Have you ever imagined a world where you live your life based on serving others?

This not an article about how to become care worker, but about a concept you may have heard of if you are a small business owner that makes the journey at the ungodly hour of 6.30am for a BNI business networking meeting; that is the concept of ‘Giver’s Gain’.

The group founded in the US by Ivan Misner in 1985, is based on the simple principle that the more you help other businesses the more your business will grow, or in other words- the more you give the more you receive.

The concept is not exclusively a BNI concept; it permeates through all good networking groups today. We have heard the mantra repeated in self development history from Deepak Chopra novels to The Secret. They all suggest the universe conspires to return to you what you have given, sometimes in a very direct manner.

This must mean that in the true essence of these principles, if you desire to purchase your dream car, the ideal job may be to help others get it, for example by becoming a car salesperson or selling car financing options, right? Well, for those who don’t want to change their career, you could simply help someone else earn the money for them to get their ideal car. This may sound a little wishy-washy but with the right attitude it works.

And so how are these fundamentals of Giver’s Gain expressed in these meetings?

A person of each business or profession gathers business referrals for the others in the hope that their generosity is reciprocated. And it very much is. Many business owners swear by it and their profits increase as a result.

The best part is that it creates a supportive environment for people and businesses to grow. The positioning of each person geared up to do their best to help others reconditions them to be giving and caring, whether intentional or not. The environment is fertile ground for new ideas, learning and sharing. Isn’t this what most organisations big or small strive to achieve?

What can we gain from this?

Well, many people seem to think that to get ahead in business you have to be hard and cut throat but I've found that the opposite is true. And business is a lot more enjoyable when you feel like you're working with others instead of trampling all over them.

So if you own a small business and want your business to grow, get networking and help others. Contact me to put you in touch with a BNI group near you.