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10 Comments

  1. Rob Franta
    2010-09-20 @ 6:42 am

    Great topic, I am a firm believer in help enough people find the success they are looking for and yours will come to you naturally.

    For I have been giving back since the beginning with my online business. As soon as I had a team I knew I needed to teach them what I knew before they would have success. Heck it took me years to learn it all. I was promised help many times and each time it was only a ploy to get me to join their business. From that point on I vowed I would provide what ever knowledge I had to whoever wanted it.

    I am sure it the reason for my success.

    Rob

  2. Tom Litchfield
    2010-09-20 @ 7:48 am

    On the subject of giving, I’d like to mention a gift that has been given to me time and time again, and to some of the people reading this: The gift of software development courtesy of Open Source.

    How many of us use WordPress and dozens of plugins for free? How many of us have made money from these gifts? I know I have, which is why I try to give back to these communities when I can.

    Thanks to the Pat & Lorna for reminding me of the gifts I have received through the Internet community. Please think about the “gifts” others have given us through Open Source and don’t forget to give back if you can!

  3. Mike Pedersen
    2010-09-21 @ 10:19 am

    @Tom – I never thought of it that way. Free WordPress themes, plugins, etc…thanks for bringing that up!

    It’s amazing when I come across someone (which I did yesterday) who truly wants to help with no strings attached. In our society, we are so skeptical that we can’t accept these kind gestures as genuine. It’s too bad, but I know for me, as I go on with my life, I want to be one of those people who give for the sake of giving. This post was a nice reminder of that.

    Regards,
    Mike

  4. Yorinda
    2010-09-21 @ 7:48 pm

    Hi Pat and Lorna,

    giving and receiving are the same, which is what I learned from the Author Gerald Jampolsky.

    I used to find it easier to give until I learned that when I don’t allow others to give to me , I am blocking their good. I am so glad to have had lots of people in my life helping to empower me to the point where I am also able to empower people.

    Thank you for your thought provoking post.

    Love and Joy
    from Yorinda

  5. Curt Bizelli
    2010-09-22 @ 2:21 am

    I totally agree that it begins with giving away something you may not even have. This opens up a whole new buttload of opportunities in your life by getting on a positive wave length. I personally find that when my ego is takes control and I’m thinking about myself and I’m not in as near as much peace than as if I focused on helping someone else or simply being grateful. Thanks for this post. God Bless!

  6. Emma
    2010-09-23 @ 6:41 am

    Hi Pat and Lorna,

    I believe that we all have a gift to share, it’s just a case of realizing it! I believe that the more open we are and the more we share, the better – like you said, if you make a difference to just one person it’s worth it!

    Mine? My deepest passion, my purpose in life – not just online – is to encourage and inspire people to reach for their dreams.

    To show people that it doesn’t matter where you are from, how much money you were born in to, what your class is, what the rest of your family got up to, what others think of you, if anyone else believed in you, what odds are stacked against you…. THEY CAN SUCCEED!

    For goodness sake, if I can, they can! I have realized that life is about living with passion and purpose. It’s about realizing what your purpose is on earth and living it. Living your dreams, realizing that the only limit is your mind. It’s about providing VALUE to others.

    All the Best,

    Emma 🙂

  7. Gary Young China Sourcing
    2010-09-24 @ 9:48 am

    I think the first thing you need to do before giving or accepting gifts is to give and accept gifts from yourself. In other words, take care of yourself first then you will be able to take care of others. It is just common sense that is illustrated by, Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

    In order to give you need to have your basic needs met first or you can not sustain the giving or even be able to take advantage of gifts being given to you by others.

    Another way to put it is that luck (a gift) is just opportunity plus preparation. So you have to be prepared in order to not only to give gifts but to receive them or this cycle is unsustainable and becomes event oriented and therefor the giving and receiving that you are involved with is unsustainable.

  8. rebeccahappy
    2010-09-24 @ 9:20 pm

    I think there is a shift happening and those are practices that will die off…the world is getting smaller and people know that our greatness will come through co creation and helping each other. That is wonderful that you decided to do it differently…show great leadersip

  9. rebeccahappy
    2010-09-24 @ 9:28 pm

    I work in a http://larche.ca community with adults with developmental disabilities. The belief we have is that all of us have gifts that are meant to be shared at the table. It is when we enter relationships that and exchange of gifts can be had and humanity can be made whole. If we all shared our gifts freely in service of the greater good then wonderful things can occur…even those who appear on the surface that then may have nothing to offer often bring some of the greatest gifts. It is so true that when you allow yourself to be yourself, your gifts will flow freely. I love this.

  10. Dr. Erica Goodstone
    2010-09-27 @ 7:24 pm

    Rebecca, Your comment about relationships brings me to one of the gifts I offer to couples. I help them to see the gift that each is for the other. Instead of focusing on what each perceives as the other’s flaws or purposely unloving behavior and attitude, can be seen as the gift of the other person differing from the self – with all the lessons to be learned, growth that can occur, and deeper love and joy that can follow.
    I also see my gifts as taking what I have spent a lifetime learning (about love relationships, sexuality, the way our body/mind system works, and how we heal) and sharing that with others who may not have focused on these aspects the way I have.
    Pat and Lorna, Thanks for a wonderful, thought provoking post.

    Warmly, Erica