The one thing your business might be lacking for success

12 replies
According to Robert Kiyosaki and nearly all the writers of wealth and success, you can be doing everything right, but lack this one thing in your online (or offline) business, and wonder why it's just not working.
Charitable giving.
Let me share a true story from my own experience, and then let me hear from any of you others out there who also have an experience to share, because I think we can very easily get caught up on the marketing frenzy highway, and forget the simple principle of "sowing and reaping".
A few years ago now we were trying to save for a home, and prices were just getting beyond our reach. Plus we would become aware of urgent needs among our friends from time to time, and so our savings would go down for a while. Add to that the fact that we still owed the bank after the sale of our previous home in a different state, and you get the dismal picture. But we didn't stop giving to others when the need was desperate and genuine, and I guess we'd almost given up on the idea of ever having our own home again.
Then things changed. The old bank contacted us to say that the type of housing loan we used to have was being phased out, and if we could come up with a $2,000 lump sum, they would waive the remaining $6,000 and cancel our loan. (Unheard of!) As it happened, we had exactly $2,000 saved, so now we were debt free, but still owned no home. Within 6 months, a farming neighbour offered us his house on one acre, vendor finance, at the price he had paid for it 20 years before. (Again, unheard of!) We were able to purchase this home, while living in it, and paid it off in full in cash within 3 years. I really believe this was all because we included "giving" as part of our social obligation to our community, and what goes around, comes around.
If this was an isolated incident, you might call it coincidence, but as it is just one of about a dozen similar transactions over the last ten years, I see a definite pattern.

Who else in this forum has had a similar experience of unexpected benefit in their business or financial circumstances after giving a meaningful amount to someone in need? We'd love to hear your story . . . . . .

Sue
#business #lacking #success #thing
  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    I hope Claude does not see this. Sometimes coincidences are just that.

    But seriously I think that "giving" can indeed in some ways have an effect on a person "receiving".

    No question.

    But here is the way I look at it. Personally, when I give to people around me it just brings complete Joy in the act itself.
    Iam not trying to criticize you or anyone else who looks as giving as a way to receive.

    But for me I have already been blessed so I just Give because in enriches my Live that much
    more.

    Anyway, enough of the sappy stuff


    - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Hey, you're right. I didn't mean to emphasize the motive being only to get something out of giving (that's not what we were thinking at all when we were responding to our friends needs), but I'm glad you pointed that bit out.

      Even though Kiyosaki and the others do stipulate it as a structured part of the plan because it does bring results, I agree with you that the giving should actually be done without expectation. Meaning, it's the attitude with which you give (motive) that matters as much as the gift itself.

      Greedy giving probably doesn't count :-)
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      I hope Claude does not see this. Sometimes coincidences are just that.

      But seriously I think that "giving" can indeed in some ways have an effect on a person "receiving".

      No question.

      But here is the way I look at it. Personally, when I give to people around me it just brings complete Joy in the act itself.
      Iam not trying to criticize you or anyone else who looks as giving as a way to receive.

      But for me I have already been blessed so I just Give because in enriches my Live that much
      more.

      Anyway, enough of the sappy stuff


      - Robert Andrew
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10359447].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    Thanks Sue,

    Persuasion folks might say it is part of Cialdini's Influence principle, Reciprocity. There is a Warrior, not real active here, Glenn Osborn, who has written a book on giving, without expectation...and getting unheard of ROI.

    He has a ton of posts on the subject at the Seeds of Wisdom forum.

