Generosity Works! 37 Phone Calls Prove It
I don’t know anything as perfect as this.
My husband’s former mentor, Mr. Will, received 37 non-work related phone calls in one day. Some, voices singing off pitch, others excitedly professing their love for him.
No, he wasn’t sick. No, he didn’t win the lottery.
Yes, it was his birthday.
Not one email (he hates emails). All calls- thumb pressing numbers, waiting for a connection calls, no texts. Colleagues, friends and loved ones, chimed in to celebrate their gem, their Mr. Will. All taking time to remember the date marking his birth nearly eighty years ago.
What’s magical about this is that it happens every year. Sure, this speaks to the graciousness of the callers (and maybe to the fact that Mr. Will has a flip phone, so no texting) but I believe it says more about the birthday boy.
And that brings me to the story of Mr. Will and my husband, “The Suit” (title explained later). They met in a grocery store aisle over 40 years ago (before I was born-not!), my soon-to-be lucky hubby was stocking shelves while a dapper Mr. Will shopped.
Later at the check-out counter, The Suit bagged Mr. Will’s groceries, admiring his suit and the small detail of initialed cuffs fancied by cufflinks.
The two chatted and before long Mr. Will, a white businessman, agreed to take The Suit, a Black teen, under his helm. He mentored and hired the grocery stock boy. This one act, dramatically changed The Suit’s life, equipping him with business and life skills no college could teach.
Mr. Will created meaning and helped a boy develop into.
This is the kind of generosity that impacts lives and the world…and obviously wardrobes because my husband rarely wears anything other than a suit…with initials on the cuffs of his shirt, popped off with a jeweled cufflink (see pic at top of this letter). He was dressed this way the day I met him over three decades ago and it has never changed.
Generosity can do that. It can inspire others in ways you can’t foresee.
The attire is one thing. The Suit has a networking strategy, list of virtues and intentional compassion for helping others - just like Mr. Will.
If your career or business is all about the work, your brilliance and making money, you’re missing out on a very special part of living: pouring into others, watching them thrive.
Here’s my video message on refocusing our efforts. Keep reading for some tips below.
Use this link to share the video with a friend: https://youtu.be/vHRQW4fHup8
How to Be More Generous Right Now
If you want over 30 phone calls for your birthday, you probably should start making an impact on others (don’t worry about the flip phone thing, just do it.)
Celebrate the accolades of others. Congratulate with sincere messaging.
Mentoring is great but how you mentor is essential. Take time to get to know your mentee, understand his/her obstacles and perspectives. How can you help your mentee develop the skills needed to advance in the workplace and life?
If you’re not mentoring, think of Five Things to share with Five People. Inspire them.
Community: Running to the grocery store? Ask a neighbor if they need anything, if they say “No, but cool of you to ask,” bring them back something anyway. Do this a lot.
In meetings, notice who isn’t speaking up, do more than open a space for their feedback. Have a side-bar conversation about leadership and developing voice and vision. Share resources, encouragement and your experiences to help them develop this fundamental skill.
Why Share What You Know?
Why die with it inside of you? Our successful stories and disastrous detours are lessons learned (and earned). Part of completing lessons, earning a good life is about bringing others with you.
Share it. We share with others to hopefully help make their journey a tad bit easier and a lot riskier. Maybe we save them a little time or a lot of pain, maybe we give that gentle push for next level living. Did someone ever impart wisdom to you? I’d love to read your story. Email Me: RaquelEatmon@gmail.com
A RISKY Quote on Being Generous
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ― John Bunyan
Raquel Eatmon is a Be Bold Accomplice, Keynote Speaker and Author of Beyond Enough How to Lead with Your Whole Self. For over a decade she has produced the Woman of Power Leadership Conference for high potentials. She is challenging audiences to live and lead bolder lives through strategic risk taking rituals. Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn