I grew up the son of a fisherman. We didn't have much. Some nights, I even slept on the streets. For beginnings like that, you might expect someone to always be fighting, just trying to survive. And for a while, that's exactly what I did.

But somewhere along the way, I learned something that changed everything. Something nobody was teaching in business schools, leadership seminars, or anywhere else.

When you help others prosper, you prosper more.

That's not just a business strategy. It's not a nice idea to hang on the wall. It's a way of living - with your family, your neighbors, your community, and yes, your business too.

I call it Givingism.

What Is Givingism?

"Most people think success is about winning. I used to think that too. Then I found something better."

19 guiding principles built on one foundation: make decisions through care so that everyone prospers. Not just in business, but in everything.

How to Live It

"Every decision - with my employees, my family, my neighbors - I ask one question: Will this harm anyone?"

From how you run a company to how you show up for the people around you. Givingism isn’t something you do at work. It’s who you become.

How to Take Action

"Stop asking 'How do I get ahead?' Start asking “How do we all get ahead?"

Your place in the Givingism Movement, whether you’re a business owner, part of a community, or simply someone ready to live differently.

Bookshelf with a collection of books of various sizes and colors. Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-books-on-book-shelves-207662/

The Heart of It

Givingism comes down to a few core ideas. Not corporate mission statements. Not complicated frameworks. Just the truth:

  • Everything is done in love. No cutting corners. No deception. No taking advantage. Ever. In business, in relationships, in everything.
  • Always help others prosper. Not because it's nice, but because it's the only path to real prosperity. Your success is tied to theirs.
  • You can't step on someone to get ahead. Prosperity gained by harming someone isn't prosperity at all. It's theft wearing a suit.
  • When they win, you win. You don't just get what you take. You get what you give. This is the secret nobody believes until they try it.

A Philosophy for All of Life

  • Family

    What if you stopped keeping score with your spouse? What if you asked "How can I help them reach their dreams and desires today?" instead of "What have they done for me lately?" Families built on giving don't just survive, they flourish.

    "The same question that changed my business changed my marriage: Will this harm anyone?"

  • Friends

    Real friendship isn't transactional. It's not about what someone can do for you. When you show up for people without expecting anything back, something strange happens - you get more than you ever asked for.

    "I've never lost by being generous with my time, my resources, or my encouragement."

  • Neighbors

    Remember when people knew each other's names? When someone's car broke down and the whole block showed up? That world isn't gone. It just needs people willing to go first.

    Prosperity thinking says we all rise when we lift each other up. That starts on your own street.

  • Community

    Local businesses. Churches. Schools. Nonprofits. When these groups stop competing for resources and start collaborating, entire communities transform. It's not idealism, I've watched it happen.

    Imagine if we measured community health by how many people were truly thriving.

  • Business

    This is where I learned it. Employees who feel cared for don't just work harder, they build something with you. Vendors become partners. Even competitors become allies. The scarcity mindset is a lie.

    We created a $5,000 education fund for every employee, whether they stay with us or not.

  • Yourself

    Here's what nobody tells you: when you live this way, you change. The anxiety about getting ahead fades. The comparison game stops. You find a kind of peace that achieving things never gave you.

    There's nothing special about me. I just stumbled onto something true.