Generosity

Simone de Beauvoir once explained generosity as feeling as though you lost nothing by giving everything. This is the perfect way of explaining the word generosity and how it can lead us to success in life. Generosity is a virtue which elevates us to do actions worthy of our kind, nature, descent or origin. Generosity is akin to heavenliness and it is befitting of all of us, human beings, to be generous, act generously and be noble creatures.

According to the dictionary, generosity can be described as the liberality in giving or willingness to give; nobility of thought or behavior; magnanimity. Now that we understand what generosity means, we'll explore how and why being generous can make our ascent to the top easier.

Genuine generosity
In business, we all need to network, one way or the other, to make it to the top. Going the journey alone can be very....for lack of a better word...lonely. Networking will not only make your journey more enjoyable, it will make your rise to the top more satisfying and the trip faster. When you are genuinely generous to others around you, you're telling others that you're not a selfish person and you're willing to help if it is within your limitations. Expect nothing in return and they will offer their help in return when you need it the most.

It can be something as simple as connecting one person to another; Sally needs a copywriter and you know of a friend who is a freelance copywriter. You give Sally the friend's phone number so that they can connect with each other. I can be more complex and time consuming for you as well. You might hear of a friend who has been out of a job. You might give this person money to help with his rent or even offer a place to stay while they search for a new job. Either way, the act of unselfishness will be remembered.

You will need help...if not now, some day
We can't do everything ourselves. Even if we have the ability to do everything ourselves, we may have to take it very slowly and we may have to struggle along the way. Different people are equipped with different skills. So, by being generous to others, you're opening the door to help when you need it.

This is not to say that you should be generous hoping that others will help you in return. Help generously and unconditionally and offer your assistance genuinely. No matter how hard you try to be generous, as soon as you're doing it for something in return, people will categorize you as a fake, a double-headed snake or mistake you as someone who wants something out of them.

Expect nothing when you're giving
If you're expecting something in return for the favor that you've just performed for a friend, you're not being generous. Being generous is a one-way street. Sure enough, if you're a generous person, giving more than you're getting back in return, you will find people rallying behind you and urging you on. This is an important part of networking and socializing that will benefit you personally.

You need to be generous to bring value to the relationship/friendship and this can be done by supporting others in reaching their goals. And if you generously offer your assistance to others without asking for anything in return, you will find others behind you, ready to lend a helping hand when you least expect them to.

That is the power of generosity. Tap into it.