This time of year, it’s common to think about giving. The holiday season seems to be designed to tap our guilt and elicit generosity.

Which is fine, I suppose. But if this attitude is just limited to a custom we do once a year, then it’s really not much more important than shooting fireworks on the 4th of July.

A nice experience, but then we move back to “normal life” – whatever that is.

I’d like you to consider that generosity can be a philosophy OF life, something which we naturally do as a part of our decision-making process. It comes from an outlook of abundance rather than scarcity.

And in the business context, it comes from expanding our view beyond just boss-and-employee or customer-and-supplier.

This expanded view refers to people as “stakeholders” – everybody who could possibly be impacted by what the business does. It also includes:

  • Industry partners
  • Competitors
  • Press and analysts
  • Channel partners
  • People who support you and your team as living, meaningful humans
  • The larger community
  • Even the whole planet if you wish

The list is only limited by your imagination and intentions.

So what does this have to do with generosity and giving? Well, it’s the desire to create as many win-win-win-win outcomes as you can. You realize that when others do this, YOU benefit. And when YOU do it, others benefit. Even when you can’t specifically point to a chain of cause and effect for how that happens.

For instance, one of the things which makes my life more meaningful is my love of music. For this I have to thank my parents and teachers over the years. Also other musicians including my church’s director of music. And a good friend who dragged me into exploring new directions in my musician and leadership skills.

Many of these people aren’t even aware of the impact they had on my life. But it’s real, and it makes my life much better. I’d like to hope that I do the same for others.

The bottom line? Help others to lead more fulfilling lives, and you’ll benefit also. Call it karma if you wish.