of items from clients to people with an immediate and direct need, I thrive on the concept of giving. I don't say that to brag or boast...it just is who I am and how I was raised.
In business, I have learned that offering value without an immediate return can be a powerful strategy for long-term success. At its core, "give to get" is about creating value for others before asking for something in return. The idea is rooted in the principle of reciprocity, where the goodwill and trust you build by giving eventually come back to you, often in unexpected and multiplied ways.
RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING!
Whether it's with clients, partners, or employees, the strength of your connections can determine the success of your business. By adopting a "give to get" approach, you invest in these relationships, providing value upfront. It's why I decided to tap into my relationships across my community for a Back To School promotion that allowed anyone to nominate a deserving teacher they thought might need a little extra help before the students returned for the new school year. At the time of this writing I had only visited 2 teachers but will be coordinating with 3 more during the course of the school year and am confident the impact will be equally important to them as it is to these two teachers...
Trust me, the organizing I did wasn't rocket science or even elementary school science but small things like using as many of the same styles, shapes, sizes and color bins and baskets to store books by various categories not only makes it easier for the students to put the books back where they belong for a first-grade classroom but also feel less visually cluttering is really important especially as young brains are still developing and can learn great organizing skills that will eventually become second nature and they won't have to think about. Their brains will just know how to implement a plan and follow through.
I helped the second teacher create a color-coded system for a few dozen Chromebooks in a kindergarten classroom to ensure every student knows exactly which charger and storage slot is theirs. It will make it much more visually attractive and, again, less cluttered.
Whether or not the students ever think about who set up the systems, I so appreciate everything that these teachers are doing to set the children up for success for the school year ahead. Is it their job? Sure, but being a great teacher doesn't happen without a tremendous amount of passion and energy and any help from the community they can get is only going to enhance the experience the students will have throughout the year.
So, yes, I am proud to give what I can of my time and expertise and I wish I could give all of my time every day, all day but, as I have said before when sharing these kinds of opportunities to "give to get", I do have to make sure I don't end up giving so much of my time that I don't have the time for clients that can afford to pay because, let's face it, no one else is going to pay my bills right?
Did I really have the time last month to help raise money and participate in the Denver Habitat for Humanity Women's Build Week? No, but I made the time. And while I was really stressed when I couldn't get cell reception at the construction site and wasn't able to respond to any calls from my team or leads that came in, I still am so glad I was present for the task I was assigned to do...paint dozens of pieces of siding for the house. Was it the most important "give" in the grand scheme of house construction? Probably not, but I still "got" tremendous satisfaction knowing I did something.
Bottom line, when I give without strings attached, I am building trust and goodwill that often creates a "ripple effect" where the value my team and I provide spreads through our community and returns to us in the form of more referrals. But I will argue, it's the personal fulfillment that comes from helping others, seeing them succeed, and knowing that I played a part in their journey that will always be paramount to anything else in my life.
Be happy, be safe and, remember, always be kind,
Beth
Chief of Chaos To Calm
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