Give and Take

What Would Your Life Be Like…
…if you had no debt; if you possessed vibrant health; if you did what you wanted to do; if your relationships were amazing; if you were focused and driven; if you celebrated life everyday; if you made meaningful contribution; if you had authentic happiness; if you lived your life like you only get one?

A number of years ago one of the “hot topics” in both education and industry was “continual quality improvement” or CQI. In a effort to introduce the concepts of quality in academia, a CQI course was added to most of the curriculums in our school, so that students would be exposed to the principles taught by Dr. Edward Demings, the father of the quality movement. The premise of CQI is one of a conscious awareness that almost everything can be improved: manufacturing processes, medical procedures, personal skills, relationships; you name it. It’s really not a bad idea to have an attitude of continual improvement both professionally and personally, even if you have no idea of what CQI is. Actually, one of the principles that I have espoused for most of my life is simply this: there must be a better way to do ________. There almost always is. Some people have discovered better ways to build things, make things, fix things, or even break things. And they have made a handsome living doing it. Of course, some people could care less. Just different kinds of people, I guess.

I mention the whole CQI thing because I think there are basically two kinds of people: those who are driven to make the world a better place for themselves and for others (the GIVERS), and those who aren’t (the TAKERS). During a conversation last week with a friend, we agreed that the TAKERS are usually looking for a handout of some kind, trying to find a way to get out of doing their share of the work, or just complaining about how bad they have it. Of course the GIVERS are usually contributing to the community, or helping someone solve a problem, or even attempting to solve a really big problem, like world hunger.

But everything needs to be put into perspective once in a while. Perhaps taking isn’t always a bad thing. In some cases, it’s a really good thing, especially when you’re not taking from someone else. Here’s a few examples of when taking can be absolutely fine.

TAKE responsibility for your own financial future. Read. Study. Attend a seminar. Ask questions. Plan ahead. You get the drill.

TAKE charge of a situation, especially one that’s on a downhill slide. Maybe you are dealing with serious debt, and you’re getting those scary phone calls. Take charge and be proactive rather than reactive. One thing is certain: the problem isn’t going to fix itself.

TAKE advantage of better deals regarding your money, like the interest rate for an online savings account (around 10 times higher than a traditional one).

TAKE care of your health. Eat better. Exercise every day, even if it means just parking your car farther away from the door and walking. Ideally, you should consider walking for 30 minutes every morning. Breathe the fresh air, stretch your muscles, and clear your mind.

TAKE interest in someone else’s problem. Say what? That’s right, make it your mission to discover something someone is struggling with, and offer your assistance.

TAKE time to have fun with important people. Like your parents. And your kids. Nobody ever said they wished they’d spent more time at the office.

TAKE someone you hardly know out for lunch. Huh? I’m not talking about someone you have a romantic interest in. I’m talking about someone you don’t know very well at all. Maybe someone at work, church, or someone in your neighborhood. Share a pizza. If you need an excuse, here’s a good one: “I’m looking for a few new friends, and I was hoping you were too.”

These are the kinds of TAKERS who are true GIVERS. I remember years ago when I had gotten in trouble and my father had to come get me. He didn’t say anything to me on the way home. Finally when we pulled in the driveway he turned to me and said, “Boy, there’s a lot of good people in this world. You just have to find them.” I learned a lot that day. I learned about GIVERS and TAKERS.

If you’d like to ask a question, I’d love to hear from you; email me: drh@justimagineseminars.com. Until next time, I’m Dr. H. K. Holevinsky for www.justimagineseminars.com.