I love experiments that involve paying it forward.
Recently, I sent the email below to everyone I know on LinkedIn last week. It was prompted by memories of my maternal grandfather George Ginsberg and frequent reminders from my friend Mike Schall.
So far, I have heard from a dozen people who thought I might be able to give them some advice about their non-profits, careers or their start-up. They took me up on my offer and I’m honored to try and see if I can help.
When I sent the email, I didn’t know if anyone would respond, but I took a chance that maybe, in my spare time when I wasn’t working on client’s projects or doing Facetime with our grandson Bodhi, I might be able to pay it forward. Being self-employed means that I have to be organized and efficient with my time but it also means having 15-30 minute gaps available.
But it was a voice in my head that was the little push I needed.
My grandfather, George Ginsberg used to ask me, who did you help today?
14-year-old George Ginsberg and his Uncle Henry in Newark, New Jersey
George Ginsberg, Penny Philanthropist
George was a man who picked up pennies he found lying on the street or found in random places. He would save the pennies and then write checks for $2.00 to the American Red Cross, Cancer Society or a local Veteran’s Group. When Pop died, his obituary was in the NY Times and they called him the Penny Philanthropist.
George Ginsberg wasn’t a wealthy man. In fact, he and my Grandma Fannie lived a modest life. But he was always talking about how lucky he was to be an immigrant that could start his life over in America. An orphan at age 10, he came to America by himself on a boat from Russia, lived with his Uncle Henry in Newark, NJ and learned a trade as a commercial photographer.
Poppa George was grateful beyond words. That’s why he always asked me…
Who did you help today?
I hear his voice and it is a beautiful question that I ask myself before I put my head on my pillow each night. Pop’s simple acts of kindness were small and modest gestures. They inspire me today to try and push myself to do a little more. I kept thinking, what is the equivalent of that $2.00 check to a charity that I could do to help others?
I know that being grateful and helping others is selfish.
It makes me feel good. These small gestures of help, connection and advice are my way I can honor the memory of my grandfather and it is something I want to pass along to Bodhi Kai, my grandson.
I want to be able to answer my grandfather’s question, who have you helped today?
Here is the email I sent to my LinkedIn network of connections.
www.themarketingsage.com
“Help, I need somebody, not just anybody, Help.” Lennon & McCartney
Eleven years ago, a friend named Mike kept ending every one of our conversations by saying, Jeff, what can I do to help you?
It was so genuine and straightforward.
Mike is the kind of guy that spends his day in service to others making connections and introductions and helping people. He has a busy fulltime high-profile job at Whole Foods in Austin and like many of us, a busy personal life too. You can read a profile I wrote about Mike here.
I want to be like Mike.
Everybody knows someone who could use a little help.
Over the last decade, I have tried to be like Mike offering to help connect friends and acquaintances. Sometimes, because of my experiences in marketing, I can assist a non-profit, folks in a start-up or a person during their job search.
Maybe I can help someone you know with my marketing contacts or professional connections? For example, I might be able to assist a non-profit with their marketing needs, give some guidance to a friend working on a passion project or even provide some job search coaching to a person who is open to getting assistance.
Is there some way I can be helpful to someone you know?
Please don’t interpret this note as a request for someone to hire me. My consulting practice is as busy as I can be and I’m working with some outstanding clients on many cool projects. My dance card is quite full these days.
However, helping non-profits, start-ups or people in a job search is my modest way of paying it forward.
Last year I was able to help several people trying to find jobs and who benefited from my network. Also, I provided some counsel to a few non-profits who needed assistance with some marketing resources and some strategic guidance. I even got a chance to help several people who had startups and they benefited from a free visioning session to help crystallize their thinking.
If you know someone who might benefit from my experience, would you connect me to them?
Please have your friend send me an email with some background on their challenge, and I’ll follow up with them. My contact information is in my signature below.
No cost. No obligation. I’m not looking for anything in return.
I want to be like Mike.
Mike has inspired me to keep giving back and put out my hand to help others.
Maybe, like John and Paul, I can help somebody get their feet back on the ground.
Won’t you please help me?
How can I help you?
You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Email me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com Call me. 919 720 0995. The conversation is free, and we can explore if working together makes sense. Try my new chat feature on my site if you have a quick question.
Photograph of my Uncle Henry and Grandfather, George Ginsberg around 1914 in Newark, New Jersey. Also, a photo of the cover of the Beatle’s album HELP. The photograph of me and Poppa George was taken by my mom, Bea Slater.
