When it comes to your business time? Be stingy. Be a soldier of profit. There’s thousands upon thousands out there with bottomless need looking for free help. You can be sucked dry and be left wallowing amongst those you were trying to help.

On personal time you can find ways to help others. I’m a Rotary member and we do lots of good for lots of people. Yet most members are successful business people who have learned to separate charity from their place of business.

Joe

John Hoff’s last blog post..My Marketing Hero Himself – Seth Godin

Fine. I’ll go and think of something else.

Naomi Dunford’s last blog post..Frugality Vs. Reality: Cash Flow When Working From Home

I ended up doing some great work that afternoon, was in the best mood, and got more done than I had in weeks. Huh, now there’s a thought: being nice increases your productivity!

Over the years I’ve built websites and helped people market their businesses for free, in part because it was never a business for me – just something I liked to do. I’ve also helped them incorporate and structure their business. Most of these people were just starting out. They had no money and lived paycheck-to-paycheck.

Like Dave (and James) said, what comes around goes around, that’s true. Here’s a little business-minded spin on this process I see:

By helping people get what they want, you are helping yourself get what you want in business. By giving Goran what he wanted for free, Goran needed James and will be more likely to help James succeed, because his own success is tied to James.

Now I don’t mean be generous just for the simple fact that people will take care of you. I simply mean it’s a nice side effect.

John Hoff’s last blog post..My Marketing Hero Himself – Seth Godin

I think, too, is seeing the difference between making a difference (ie, deliberately volunteering to do good) and creating a difference with an unexpected random act (can I help you carry those bags?). While they both accomplish good and they do make people feel better, they’re very distinct from each other and achieve different reactions, both in others and in ourselves.

Think away. And you’re welcome

Interesting timing in that I usually spend my weekends doing volunteer work of some kind. But…it almost seems stupid to write about being kind with volunteer work because…well…that’s what it is by nature. Sort of almost disqualifies it from being anything special? Maybe? I don’t know. It’s late and it’s been a long day.

But I’m gonna play with this one, for sure. I don’t have a name for what these are, these random acts of kindnesses. Karma maybe. Or ethics or just plain help. Whatever it is I know we all recognize it when it occurs. It’s that thing that puts a smile on your face, and that feeling in your chest.

Thanks for making me smile, James. And thank you too for the multiple kindnesses you’ve already paid me this week.

Charlie – Ignite Living’s last blog post..Anti-GTD advice: Managing your email and good customer service