What Do You Give to the Man Who Has Everything?
| 03 | Jul |
| 2012 |
I had a meeting recently with the former chairman of Goldman Sachs. You would
imagine him as the type of person who has everything that he wants and there's
nothing he can’t easily get, right? This is a man who’s all about New York. He
knows everybody.
At the very end of the meeting, I said, “This has been extraordinary valuable to me. Thank you so much for this discussion.” We had been talking about my foundation, Greenlight Giving. I said, “How long is your to-do list right now?” And he said, “Well, it’s interesting that you asked that, because I was just working on that list last week, and there are about 28 big things I need to be working on right now.”
I said, “Would you do me the biggest favor in the world and take one thing on that list that you think I could add any value to and please give me an assignment? Because I would love the ability to come back here again, and I frankly don’t feel like I have earned that right until I’m able to be of greater service to you. You’ve given me so much time.”
And he said, “Well, how about this. Stick around for the next hour. I’ve got a foundation meeting that’s happening, stick with me and I’ll give you a ton of things to do.” Be careful what you ask for! I’m glad that I did because it was an extraordinary opportunity to help, and he and I have spoken five times since.
The lesson: No matter who somebody is, you can find a way to contribute.
What has been your most unique, audacious, and generous offer of help, and how was it received?
At the very end of the meeting, I said, “This has been extraordinary valuable to me. Thank you so much for this discussion.” We had been talking about my foundation, Greenlight Giving. I said, “How long is your to-do list right now?” And he said, “Well, it’s interesting that you asked that, because I was just working on that list last week, and there are about 28 big things I need to be working on right now.”
I said, “Would you do me the biggest favor in the world and take one thing on that list that you think I could add any value to and please give me an assignment? Because I would love the ability to come back here again, and I frankly don’t feel like I have earned that right until I’m able to be of greater service to you. You’ve given me so much time.”
And he said, “Well, how about this. Stick around for the next hour. I’ve got a foundation meeting that’s happening, stick with me and I’ll give you a ton of things to do.” Be careful what you ask for! I’m glad that I did because it was an extraordinary opportunity to help, and he and I have spoken five times since.
The lesson: No matter who somebody is, you can find a way to contribute.
What has been your most unique, audacious, and generous offer of help, and how was it received?
PS: I told this story on
last week’s Social Capitalist call with Reid Hoffman. If you haven’t already, download the MP3 and
transcript here!
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Comments
Keith, Your thoughts
certainly do resonate and are much appreciated. Ten years ago, I brought my
business team together and wrote "Make A Difference" on the whiteboard. We spoke
about what it meant to us individually, as a team and as business and community
leaders. As easy as it is to erase a whiteboard, both it and the original
message survive today. Always leave the place (and the relationship) better than
you found it. How can I help?
Submitted by Tim Pfeiffer on Thu,
07/05/2012 - 13:48
Keith, yet another
outstanding post. I love reading these right away in the morning -- as they help
to start my day strong. As a business leader, constantly feeding your mind is
(in my experience) paramount to success. Your blogs are a must read for me.
thank you -- keep up the great work.
Submitted by Gene on Tue, 07/03/2012 -
07:49
I volunteer with the Boy
Scout program. However, the most wonderful offer I heard of is outlined in a
Hallmark movie "A Smile As Big as the Moon". It's about the teacher who took the
first class of special needs students to "Space Camp" which was normally
reserved advanced placement students. It shows that when you're dealing with
exceptional situations how people are willing to help. John
Poe.
Submitted by John Poe on Tue, 07/03/2012 -
17:48
Keith, that is good
experiences in ping ping networks.When you are confident, you can make a firend
with other people, either they belong to up or down classes. We can apply that
even in Vietnam. Cheers, Huan
Submitted by Nguyen Quang Huan on Wed,
07/04/2012 - 02:07
I just love your write
up. There are some people who are this world to add value to it, there are
others that just don't know what to do with that wich they are endowed with on
the other hand there are. Those who are not even aware of the resources that
they are created or born with at all. All we need to do is to make use of the
content and try by all means we can to recycle the containers for the containers
are a source of rooted advocacy for a better cause to the world. Remember, for
the fact that they are where they are today, it is good for continuity of
community work.
Submitted by Uever kelvin on Wed,
07/04/2012 - 03:14
Well, me and my
girlfriend have been togheter for more than 5 years and after a while the gifts
are a kind of problem. So, sometimes you have to use your imagination. My
girfriend, for example, gave me for my birthday a personalized song that she
made by herself (and the help of cancionespararegalar.com). It was a special and
personal gift and I love it.
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