The usual response to the question of "Are you a giver or a grabber?" is you would hope to be labelled a giver. But according to Craig Parkes a professor in Washington State University's Department of Psychology if you are not asking for much in return then you might be damaging your personal brand more than enhancing it.
In his Harvard Business Review article 'Your Most Helpful Colleague (Don't You Hate Him?), he offers that those who operate selflessly and work toward the collaborative success of the group are actually valued less by their colleagues, even to the point of being compared equally to the polar opposite self oriented types and generating a feeling that the group might be better off without them.
My first reaction would always be to be selfless, but I am admittedly less inclined to ask for help, I just question whether this is actually directly damaging to my personal brand or more damaging in that I am not realising the full value of what I contribute by asking for more help in return.
What is your experience, has being selfless or even selfish helped or hindered your career?
I rarely ask, so with this in mind and more so in the spirit of Christmas, I wanted to take a moment to share with you my intentions this holiday season in helping others. Generally every year from the fall onwards my family are involved in several initiatives, organized and spontaneous to make the holiday season more enjoyable for others less fortunate than many of us, including food drives, donating Canadian Tire money, sponsoring Christmas dinners etc.
This year I wanted to do something core to one of my personal brand values, so we are doing something more direct and looking to enrol as many like minded people we know who want to also get involved. My wife Keri runs her own direct sales operation for a skincare and wellness company called Arbonne and by working closely with the Salvation Army our goal is fill a Christmas tree with Angels!!! Each Angel on the tree will mean that a child has been provided with either toys, clothes, and or books. In order to do this however, we need your help!
So how exactly does the Arbonne Angel program work? When you purchase anything from their Holiday line we are offering FREE shipping, NO taxes and Keri will donate between 20-35% of the purchase to the Salvation Army Angel program. A gift will be provided and the Angel on the tree will bear your corporate name, own name or that of someone in your family.
If you or someone you know would like to take part in this program please pass on the information, I really appreciate your considering this, every purchase will mean one more child will be provided with a gift this holiday season.
Participating in this program is as easy as 1,2,3.
- Go to Keri's website, browse the holiday line and make your list along with the names to go on the Angel. Contact me for forms that list the products and numbers of angels each can purchase.
- Fill in the form and send back to me and then Keri will contact you to organise the order and delivery.
- Feel great in the knowledge that you have brought joy to a child this holiday season.
Thank you and we look forward to helping make your holiday season one filled with the joy giving.