You've heard of the law of giving and receiving. Yesterday I had an instant manifestation of the principle!
While browsing one of my favorite online stores (Cold Water Creek) I saw a dress that would be perfect for my good friend Christine. She plays piano for a church and loves to dress for the part. When the dress arrived I was so excited to give it to her. There was no special occasion, other than I wanted to make my good friend happy.
Christine and I take jazz dance together four mornings a week and we have a tradition of staying after class for coffee (I sure do enjoy the freedom of working from home!). So I wrapped up the present in colorful paper with a great big bow and took it to class. I didn't plan on telling Christine it was for her until coffee time but when she entered the dance room she wasn't her normal bouncy self and she told me she was feeling a little down. So I showed her the present and told it was for her and immediately her face lit up and her spirits soared!
We had a great dance class (as always) and met in the Juice Bar for Coffee. I was so excited to give her the gift! But what's this? Christine comes in carrying not one, but TWO packages for me! Two, "for no particular reason gifts" on the very same day!
We had to chuckle at how in sync with each other we are...no wonder we're such great friends! Christine loved her dress which delighted me even more than the lovely things I received from her. And as I write this, I realize we never did even talk about what had Christine down. Those feelings had vanished, just like the steam from our coffee!
It was interesting how many people stopped by our table to ask whose birthday it was, to which we both cheerily replied, "Nobody's"! It gave people pause to be reminded that everyday is the perfect day to give!
I think this should be our philosophy in business as well. We can ask ourselves:
- What value can I bring to this person?
- How can I truly help them get what they want?
- How can I be of service?
Coming from a place of servitude, opens up the channels of authentic communication, of mutual respect and genuine connection with another human being.
In my work, I coach a lot of people who fear the idea of sales. They hold themselves back from succeeding in their businesses because their current belief system is that it's uncomfortable or even wrong to ask others to spend money so that they might prosper. I remind them of the law of giving and receiving and I share with them my mantra that helped me overcome this fear 21 years ago when I first started in network marketing. My mantra was, "I'm not asking for a favor, I'm offering an opportunity"..."I'm not asking for a favor, I'm offering an opportunity"...I'm not asking for a favor, I'm offering an opportunity." I would literally repeat that over and over until it became a part of my neurology, my DNA!
If you truly believe in your products, services and opportunity and if you truly focus first on how you can help the other person fulfill their needs and desires, you will both win big time!
I'm sure you've heard it before: Help enough people get what they want and it will come back to you one hundred fold! Just like my "gift for no particular reason" day with Christine!
Christine & Me (Power Gal)
I'd love to hear about your experiences with the Law of Giving and Receiving. Please share by clicking on the Comments link below!
