Those words have served as a guiding principle of my life. In our 24/7, pressure-cooker lives, so many of my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances believe they don’t have enough hours to devote to their own families, much less anyone else’s. As the economy rebounds, still others have again embraced the “I-have-to-get-more-than-the Joneses†attitude–which fosters an artificial competition in which they keep score through the acquisition of material things to validate their success. Many of us have become oblivious to the plight of the less fortunate and lost sight of the simple joy of giving back.
The nation as a whole has been in a less giving mood. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 26.3% of the population volunteered their time between September 2009 and September 2010, a drop of more than half a million people from the previous year.
I’m not suggesting that you spend less than the time required to support your family and build a nest egg. At Black Enterprise, we zealously promote our Wealth for Life principles so you can create a life of options. And we have never told our audience to apologize for achieving success, living well, and giving their family the best. I submit to you, however, that spending will not set you free. You will gain ultimate fulfillment not through the number of toys you’ve accumulated, but by the number of lives you’ve touched.
I recently told a friend that I really didn’t want for any material goods. He looked at me as if I were a brother from another planet. I wasn’t boasting, however; I am just grateful to have a wonderful, healthy family; a circle of close friends; a challenging, rewarding career; and the resources I need to
take care of my obligations. I also have the blessing of activities that nourish my soul, such as coaching a team in the AAU youth basketball league. My participation is not just about teaching kids the fundamentals of basketball and collecting tournament trophies. I get to share life lessons with a group of kids who have great potential. Some come from broken homes. Most have never flown on a plane, stayed at a hotel, or dined at a restaurant beyond the local fast-food joint. In my role, I offer them guidance and expose them to a world with infinite possibilities. The reward I receive is seeing these young men attend a four-year college and grow into productive citizens.(Continued on next page)
This spirit of giving must be passed on to the next generation. Indeed, I have done so with my own children. When
they were younger, our Christmas tree would be choked with gifts for them. One year, we decided they could select two gifts and the rest would be given to those of lesser means. At first, they wondered if this new approach to Christmas was a form of punishment. I am proud to say, however, that they quickly embraced our new tradition and I was pleasantly surprised by the joy they derived from sharing their good fortune with others.We must give back in ways both large and small. It must be more than the reflex action of watching thousands suffer after the earthquake in Haiti or tsunami in Japan. Yes, it’s vital that we support such humanitarian efforts in the wake of unthinkable tragedies. But we can’t stop there. While money is important, time is equally valuable. Devote time to serving at a soup kitchen,
teaching adults to read, or mentoring young people. Encourage your corporation to sponsor a worthwhile organization or philanthropic effort with sweat and muscle as well as dollars. If you contributed one hour each week, that’s just 52 hours out of the roughly 8,760 we’re all given each year. Within that time frame, you can do more than just help people. You can change lives.I strongly believe we must all be grateful for the gifts bestowed upon us and share them to create a better world because, as another well-known quote states, There but for the grace of God, go I. Whether you earn an annual salary of $50,000 or $500,000, you can offer your time, skills, and resources to improve the lot of others. All it requires is commitment. Believe me, you will find it one of your most enriching, exhilarating experiences.