Chris Grams

I've often seen Chris Brogan give this simple advice:

Be helpful.

First time I heard him say this, it was so simple it blew me away. Now I ask myself all the time whether something I am doing that I view as a "gift" would really be helpful to anyone other than me.

It is very easy to give gifts that people don't find helpful. In reality, the only thing these gifts are actually doing is making /you feel/ like you are doing something helpful.

Now I try not to focus on giving gifts, but instead being genuinely helpful whenever I can. It's harder, but ultimately more rewarding, in my experience.

Great post, Jonathan!

Dan, I absolutely love that phrase, and had never heard the thought articulated that way before! Thanks for sharing it!