I had a moment a few nights back to slow down and catch some recent episodes of Anthony Bourdain. Think of him what you will, but since his passing I’ve become enamored with his storytelling ability and how he masterfully developed a fusion between food and lifestyle with the unique ability to capture the humanity of where we live, what we eat, and how we connect as people.
The last episode I watched landed him in Maui. As Bourdain was chatting with one of the locals, the definition of “Aloha” came up. “Aloha… It means giving without expecting anything in return. To do Hawaii right, you’ve got to give back. It’s part of the lifestyle and culture.”
Hearing this hit me: Giving without expecting anything in return is a core part of strong business cultures.
Pulling this off requires an abundance mentality. There’s no way to give without expectation if you feel like there is not enough for everyone. If you approach your work with a “get mine” mindset, where your first priority is yourself and the focus is on you, then the concept of giving anything away for free is very foreign. It’s impossible to grasp.
The expectation is what creates the difference. If our approach to our work is purely transactional, then that means it is based around expectations. The transaction occurs when I give you something, and you give me something back in return. I expect that you will reciprocate my giving. That expectation is what drives many businesses in America today. It’s not uncommon, but there is a better way…
If we can adopt an abundance mentality, then we can look around and clearly see opportunities in our businesses to provide value to our customers with no expectation. We can give just to give, and we can share because it’s the right thing to do. The funny thing about doing this… The world has a way of making sure things come back around. Generosity is rewarded. Want proof? Try it.
The Takeaway
The more you give, and the more value you provide, the more of an asset you become to your clients and customers. Try it. Look for an opportunity this week to give with no expectations and open hands rather than holding on so tight.
