I unexpectedly coined a concept years back, which I called “The Hour of Giving.” I wrote about it in both Freelance to Freedom and The Wealth of Connection.
The Hour of Giving started because I got so tired of all of the journals, prompts, and courses that taught people to focus on what they wanted when they started their day. This idea started as something that was intended to be a good and helpful idea, but what I noticed was a bunch of entrepreneurs and wantrapreneurs so focused on what they wanted that they became incredibly self involved.
Who would have thought that excessively focusing on what you want would help you become more selfish?
I’ve always valued connection. So I’m hypersensitive to actions that appear with extreme self interest. Oh, and I’m a former champion of the “The Most Selfish Person In The World” award, so I have insider information.
So to combat this, I challenged it. I started doing The Hour of Giving.
Which meant that my first hour of work in the day wasn’t about me or my goals. It was simply about giving and connecting with others. I would do unexpected reach outs to current clients, friends and acquaintances. I would write thank you notes. I’d leave reviews. I’d connect people together.
I’d do all of the things that I really appreciate other people doing for me.
And something amazing happened. Without looking for it, good things started happening back. I would get introductions to high-level people in other networks. I would be asked to be interviewed on podcasts. I would get people asking about what I did. After conversions, I would get excited new members. Most importantly, I would get appreciation from people who don’t often hear from people out of the blue without being sold to.
But it never started with me asking for these things. And I made sure that that was never the expectation of my doing what I did.
I began teaching this to others many years ago. And they all had similar experiences. I taught it so much that it became the foundational piece of the roadmap that we created for our members in our online community called Membership Freedom. We have a full course created for it. Building a Wealth of Connection through The Hour of Giving is the most important habit that you will develop in business, I asserted.
That’s why I wrote about it in both of my books. It’s a foundational piece of this puzzle. So you might imagine that I am thrilled each time that someone reaches out to me unexpectedly to tell me about their Hour of Giving testimonial.
Matt Pasant, who might be the biggest Rocky fan you will ever meet, sent me a handwritten note after he read The Wealth of Connection. We connected shortly after, and formed a friendship from there. Matt has since joined Membership Freedom, but before he did so, he sent me this note. After reading the book, Matt began doing The Hour of Giving for himself. I wanted to share his note with you, so you can read it yourself.
Vincent,
To say the “Hour of Giving” has been transformational in my life would be an understatement. As a self-confessed member of the “4am Club”, I’ve long enjoyed having time in my morning to read, write, plan (about me). After reading about the “Hour of Giving”, my focus shifted from me to spending time each day helping or connecting with others.
After reconnecting with a former customer who had recently taken a new position, I spent time in the Hour of Giving by dropping him a note and congratulating him on his new position. I also thanked him for his trust in me when we worked together previously. Fast forward one week later and I received an email saying he’d like to engage in conversations on a $250,000 plus project with his new company. This would not have happened without the hour of giving and thinking more about my clients’ success and new job than pitching my offerings.
The postscript to this story is, as our conversations continued, an executive connected with this prospect rang me unexpectedly, “Matt, I am leaving the company, buying my own and I want your company to work with my new company”. Another multi-hundred thousand dollar opportunity.
It is amazing what happens when you stop to think of others before yourself.
Best,
Matt
I’ll just leave it right there for this week. I’m not sure there’s much more to say.
Before I go, I want to challenge you to start your own Hour of Giving. I think, in every aspect of your life, you will enjoy what happens next.
Have an AMAZING week!
Vincent
