It’s better to give than receive. There’s no question the phrase is familiar, but is it true? A Google search turns up plenty of scientific studies and anecdotal evidence showing that the benefits of generosity are as real for the giver as well as the receiver. Members of our team recently attended an enlightening meeting where one particular author’s work on this subject was discussed.

The Meadowlands Regional Chamber hosted a presentation by Sally Glick, Chief Marketing Officer & Growth Strategist of Sobel & Co. She and Sobel have a deep commitment to nonprofits, and Sally talked about how nonprofits and those who work or volunteer for them can best share their missions, tell their stories and build their brands. Key to the discussion was the idea that there are givers, takers and matchers in the world.

Sally shared her admiration for the book Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant. A summary says:

For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. But in today’s dramatically reconfigured world, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others. In Give and Take, Adam Grant, an award-winning researcher and Wharton’s highest-rated professor, examines the surprising forces that shape why some people rise to the top of the success ladder while others sink to the bottom. Praised by social scientists, business theorists, and corporate leaders, Give and Take opens up an approach to work, interactions, and productivity that is nothing short of revolutionary.

This influential thinker and writer says the bottom line in business, and in life, is that giving is closely connected to success. It’s yet another reason to be proud of, and grateful for, the work done by nonprofits, and their donors, employees, volunteers and boards. And it’s yet another reminder that in a world with so much need, it’s important to be as generous as we can.

We thank the Chamber, Sally and Sobel for all they do to help make our part of the world a better place. As always, we are here to help make your organization stronger and more effective. And, in the spirit of giving, here’s where you can find more insights from Adam Grant. Happy learning, growing and giving!