Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking “What’s in it for me?” –Brian Tracy
When you give, you get back threefold.
Simple concept, awesome results.
How can you give to get?
1. At networking events, focus on who you can introduce to help them in their business. (I learned this one from Dave Block at Make-It-Fly. Dave is a master networker and one of the most generous people I’ve ever met.) Two things happen here: you get the satisfaction of knowing you helped your friends make a potentially good connection. You are also positioning yourself as a good resource for your area of expertise.
2. If a prospect is not a potential ideal customer for you, who can who do you know who can best help them? Refer them on to your colleagues. You spare yourself a lot of frustration and build good will at the same time.
3. Volunteer for causes you believe in. It’s good to get your head out of the me, me, me syndrome. You’d also be surprised at how personally satisfying it is and how much you learn from the experience.
4. This doesn’t quite relate to giving to get, but I really like the idea: A friend posts one thing she is grateful for every day on Facebook. Wouldn’t that be a nice change from kvetching about the economy, politics, or traffic?