Givers Gain - Give before you ask

A few day back, I attended a LikedIn Workshop and the resource person, Mr.Gladstone Samuel said, the way to get business, freelance assignments or Job offers from your LinkedIn network is to be active in a few related groups and be an solution provider to the questions people are asking in the groups. This gives you better visibility and people tend to take notice of our expertise.

In another sales programme, I attended, the resource person Mr. Prasanna Venkatesan, shared that he became a popular sales trainer, by being active in a popular social forum, Quora where people ask questions and he was regular to answer such questions. This he says increased his credibility as an expert in the sales training field.

The idea they were trying to impress upon my mind is that, you don’t deserve to ask before you give. It sounded true to me.

I got introduced to this phrase, “Givers Gain” through BNI (Business Network International). This network operates on the similar platform of giving referrals, and it is evident that the people who give the most number of referrals, get the most number of referrals too, which then converts into business. This is because there is an underlying sense of gratitude or counter obligation that is working with everyone.

Are we not annoyed with a number of cold calls that we get every day? Is this not the similar scenario, when we ask other people for obligation without building any rapport with them? So, let us see how we can do things differently.

The ways of doing business is changing. The market is competitive. There is no more monopolistic regime, where the businessman can afford to say, “Take it or leave it”. The customer is spoilt for choices and he will go to the one who gives maximum value for his hard earned money.

I used to be fascinated those days, when Baskin Robbins, gave unlimited free tasting of different ice cream flavours, because we could choose on one. Of course, the strategy is clean, once you walk into their outlet the sale is done. It is just a matter of time.

It is quite similar to fishing; you need to put in a worm, to hook a fish. So, when we need bigger gains in life, we should not hesitate to give smaller things. Today, most business seem to have understood this and they have started to include it as a part of their marketing strategy.

For example, mobile apps and softwares, give a free trial period or a limited version for free and then get the person to upgrade it to a premium version. Even TV channel subscriptions, like Amazon, Netflix, Hotstar, give a free trial period. The net result is that they gain more than they lose. Because once a person subscribes then it becomes a perennial income to the company.

So, it is clear that people today need to see the value before they buy, be it products or services.

So, be it business or life, apply this principle and see how it works wonders. The concept to follow is “Give before you ask”. People always like to be around givers.

Give love and you will receive love.

Give care and you will receive care.

Give appreciation and you get appreciation.

Give help and you will receive help.

Life is an echo. It gives back more of what you give. Like the quote, “What goes around, comes around.” So, the first to give, without asking “What is in it for me?” The results will come eventually, but always be the first to give and be patient.

Time to ask yourself, “Am I giving before asking?”

 D. Senthil Kannan,

  Managing Trustee, PALMS, Tuticorin.

  Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

  Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com