If you follow this newsletter, you know I spoke last week on the college campus Florida Southern College where I spent my formative years. My post last week was inspired by that visit. In it – and in my presentation – I talked about my grandmother and the impact she had on so many people, starting with the students who were there when my brother, sister, and I attended, and extending all the way to the students on campus today you can read it here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/title-legacy-generosity-lessons-from-my-grandmother-tim-richardson-ksvhe/
Why I Chose to Give My Time
My presentation took place in a large boardroom filled with students who weren’t required to attend.
They didn’t get extra credit. They didn’t have to do a presentation or complete any advance or post-work. They didn’t know anything about me.
They came because they wanted to hear from a graduate who has experienced both business success and plenty of failure.
I wasn’t paid for my time. I didn’t do it for recognition. I didn’t know any of the students. I don’t have a child in school there. None of the professors or the dean who attended are in my network.
I gave my time partly because of my grandmother’s example and partly because I know how valuable it can be to learn from others. She found such great joy in giving.
And I have to say, I LOVED my time there.
I LOVED speaking to the students.
I LOVED that most were freshmen.
I LOVED that they asked thoughtful questions and seemed genuinely interested in applying what I shared to become more effective campus leaders.
They took a pause to learn and grow. I took a pause to give.
Why This Season Is the Best Time to Serve
Around this time each year (from mid-November until early to mid-January), I try to give away as many speeches as I can.
I do it because I love what I do. I do it for organizations that may never be able to afford my speaking fee. I do it because I have been blessed beyond measure. I do it because I want to help others. I do it without any expectation of receiving anything in return.
There is, however, a kind of payment when you give – and for me, it’s a payment in “feel-good.”
The Ripple Effect of Giving
Recently, I wrote about my friend and past client Gary Welch, who is an amazing example of giving. He is involved in numerous charitable organizations – Habitat for Humanity International, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an annual banquet that provides scholarships to high school students, and more. He’s also involved in a group called Eagle, a network of State Farm Insurance agents who support philanthropic work.
Gary once told me he “suffers from an affliction of impatience,” and that giving helps him shed that impatience while becoming more calm. It forces him to slow down – to not be in such a hurry.
“Giving Is Its Own Reward”
My friend Tom Tuohy, a Chicago-based attorney and founder of Dreams for Kids, told me that giving is its own reward:
“I’ve always felt an obligation to serve. And true service is to a cause greater than us. Whether we believe in karma, biblical and other faith-based spiritual teachings, or philosophical truths, when we give it comes back to us tenfold.
Giving without expectation is almost selfish considering the rewards you reap. Everyone wins.
I founded Dreams for Kids almost four decades ago on this principle. Young people are reminded they are never too young to make a difference. When they are given the opportunity and the tools to give, the impact they make in empowering others transforms their worldview and expands the infinite possibilities of who they are. As they say in our programs— ‘We are not the problem. We’re the solution.’”
Your Invitation to “Pause and Give”
Now is a great time to tap into that “feel-good.” Now is the time to consider how you might use your talents in service to your community or an organization you support.
Pause. Give. Serve.
Use your time, your talents, and your experience to lift someone else. The return on that investment might surprise you.