    You might find his viewpoint interesting.

    gjabiz

    Originally Posted by srumsley View Post

    According to Robert Kiyosaki and nearly all the writers of wealth and success, you can be doing everything right, but lack this one thing in your online (or offline) business, and wonder why it's just not working.
    Charitable giving.
    Let me share a true story from my own experience, and then let me hear from any of you others out there who also have an experience to share, because I think we can very easily get caught up on the marketing frenzy highway, and forget the simple principle of "sowing and reaping".
    A few years ago now we were trying to save for a home, and prices were just getting beyond our reach. Plus we would become aware of urgent needs among our friends from time to time, and so our savings would go down for a while. Add to that the fact that we still owed the bank after the sale of our previous home in a different state, and you get the dismal picture. But we didn't stop giving to others when the need was desperate and genuine, and I guess we'd almost given up on the idea of ever having our own home again.
    Then things changed. The old bank contacted us to say that the type of housing loan we used to have was being phased out, and if we could come up with a $2,000 lump sum, they would waive the remaining $6,000 and cancel our loan. (Unheard of!) As it happened, we had exactly $2,000 saved, so now we were debt free, but still owned no home. Within 6 months, a farming neighbour offered us his house on one acre, vendor finance, at the price he had paid for it 20 years before. (Again, unheard of!) We were able to purchase this home, while living in it, and paid it off in full in cash within 3 years. I really believe this was all because we included "giving" as part of our social obligation to our community, and what goes around, comes around.
    If this was an isolated incident, you might call it coincidence, but as it is just one of about a dozen similar transactions over the last ten years, I see a definite pattern.

    Who else in this forum has had a similar experience of unexpected benefit in their business or financial circumstances after giving a meaningful amount to someone in need? We'd love to hear your story . . . . . .

    Sue
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Thanks! I'm checking out Seeds of Wisdam now - sounds good.
      Has anyone read Og Mandino's books here? Wow, I've just discovered them. Talk about taking your life to a whole new level . . . .
      Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
      Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

      Thanks Sue,

      Persuasion folks might say it is part of Cialdini's Influence principle, Reciprocity. There is a Warrior, not real active here, Glenn Osborn, who has written a book on giving, without expectation...and getting unheard of ROI.

      He has a ton of posts on the subject at the Seeds of Wisdom forum.

      You might find his viewpoint interesting.

      gjabiz
      I actually called him, back in 2011 I think, and he said I was the only Warrior to ever pick up the phone to talk. We had a great chat.

      I'm glad to see you link there!

      His 'ugly' websites were some of the first I saw in IM, and they taught me appearance is not a factor if you've got something that helps people.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10359501].message }}
      • Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

        I actually called him, back in 2011 I think, and he said I was the only Warrior to ever pick up the phone to talk. We had a great chat.

        I'm glad to see you link there!

        His 'ugly' websites were some of the first I saw in IM, and they taught me appearance is not a factor if you've got something that helps people.
        Jim Straw was the king of the ugly website. I was one of many who offered to re-do it gratis, but he always declined. Although very graciously.

        Offering 'favors' such as those to other marketers make up a lot of my charitable giving.
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      • Profile picture of the author srumsley
        Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

        I actually called him, back in 2011 I think, and he said I was the only Warrior to ever pick up the phone to talk. We had a great chat.

        I'm glad to see you link there!

        His 'ugly' websites were some of the first I saw in IM, and they taught me appearance is not a factor if you've got something that helps people.
        Yes, "helping" is an obvious way to give, but I have to say that it can be difficult to do successfully - take here, for example, on this forum. Yes, there is a wealth of genuinely helpful advice here, but sometimes the overwhelming quantity is the problem, or the conflicting advice, or the variable abilities of newbies to be selective enough to use advice appropriate to their situation . . .you see what I mean.

        Helping here (or anywhere similar) is definitely giving, but obviously resourcing, say, a social work that is definitely improving a whole community (for example) with a small donation to help out will always be effective. . . .

        I agree - the website is certainly ugly, and if I hadn't had the heads-up from here about it I probably would have clicked away, assuming it was some old 1990s white elephant that hadn't been updated by the owner in a decade. Please don't sing the praises of ugly websites to loudly - I'm sure most of us click away from them!

        Sue
        Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Originally Posted by srumsley View Post

    ...all the writers of wealth and success, you can be doing everything right, but lack this one thing in your online (or offline) business, and wonder why it's just not working.
    If your business isn't working, i'm probably sure it's not due to you giving portions your advertising money to others for reciprocity sake. If this is what you want to do long term... start a church.
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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      If your business isn't working, i'm probably sure it's not due to you giving portions your advertising money to others for reciprocity sake. If this is what you want to do long term... start a church.
      Obviously charitable giving is only one, but still important, factor in the mix. Kiyosaki and the others never said that's ALL you do - we are talking about building a successful business, not about BEING a charity. I guess part of the reason being a giver works is because otherwise business-building is, by definition, pretty much a focus on self: educating yourself, driving yourself, investing in self - not necessarily for selfish ends, of course, but you are not working for "someone else", but for yourself.

