Generosity *

To give and not to count the cost...
Except that of knowing that I do your will.
- St. Ignatius Loyola, Prayer for Generosity

A thought-provoking question from Seth Godin:

"If you didn't want anything in return, nothing at all, what's the most generous thing you could do for your best customer, your best friend, your most important prospect?"

For the best customer, I would likely give her or him a discount. Or probably an extra serving.

For a best friend, just to spend time with him or her, I would perhaps walk with him or her until he or she reaches his or her destination even if I am supposedly going the other way.

And for an important prospect, I would probably give her flowers and chocolates. But then I still could think of a more generous or perhaps romantic act like conspiring with high school friends to serenade her some time. Then again I could think of some more and the answers could go endless.

Though some things remain unanswered. Given that I am simply human, why would I not want anything in return? Because consciously or unconsciously, I want something in return either in the short run or in the long run.

Supposing that I do not want anything in return so I say that I give what is needed. If I specify that I give what is needed, then I am implying in a certain degree that I do not give just anything if it is only wanted. If it is needed, then I provide. If it is only wanted, then I do otherwise. The need-vs.-want scenario gives the impression then that I unconsciously want something in return. A condition is set - that I give only if it is needed. So that the answer "giving what is needed" is a kind that wants something in return.

Now, I usually do not want anything in return if I give to the person who has already given me something. Since the question speaks about giving to a best customer, a friend and a most important prospect, then there has been an established premise already that the concerned people have given me something. That is why I call them best and important. That is why I call someone a friend. I am being generous to the said people because of a prepaid generosity. But supposing that they did otherwise, I guess everything changes.

The real question then is, what could be the most generous thing one could do to complete strangers without expecting or wanting anything in return?

In contrast with an Online Tutoring service, I would probably give free tutoring to street kids.

But what if I give free tutoring just to feel good about myself? With it, I am already wanting or expecting something in return. So I guess motivation plays an important as well when giving.

* A post dedicated to a friend who each time says, "Always count your blessings."