Givers vs.Takers

Have you noticed that the response to the downturn by some people is to become a hoarder? Some people hoard their wealth, their contacts, their compliments and everything else like a squirrel hoarding nuts before winter sets in.

Hoarding is a very natural defensive behavior to an expected period of shortage.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who have stepped up their sharing and giving to others. These people approach life, even in a downturn, with a philosophy that the world is abundant and prosperity comes to those who open themselves up to the world.

These people are givers, and are in sharp contrast to those who are takers in life. Givers share their contacts, their time, their expertise and even their money with others. They do so with a philosophy that was best summed up, for me, many years ago by Zig Ziglar:

"You can get whatever you want in life, if you will just help enough others get what they want."

I am so blessed to be surrounded by givers. They nourish me in so many ways. And, I am so grateful for their presence in my life. This is not by accident...for I walk through life with Zig Ziglar's sage advice top of mind.

Of course, we all want to be viewed as more like givers, than like takers. But, what are you? What would an honest friend say about you? What does the composition of your circle of relationships say about what you are?

Like in good times, I believe that prosperity will primarily flow to the givers, even in these tough times.

The choice of what you are is up to you.

Dennis Rodman Fired on Celebrity Apprentice Show by Donald Trump

With a busy consulting practice, and a very active speaking and writing calendar, watching TV is a relative rarity for me. My wife and I do enjoy watching Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday evening.

Last night's show was very poignant what with the high drama of a boardroom scene that featured a quasi-intervention for the benefit of Dennis Rodman, former NBA basketball star and famous showman.

Words will not do justice to what played out on tonight's show. Watching Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and some of the celebrities deal so lovingly with Dennis in an effort to start him on the path to dealing with what was portrayed as a real drinking problem was very moving. You can watch the Week #5 show online here. (One only has to view the last 15 minutes to see the drama and get the point.)

Reality TV certainly has a lot of modeling of bad behaviors that likely contribute to some of the sadder moments of our society. Kudos to producer Mark Burnett and Donald Trump for using the show as a platform for some positive role modeling - getting across the destruction of alcoholism and the beauty of friends who have the courage to do an intervention of someone needing help with their drinking.

The star of tonight’s episode was Jesse James, himself a recovering alcoholic. James has been impressing me every show for his stand-up style and brilliant creativity. But, tonight showed why Jesse is the class of the show.

I was particularly moved as I had spent the day planning an intervention with a friend who has started a downward spiral from another form of addiction.

In these tough times, many will unfortunately fall prey to addictive behaviors of all kind.

Getting a loved one, friend or employee to professional help for their addictive behavior is so, so important.

A list of some of the leading helpful resources is displayed half-way down on the right column of this blog.

Getting someone the help they need will bring you a prosperity far beyond what money will likely ever bring you. And, that is what this blog is all about.

Watching a friend in a downward spiral from addictive behaviors? Learn how to do an intervention and get your friend some help.

Leaking Money Like a Sieve

Is your business or the business of your employer leaking money like a sieve?

I am continually amazed at how often I see businesses that are concerned about not having enough business, while at the very same time they are destroying that business that they do have.

Previously, I posted about the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas as an example of this situation. Since that post, I received communication from other guests having similar problems. (And, the Bellagio has chosen to never respond to my follow-up communication with executive management. Amazing!)

Now, my point is not, per se, the Bellagio. It is about businesses just leaking money like a sieve.

Let me give you another example. I am a huge fan of the free newsletter, Early to Rise. I like their free content, respect their paid programs, and I have long admired their business.

I signed up for a year long program they sponsored with consultant Bob Cox. I enjoyed year of Cox's program and in December received notice that if I wanted to continue in the program, I did not have to do anything, my charge card would continue to be billed monthly.

Come January, I noticed communication from Cox had stopped (and so too had the monthly charge). When I received nothing in February, I became concerned and so I submitted an online trouble ticket. As I recall, their site said I would hear back within a week. Two weeks later, I had heard nothing.

So, this time I called customer service, rather than using their non-responsive online customer help function. The customer service rep was very nice and after some research said that the problem was my credit card had failed to go through. Interestingly, they apparently don’t send out an automated notice when a car is declined (which in long programs can happen for things as simple as needing an updated card expiration date). I must admit I don't check every month on these types of programs to see to it that the card they have is still valid.

So, I tell the customer service rep that I want to continue with the program and give him a current credit card. It is now a couple of weeks later and I have heard nothing from the program. When I get my credit card statement, I will find out if they are billing me and, if so, start the customer service process again.

How silly. More accurately, how sad! This is a multi-million dollar business leaking money. Driving away a client who likes their product as result of apparently lacking adequate back-end systems (of the form that businesses 1/100 their size routinely have).

My point is not to attack Early To Rise. I am using them as a real example of another fine company that has bad service problems. Something I see every day.

Is your business leaking money? Is your business driving away customers who want to do business with you?

PS This is just another example of the opportunities in these tough times. How about being a money leak fixer for businesses?

Help for Laid Off Employees

As the unemployment situation grows...and I believe it will continue to get worse before it gets better, each of us is likely to have a relative, close friend or neighbor who experiences the trauma of losing their job at this time when jobs are so hard to find.

We face to two choices with these friends...we can turn the other way and make like we don't see their misfortune, or we can extend a helping hand.

Ron Leiber recently wrote a terrific column in the New York Times on this subject: Layoff's Duty to The Less Fortunate. Beyond Ron's thoughtful list of tips, he has posted a a fine list of recommendations from Amy Baker that originated from a time when she was laid off.

Because I am so grateful for my very active consulting business and compassionate about those losing their job for no reason of their own doing, I have chosen to extend the helping hand, rather than just turn away and ignore the problem.

My personal focus with people in this situation is to inquire about the support network they have in place.

Ultimately, getting re-employed is more than a one person task in these trying times.

It is critical that a person quickly put in place the right support team and make good use of such a team. The role of the right team is to provide both emotional support and substantive assistance.

Amy Baker's list is so good that I will now also use her wonderful list in my efforts to help friends in this situation.

Here is the wonderful thing about helping people who have been laid off. Not only will you be helping your friends, but you will also experience a sense of gratitude that will help you in many dimensions of your own life.

Prospering in tough times is about more than just hoarding the largest pile of money in these tough times!