Generosity And Gratitude... The Gifts That Keep On Giving.

What's forever old is forever new. 

Orison Swett Marden was an American inspirational author who wrote about achieving success in life and founded SUCCESS magazine in 1897. 

To quote Orison,

“We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest.”

Can a generous giver of heart succeed in a sales world riddled with unscrupulous, fake, and disingenuous people?

Is the act of generosity, the secret to long term sales success?

What does it mean to be truly generous?

Does one act generously because they truly want to help other people, or for the attention and approval? 

"Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for generosity, your mind for gratitude, and your heart for love."

Susan Ballinger

I ask you to stop for a moment, reread the above quote, and now think about your clients.

Are you using your voice for kindness?

Are you using your ears for compassion?

Are you using your hands for generosity?

Are you using your mind for gratitude?

Are you using your heart for love?

Deep stuff and it should be. Your clients are the lifeblood, the conduit to your long-term sustainability in sales. So, my question to all of you...

Why do so many in sales struggle to be givers of heart with their clients?

I listen to and follow the message of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast. I am inspired by his message because it ties directly into my values and the values here at Selling From the Heart.

In his recent message titled the Generosity Plan, 3 Qualities of Generous People, Pastor Craig Groeschel shared:

• Generous people give willingly
• Generous people give proportionately 
• Generous people give sacrificially

You can watch his entire message by clicking the hyperlink above, but to paraphrase his message...

If you only give spontaneously, you will never be great at generosity.

There is a massive difference between giving and being generous. As giving is actually an action, but generosity is a mindset.

Giving is what we do, generous is who we are.

I ask you to reflect upon the above message, and now ask yourself... What can I do to close the gap between my actions and my intentions?

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 

Proverbs 11:25

Again, I'm asking you to think about your clients as you imagine generosity and gratitude as seeds. You sow these seeds by giving freely, whether it’s your time, resources, or kindness. 

Just like planted seeds germinate, grow, and yield a bountiful harvest, your generosity will trigger a tangible chain reaction with your clients.

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.

Proverbs 11:24 (NKJV)

GENEROSITY AND GRATITUDE... IT'S A CHOICE

We all have choices. I 100% believe you are responsible for how you show up.

It's not your manager, leader nor your company's responsibility, it's yours.

Therefore, how are you showing up for clients?

How are you showing up for your friends, family and even the company you work for?

Are you proactively leading your life with gratitude and generosity, or are you randomly reacting to it? Stop for a moment and think about what I just said. 

When you choose to plant the gratitude and generosity seeds, you will reap the massive revenue harvest that follows.

The words of Robert Louis Stevenson offer the perfect analogy.

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

Your daily actions define you. Therefore, what are you planting?

What you plant becomes your pathway to progress. The small daily seeds of gratitude and generosity soon blossom into tomorrow's revenue harvest.

Again, you all have choices. When it comes to your clients and your relationship with them, becoming generous and expressing your gratitude builds relational strength.

This shows you care. Here at Selling from the Heart, we refer to this as giving a rip.

Expressing gratitude reciprocates the kindness shared and felt in your relationship. 

Expressing gratitude celebrates the positive in your relationship, bringing the both of you closer together.

Expressing gratitude opens the door to more relationships.

Expressing gratitude helps you network with your clients.

Expressing gratitude paves the way for more future acts of kindness.

“True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations.” 

Suze Orman

GENEROUS PROFESSIONALS GIVE OF THEIR MIND

In times of uncertainty, it's no surprise that kindness, compassion, gratitude and generosity become really good for our immune system.

Adopt this type of a mindset and your sales world will dramatically shift. 

What's inside your heart?

The more you give of yourself the more you find yourself.

In the weeds of chaos, we must be willing to give. What's does a relationship with your clients look like without giving and becoming generous? 

A relationship is a two-way street. Don’t just talk about yourself to your clients, truly give yourself to your clients. And don’t be shy about it. 

• Are you willing to give of your knowledge?
• Are you willing to give of your time?
• Are you willing to give of your resources?

Let's all think for a moment... Would small acts of generosity, thoughtfulness and kindness make a difference in the lives of your client's?

GENEROUS PROFESSIONALS GIVE OF THEIR HEART

Heartfelt professionals focus on making a real difference while having a positive impact on others.

Heart is a place where one develops and gains strength. Those who embrace their heart will grow in purpose, profit and impact. Those who embrace heart will strengthen their client relationships with many stakeholders, producing long-lasting results.

To give of your heart, you must commit to serving others. This means you must walk, talk, live and breathe every aspect of a servant.

If you struggle to become transparent with yourself then you will struggle being transparent with your clients.

Heartfelt professionals are humble, genuine and sincere. They roll up their emotional sleeves.

These professionals measure success not by their commission check but on the impact they've made on their clients.

• Compassion over commission.
• Empathy over empty suits!

Right now, at this very moment, I guarantee your clients are asking so much more of you than they ever have before. They're holding you to a higher degree of accountability. 

If you fail to nourish and continually bring your mind and your heart to them, I flat out guarantee that somebody else will eagerly step right in.

What would happen if you got to the heart of what matters with your clients? 

Stop reading this for a moment, grab a sheet of paper, write down and answer the following:

What are three ways I can connect at the heart level with my clients?

ARE YOU COMMUNICATING WITH GENEROSITY?

Take a moment and reflect upon these questions...

• When's the last time you thanked your clients for doing business with you? And I mean sincerely thanked them for doing business with you.
• When's the last time you thanked your clients because they put their trust in you?
• When's the last time you thanked your clients for the opportunity to serve them?

"No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude."

Alfred North Whitehead

Heartfelt professionals acknowledge that gratitude ignites relational growth which in turn drives gains in real revenue.

Some of the best people I know, have a healthy appreciation and an overwhelming abundance of gratitude.

They're committed to practicing gratitude daily. They communicate it daily. They live a thankful lifestyle.

Hang around me long enough and you will hear me drop a quote from Don Barden and his book, "The Perfect Plan".

The elite 1% lead themselves as servants. They know the answers to these three questions before they ever make a presentation to a client or those they lead...

"If I am to serve this person, will it be right for them personally, professionally, and in their spirit?"

Don goes onto say,

"If so, then and only then will I present myself to them with an attitude of gratitude, real education, and ease of doing business, because that is what servants do."

What is your attitude towards gratitude?

Gratitude and generosity drive real revenue growth that is sustainable and will stand the test of relational time.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

This is the power behind generosity and gratitude. When you mindfully practice generosity, you soon meet with its joyful, healing power.

When you commit your heart and mind to generosity, this will allow you to see things from the point of view of what you have and what you must give, instead of seeing it from the perspective of what you don’t have and desperately want. 

Being generous is inherently not about us. 

Generosity and gratitude are not random acts to help get you noticed. It's something you cultivate daily. 

Think about your clients... 

• Be generous with your attention when you’re listening to them.
• Be generous in celebrating their happiness.
• Be generous with your compliments and praise for them.
• Be generous with your unconditional respect for them.
• Be generous with your willingness to be helpful as you guide them to better business.

I will leave you all with this to think about... 

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:5

Originally Published on Larry Levine's LinkedIn.