Build with Clay #70: Generosity
A bi-weekly newsletter sparking personal growth
Hi, reader!
For his 7th birthday, our son received a math clock from his grandparents (yes, he’s a bit of a nerd and I love it). Each of the 12 numbers on the clock are represented by a math equation (e.g. 8*3/6). One of the numbers was 30^0 (30 to the 0 power). Without the context of the other numbers on the clock face, I would have had no idea what number this was.
Do you know what it is?
With that, welcome to the 70th newsletter! This one is all about Generosity.
A lesson.
I overheard my mom asking our neighbor for some salt.
We had salt at home so I asked her why she was asking.
She told me, "They don't have much money and they sometimes ask us for things. So I asked for something small that wouldn't burden them. I want them to feel as if we needed them too. That way, it will be much easier for them to ask us for anything they need."
Source: Original source unknown
A thought.
I grew up being told to save, save, save. Spend little, save lots - you’ll need it one day.
When I was in my late 20’s, I was proud of my ability to save money. It was a habit that was long engrained in me.
I also realized it was causing me to not be very generous. Sure, I’d give money to a few charities throughout the year, but admittedly it required mental effort - it was not a muscle I had built yet.
Over time, I worked on building the muscle. I still work on it today.
What’s helped is making a few thoughtful decisions in advance and then when I find myself with an opportunity to be generous, I can simply act. I made one decision that makes 1,000 decisions. For instance…
When a loved one asks for a donation to a cause close to their heart - I have a pre-determined amount that I give. No questions asked.
When a homeless person asks for money - I have a pre-determined amount that I give (if I have cash on me). If I don’t, I always try and introduce myself (thanks to Matt Brooks for this suggestion!)
When I order take-out - I have a pre-determined percentage that I tip the staff.
In all of these instances, I no longer have to internally wrestle with my frugal past. It allows me to build the muscle to take action, to be more generous and to be more present in some of these interactions.
Where do you find you’re not as generous as you’d like?
A quote.
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
- Anne Frank
I love this one! So on point