      I think giving helps restore some balance here.

      Sue
      Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author internetsweetie
    I agree with you 1000%! I believe in tithing or glad giving at least 10 to 20% of my income. I started doing this over 15 years ago when I resigned from my corporate job working for one of the most famous talk show queens in the world. II had lived off of savings and investments for a while and finally decided to start my own business. I had $20 in my pocket at the time and I gave it to the Salvation Army bell ringer. Soon after, my old college professor called out of the blue and told me she had asked her publisher to work with me on her upcoming book release and it was for $2,000! I had not solicited this, marketed or advertised. My business has continued to thrive without a website, without a huge email list, without marketing or advertising or using social media and I owe it ALL to giving from everything I receive. I believe this is the missing link for a lot of people who work so hard on their great idea. I'm glad you shared this! Those who heed to it will be glad a few months from now.

    QUOTE=srumsley;10359392]According to Robert Kiyosaki and nearly all the writers of wealth and success, you can be doing everything right, but lack this one thing in your online (or offline) business, and wonder why it's just not working.
    Charitable giving.
    Let me share a true story from my own experience, and then let me hear from any of you others out there who also have an experience to share, because I think we can very easily get caught up on the marketing frenzy highway, and forget the simple principle of "sowing and reaping".
    A few years ago now we were trying to save for a home, and prices were just getting beyond our reach. Plus we would become aware of urgent needs among our friends from time to time, and so our savings would go down for a while. Add to that the fact that we still owed the bank after the sale of our previous home in a different state, and you get the dismal picture. But we didn't stop giving to others when the need was desperate and genuine, and I guess we'd almost given up on the idea of ever having our own home again.
    Then things changed. The old bank contacted us to say that the type of housing loan we used to have was being phased out, and if we could come up with a $2,000 lump sum, they would waive the remaining $6,000 and cancel our loan. (Unheard of!) As it happened, we had exactly $2,000 saved, so now we were debt free, but still owned no home. Within 6 months, a farming neighbour offered us his house on one acre, vendor finance, at the price he had paid for it 20 years before. (Again, unheard of!) We were able to purchase this home, while living in it, and paid it off in full in cash within 3 years. I really believe this was all because we included "giving" as part of our social obligation to our community, and what goes around, comes around.
    If this was an isolated incident, you might call it coincidence, but as it is just one of about a dozen similar transactions over the last ten years, I see a definite pattern.

    Who else in this forum has had a similar experience of unexpected benefit in their business or financial circumstances after giving a meaningful amount to someone in need? We'd love to hear your story . . . . . .

    Sue[/QUOTE]
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    Internet Sweetie
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    Freedom from the 9 to 5 can be so sweet.

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  • Profile picture of the author internetsweetie
    How to Solve Your Money Problems Forever by Vic Boc is my favorite book. It speaks on glad giving. Check out Amazon for the some of the amazing outcomes people have had because of this material.
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    Internet Sweetie
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    Freedom from the 9 to 5 can be so sweet.

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    • Profile picture of the author srumsley
      Originally Posted by internetsweetie View Post

      How to Solve Your Money Problems Forever by Vic Boc is my favorite book. It speaks on glad giving. Check out Amazon for the some of the amazing outcomes people have had because of this material.
      Wow, what an experience - thanks for sharing. Isn't it awful when others hear our stories and write it off as coincidence? If they only knew what a difference giving makes. It's no substitute for hard work, of course, but when we give I believe we are expressing an attitude of gratitude (not gripe-itude!) that does something positive for us, our sense of wellbeing and 'rightness'.

      I will check out the book you mentioned - that's a new one for me - sounds awesome.

      Thanks!

      Sue
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