The Greatness Project

Generosity

December 15, 2004

In “The Christmas Carol,” Jacob Marley’s ghost stands remorseful before Ebenezer Scrooge who attempts to console Marley by saying, “But Jacob, you were always a good man of business.” Marley’s reply is powerful and sets the underpinning for the whole play as he cries, “mankind was my business.” Eventually, Scrooge’s redemption is his realization that although he had the means to help others, he was lacking in generosity. This time of year generally lends itself to self-reflection, particularly surrounding generosity which our survey research participants noted as a key characteristic of greatness.

What our survey participants identified as generosity was the willingness to help others in myriad ways and in the process enabling them to move toward their own greatness.

This past year some marvelous individuals surprised us with their generosity. For example, on December 12, after winning the Target World Challenge, Tiger Woods donated the entire winner’s purse of $1.25 million dollars to his foundation to help educate children. Cynics might dismiss this as a tax deduction for Tiger and miss the point that he established this foundation and spends his extra time trying to help children. It’s not just about money.

Possibilities for generosity are endless and need not be done in such a grand manner. Recently, a friend related something that happened to her at Newark Airport . Heading for a flight in terminal C she was stopped by a man and women who were, to her eye, obviously foreign and just as obviously lost. Immediately, they began speaking to her in Spanish. She told us that she was able to understand they were looking for a gate and when she asked to see their ticket, she realized their error. They were in the wrong concourse and only had to walk to the next one. Using a mixture of Spanish, English, and gestures she redirected them to their gate. When we commented on the story with admiration, she replied, “I should have walked them to the gate.” She was aware of and desired to do more than she did.

Generosity, when viewed as a characteristic of greatness, is not convenient, aggrandizing, and time-bound. Individuals who share this characteristic reflect it in everything they do. In every interaction with others they seek to give and help others in any way they can. Though it seems part of their very nature, it is a discipline.

Our DNA provides us with plenty of fail-safe mechanisms to protect ourselves, but few to help others. As a discipline, generosity can indeed be developed by beginning with an increased awareness of others. Next, generosity challenges the giver to provide for another’s need without subtly making the other subservient. Keeping a keen eye on pride is essential to being generous because pride can surface from being the “giver” or having the means to give. The key is in learning to experience how, in the giving, there is often even more that we receive. Finally, being aware of others gradually allows awareness to grow in all areas of one’s life.

For Scrooge, three spirits enlightened him to the realization that he could help others. Each year we have a season to remind us of one of the most important characteristics of greatness; generosity.

May all of you have a great holiday season and a peace-filled New Year.

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