Venice and the Power of Giving

So what does Venice have to do with the Power of Giving?  Well for me it is where I decided to pass on something I think is really cool, and share this beautiful photo. For the kids that are going to receive it means that they may just get to do something as cool for them as Venice is for me.

After meeting Tim Ferriss last week I began reading his blog. And he is doing something pretty cool for his 33rd birthday (See his unusual $100,000 birthday request).  He is asking for people to donate $33 to a charity focused on helping students who have never been on a field trip before.  He has also offered to match the total amount of the giving up to $100,000 from his own pocket.   I am interested in this for 2 reasons:

1. I love to see kids expand who they are. And travel, whether to Venice or to the science museum or the aquarium in your own city, is wildly mind expanding. Especially when it is the first time, and
2. I am interested in experimenting with the power of linking.

I know we are all familiar with something going ‘viral’.  The photo taken by a tourist, the YouTube video that hits a social mood, or even a tweet heard around the world.  But the statistics on anything truly becoming viral are about as good as winning the lottery.  My goal is NOT to make this viral.  Rather, my goal is to make it intentional.  I would like to see if it is possible to create a consistent shared goal which is both realistic and predictable.  So here is my contribution to Tim’s challenge.

I invite all of you to contribute to Tim’s goal as well, and for each dollar that my clients and friends contribute I will also match that all the way up to Tim’s $100,000 mark!  What this means is that Tim will then match your dollar and my dollar!  The math on that means that for every dollar you give, $4 dollars actually get received.  That is powerful.

To get my team started I have already given $3,300.  I also wanted to see how easy it was, and it was VERY EASY.  To keep track of our match, when you give please forward me the confirm email you receive so I can tally it up and match all the gifts.  Also please do it now, as Tim’s challenge is only through Sunday night.  And there really is no moment but now.

Finally, I would like to say a word about giving.  All transactions are aimed at nothing but a feeling.  The car, the watch, even the house we buy all trigger a specific feeling, and all of these are important.   I recommend that you experience every feeling related to money possible–without guilt.  However, what I have noticed is that the feeling associated with giving has a lingering effect which is totally unique.  The feeling of the new computer, phone, car and even house fades within hours, days or weeks at best.  The feeling associated with giving seems to linger on and on for months and even years.  I think its because the watch can’t give back to you, but a person can.  The energy becomes reciprocal, even if you never meet the receiver.  And the bigger the gift, the more power that lingering seems to have.

If it’s been awhile since you have felt that, or haven’t noticed it before, then I encourage you to Give Now.  And if you really want to test out what I am saying, make a gift that seems just a little on the big side of normal for you.  Then just watch how you feel.  I’m smiling right now 🙂

Doug