Giving Back

Posted by: Viviana | Posted on: June 11, 2008 | Comments 17

I’m a career woman seeking success in my career and balance in my life. In other words, if fwm was not a place that I was interested in visiting as a community member, I wouldn’t work here. One of the things that made it apparent to me that this was a place where I would feel at home was when I learned that a portion of fwm will be dedicated to the concept of "Giving Back."

This means many things to many people, and we would certainly like to hear from you--What do you do in your life to give to others? Do you mentor someone who is just starting out? Donate to a charity? Work to make your home and workplace a little greener?

Cami Walker is doing something extraordinary to give to others. She started the 29 Day Giving Challenge. She encourages others to do these two simple things with her:

Give one thing away each day for 29 days. Share your stories about how it impacts your life to focus on giving.

Your giving could be money, smiles, help, encouragement, anything. She has set up a wonderful community on Ning (I’m on there--look me up and say hello!) where people can blog about their personal 29 Day Challenge.

When I learned of this I decided that my first act of giving would be to invite as many others as I could to join. I excitedly emailed friends and fellow fwm staffers. I had to laugh shortly afterwards when Katie Riegel, one of our editors, reminded me that she had emailed me about the 29 Day Giving Challenge weeks ago after reading about it on fwm expert contributor Erin Doland’s Unclutterer blog. There is nothing new about Katie (or Erin) being way ahead of me on a great concept…in fact this would make a great blog post about making sure you never take credit for someone else’s idea…

In the meantime, give away and make sure you tell us about it!

