STORY: Is Your Generosity Worthy Of You?
I found a story that reveals a very unique perspective on generosity.
It’s a perspective I have never heard before.
One day a beggar was by the side of the road and he had the nerve to ask for charity from Alexander the Great as he passed by.
The man was poor and really had no reason to expect anything from the ruler.
He didn’t even have the right to beg him for anything at all.
But the Emperor did something surprising.
Instead of ignoring the man, he threw him several gold coins.
A courtier who was with Alexander The Great was astonished at his generosity.
He was so shocked by it he finally said, “Sir, copper coins would have adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why did you give him gold?”
Alexander responded in royal fashion, “Cooper coins would suit the beggar’s need, but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.”
In business it is easy to focus on ourselves and what we get from a deal.
And it’s easy to think of generosity and wonder if the other person “deserves” it.
But what if the next time we were wanting to be generous to someone we remembered this story and decided to be generous based on who WE are (or who we WANT to be) and not based on who the recipient is?
How would that change our action, our lives and the people we touch?
Photo by adam*b
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