Give With No Expectations

Giving without the expectation of getting anything in return can lead to amazing personal fulfillment and rich rewards. If we are willing to give away what we have both from an intellectual perspective and an emotional perspective, we are often rewarded in so many ways.

Let me begin by talking about the business side. If I am abundant and willing to share what I know (ideas, processes, procedures, etc.) even with my closest competitor, I win.

I win in knowing I have assisted others. I win in knowing that I am helping my industry grow and prosper. I win because I can then encourage the business owners I have shared with to share with others.

On the personal side, we have all learned many lessons through missteps we have made in our life’s journey. We have the opportunity to share and teach our family, friends and co-workers our painful lessons in an attempt to mitigate their pain from future missteps.

If we share our story through honesty, transparency and vulnerability, we can enlighten others with lessons that we have learned and prevent them from having to experience that same pain. It may not work in one hundred percent of the cases as some people still need to touch the flame to understand the pain. But it is well worth the effort.

An example of giving without expectation is in the beloved film Charlie and The Chocolate Factory when Charlie Bucket returns the sacred gobstopper to Willy Wonka. Charlie expects nothing in return and yet Wonka gives him everything he has ever dreamed of and more.

Another example is the idea of “freemium.” This concept is manifested by us giving a portion of the product and/or service we offer for FREE with no expectation of reward. Here are the questions we must ask ourselves. How can we best serve our family, co-workers, friends and clients? What can we give to them that can potentially improve their lives? Is it advice? Is it the gift of listening? Is it a handwritten card? Is it a check-in call? Is it our product or service for free?

If we all give without the expectation of getting anything in return, we further a movement of making the world a happier and more productive place. I encourage everyone to be abundant and give away what they know so that others’ lives are improved.

Encourage those you have been abundant with to share what they have learned with others. Pay it forward one person at a time until the movement is a way of life and not the exception to the rule. I believe the benefit we derive from our giving will far exceed our expectations both emotionally and financially.

Give with no expectations.