Related tags: charity, community, giving-back

17 people have responded so far. Add your comment below.
Cami said:
06.11.08 7:27 p.m.
Thanks for helping spread the word about the challenge. Enjoy your 29 Days!
Kathryn Sollmann said:
06.11.08 9:31 p.m.
I'm a co-founder of Women@Work Network (www.womenatworknetwork.com) & we often tell both current & returning professionals that there are many ways to "do well by doing good". In other words, just because you get paid for a certain job, it doesn't mean that you aren't "doing good" or helping someone. It's not only the obvious "helping" careers like doctors, nurses and social workers that provide help. I once was in the investment business and writing books to help employees across America invest their 401(k)s wisely. There's a huge retirement funding crisis in the U.S. & many people will outlive their money--our books helped people get their finances in order. Yet, those looking for "meaning" in their careers might assume a job in the investment world is all about money & greed--& not about helping. The bottom line is that when people are looking for careers that have "meaning" they have to think more broadly.
Viviana said:
06.11.08 10:28 p.m.
@Cami, welcome and THANK YOU for all that you are doing! @Kathryn, welcome to you, too--thank you for such an insightful comment. I agree that we can find meaning in a great many careers. Your website looks wonderful--I plan to go back and visit again to do some more reading!
Karen Graves said:
06.12.08 10:28 a.m.
Viviana, what a wonderful initiative! Thanks for sharing! One thing I have begun to do and will now do more often is give compliments. As a coach, I have come to realize how much people like to be acknowledged. It can be for something they wear, do, or say. It doesn't matter, people like to know that other people appreciate them and notice them. I make a point, with sincerity, to compliment others. I have yet to see where a compliment has not made someone's day. One key to a compliment is to avoid saying, "I love your dress." That makes it about you. Instead, "That is a beautiful dress. The color compliments your skin tone," shows the person that you are acknolwedging her fashion sense. It is a small change in wording that makes all of the difference in the world. Try it and see how it feels. Thanks again! I will be sure to keep on giving and am now inspired to create more ways to give. What a fabulously motivating idea!
Andrea Kay said:
06.12.08 10:37 a.m.
I noticed that at the end of the day, I am most energized by the connection I had with another person that day. "I talked to so-and-so...we made plans to talk about such-and-such project"--that's what I tell my husband about when we share what happened at the end of the day. Many of my clients (who are in career transition) are struggling to find ways to connect with people--their most valuable and rewarding resource. So I give back by doing something every day to bring someone together with someone else. I tell Sue she should talk to Bob and pass on their contact information (with Bob's permission, of course.) Then, a couple times a year I organize big get-to-gethers with neighbors or people who I think would like each other. Since I was little, I've always liked introducing people to each other. It just seems like people should know each other. And it just happens to be a way I can naturally give to others.
Viviana said:
06.12.08 11 a.m.
@Karen, welcome and thanks for bringing up one of my favorite Praise points: BE SPECIFIC and really acknowledge something about that person. It means so much more that way. Have you ever had a boss who repeated "Great job!" like a mantra? :-) . @Andrea, connecting people is a great skill, and I love the way all of the web 2.0 tools facilitate that for us. Even more, as a web community person, I love how at the end of the day it is still just PEOPLE connecting. Without the "Andrea's" of the world, the tools would be worthless.
Laura Lopez said:
06.12.08 11:19 a.m.
Leadership is about giving. We can inspire others by being present and giving them our full attention. Attention is one of the greatest gifts we can give to others. When we do so, we lead. We all have attention to give, so everyone can start today. Whether at work or at home, use your attention wisely and give it to others.
Mark Goulston said:
06.12.08 1:41 p.m.
Thank you Viviana. I attended Memorial Day services at the Los Angeles National Cemetery. The Mayor of Los Angeles and actor/Marine Hugh O'Brien spoke. O'Brien said we were their to honor the "who who gave some and the some who gave all" so that the rest of us could be free. I watched as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts carried the pictures of men and women soldiers who had been killed in Iraq and had been buried at the cemetery. I saw the proud soldiers in their dress uniforms from recent wars to Vietnam and WW II. I decided it was not enough to honor those who have made such a sacrifice, they need to be paid back with the best chance to re-enter society and have a successful, happy and meaningful life. To that end I am starting an organization to help returning soldiers and families of those killed in action to get back on their feet. I am BTW the author of "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for Dummies" and you can check out more about me at: http://markgoulston.com.
Viviana said:
06.12.08 2:53 p.m.
@Laura, welcome! I would add to your excellent point about attention: whoever it is, and no matter their age or intelligence level, we may be assured that the person to whom we do *not* give our full attention, knows it! @Dr. Mark, of all the things you do, give, share, and write, I believe the PTSD work is the one that touches me the most. I have a close relative who suffers from it, and yours is some of the most forthright and just plain useful advice out there. This Reuters guest blog you wrote is a useful read for anyone close to a PTSD sufferer, or anyone likely to encounter a returning serviceman or woman (in other words, all of us): http://tinyurl.com/5jtqjz
Emma Haller said:
06.12.08 3:48 p.m.
By giving every day we not only feel happy and have more positive thoughts. A well known fact is positive thoughts bring back positive energy. The best thing you can give is a piece of yourself, your time, your thoughts or even just a smile.
Tricia Molloy said:
06.12.08 4:30 p.m.
I love it and just signed up! Thanks for sharing this. I'll promote it on my blog and I put my "badge" on the Resources page of my website. I got a headstart on giving earlier in the day when I paid for a stranger's lunch in the drive-through of Arby's. It's a random act of kindness that stays with you. Try it!
Working Girl said:
06.12.08 4:44 p.m.
What a lovely concept. I think we all give in many ways every day (at least I hope so), but to make it intentional, to put a number to it, adds an extra special oomph to the act. I never had children but I do have several young women friends (young enough to be my daughters), who often come for advice. I suspect I say exactly what their own mothers would say, but since it's NOT coming from their mothers they tend to give it more credence (sad but true!). It's good to give, wherever, whenever, whoever. It puts you in touch with the circle of life. It connects you to others--important in this scattered age of "virtual" relationships and working from home. Oh, and I also try to be kind to old ladies. Building up karma--we'll all be old ladies someday (won't we?) and when it comes let's hope some younger person will notice when we can't reach the top grocery shelf or are having trouble figuring out the bus schedule.........!
Viviana said:
06.13.08 9:18 a.m.
@Tricia, I left a comment on your 29 Days page. Thanks for signing up, and especially for promoting it on your website! I knew that you would be interested--this fits in so well with your message. @Karen (Working Girl), I know exactly what you mean...my neice is one of my favorite little people, and I can see that when I confirm something her mother says, a little ah-ha! light comes on, as if "This must be true if someone besides mom thinks so!"
Renata said:
06.13.08 10:42 p.m.
One of my favorite lines in a song is "...it's the gratitude I feel for all that's right" (Sara Groves, "This Peace"). This whole concept of intentionally giving back deeply resonates with me. As a society, we -- and our children -- are surrounded by media and messages that easily can convince us we're loners in a world of toil and trouble. But truth is, most people want to do good, want to see good, want to acknowledge good. And the more time each of us devotes to turning up the volume on what's right, the greater effect we can have on changing the culture around us. I'm grateful for all that is good and right -- and for those in this world who believe in creating, seeking and celebrating it with me.
Vicki Salemi said:
06.14.08 6:10 p.m.
Viviana, thanks so much for sharing! This topic couldn't be more appropriate. I feel like often times when I give - whether it's my time, giving someone career advice, connecting them with a media professional, whatev - I often get a sense of gratification as a wonderful byproduct from their gratitude.
Jennifer Bourgoyne said:
06.16.08 12:53 a.m.
Hi Viviana, You are doing such a good thing just by spreading the word about this challenge. So glad you are involved and having fun with it! Continued success here on FWM! Best, Jennifer Bourgoyne
Viviana said:
06.16.08 8:06 a.m.
@Vicki, Hello! I just visited bigapplebytes.com yesterday because I felt like hearing your background music. :-) . . . @Jennifer, thank you and you're welcome!! If it weren't for you getting the word out, I wouldn't be on board. This is the best thing the Web 2.0 has to offer--real connections that matter.
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