Gratitude attitude
Political reporter Jonathan Swan, in his farewell Q & A with our Axios staff, said the best piece of advice he ever received was that you get back everything — and more — if you give it away.
- Swan, a rare media star whose generosity grew in proportion to his stardom, was talking about sharing sources, bylines and reporting advice.
Why it matters: The older I get, the more certain I am this applies to every aspect of life — particularly work. The more you give and serve others, the more you benefit and get ahead.
This cuts against the popular narratives of the “great man” — the daring but often uncaring entrepreneur or billionaire glass-breaker.
- There’s often an assumption you need a cutthroat edge or I-don’t-give-a-rip abandon to do big things fast.
Reality check: I’m not suggesting great success flows from being soft or merely generous. But everyone should aspire to be both great and generous — the twin wins.
When I think of our most talented yet generous colleagues — editor-in-chief Sara Kehaulani Goo, or media trends expert Sara Fischer, or Mia Vallo, our head of marketing and growth — they tend to be exceptionally ambitious, workaholics and hyper-competitive.
- But they give to others what was given to them. Andthey don’t assume they are spectacularly special just because they are spectacularly talented.
Some ways to put this into practice:
- Pay it forward.Look for daily opportunities to share your wisdom, secrets and life hacks. It’s ludicrous to assume this disadvantages you. It makes people cheer for you.
- Get over yourself. There’s a 99.9% chance you aren’t Thomas Edison or Mother Teresa. Stop thinking you’re better than other people because your specific skill brought you success. Flip the script: Be grateful for your breaks. Enjoy success — and share it with others with reckless abandon.
- Small things matter. Few people inspire others with heroic words or deeds. But small things to you … are big things to others. A coffee with a new colleague. A note of encouragement. In-the-moment advice. A gentle correction or instruction. A simple thank you.
- Be intentional. Thank, respect and serve people in your organization who are newer than you. We naturally suck up. But today’s intern could be tomorrow’s boss.
- Pass it on.Talk to others about how gratitude helps them get ahead. If you see an opportunity to gently rein in an ego gone wild, take it.
Πηγή: axios.com
