“Today Matters” Part XII – Book Review

Book Review 12 – Today Matters by John Maxwell

Generosity: I will plan for and model generosity daily, because my generosity gives me significance

If your income doubled overnight, how much money would you give away?

Don’t you have the right to keep whatever money you earn – or inherit for that matter? Of course you do. But what you have the right to do isn’t the point. What would be best for you to do? How should you approach giving?

Why generosity matters today?

               Giving turns your focus outward. No one likes to be around people who think only of themselves. In contrast, nearly everyone enjoys being around people who are giving

               Giving adds values to others. In this life, the measure of a person isn’t the number of people who serve him or the amount of money he amasses; it’s how many people he serves. The greater your giving, the greater your living

               Giving helps the giver. You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you. And you can’t light another’s path without casting light on your own

Making the decision to plan for and model generosity daily

Decide that you will live to give. Greatness is not defined by what a person receives, but by what that person gives.

               Give others your money. If you give money to people, either directly or through a worthy charity, you will care about people more. And that will help to foster a more generous spirit in you. Andrew Carnegie said “No man becomes rich unless he enriches others”

               Give others yourself. What do people often value more than your money? The answer is your time and attention. What takes greater effort: writing a check or giving your time? Money may buy stuff, but a good mentor buys a better future.

Managing the discipline of Generosity

Decide that “Every day I will add value to others”

               Don’t wait for prosperity to become generous. A person’s level of income and their desire to give have nothing to do with one another. People give not from the top of their purses, but from the bottom of their hearts. If you desire to become a more generous person, don’t wait for your income to change. Change your heart.

               Find a reason to give every day. It may be easy to find reasons not to give. But it’s just as easy to find good reasons to give. You just need to look for them.

               Find people to receive every day. People in need of help are all around us. “Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can”