We all excess in our lives, and yesterday a smart man made me remember this fact.
This week, I had another amazing time at Catalyst, a great leadership conference that takes place a few times a year in various cities. While in Orange County for the event, I got to spend a lovely evening at the headquarters of Sevenly, an incredibly innovative company started by Dale Partridge, a guy with an amazing story.
Sevenly, called the fastest growing social good startup in the USA, is awesome company known for its hip gear and its incredible generosity. Seven dollars of every product go towards the chosen non-profit cause of the week, and Sevenly has already given away $2 million to non-profits through their work. Sevenly also happens to have one of the coolest offices ever. Dales works out of this office (below). No, there’s no desk. Because he’s that cool.
Sevenly also invites in interesting folks to come talk to employees and their friends, and on the night I was there they brought in Jeff Shinabarger, pastor and author of More or Less, a book I read and loved. In the book, Jeff talks about his journey to become a more generous person, realize what he really needed in life, and learn to thrive on less.
Despite the fact that I read and absorbed his entire book months ago, I was still newly struck during his talk by one particular question he asked everyone in the audience to ponder. And ponder I did.
That question?
Where do you have excess?
As Jeff said, this may be in an area you may not initially think about. We often think of negative things in “excess”, but that’s not how it works. Excess is anything beyond what we don’t need.
As Jeff said, “Anything more than enough is excess, and anything less than enough is suffering.” It’s true. Eat too much? Excess. Eat too little? Starve.
So the question begs itself: Where do you have excess?
Do you earn more than your family needs to live each year? Consider giving some away. Earn just enough, but think that maybe you could save $20 a month and give to someone else who needs it more? Try that.
And, importantly, please think beyond monetary riches when you think about what you have too much of, as that can be the first place our mind goes when we think of the word. Are you out of a job? You have time. Think of ways you can give it. Do you have more clothes/books/shoes than you need? Give.
You get the idea.
So, to you. Where do you have excess?
It is definitely better (and healthier) to give than to receive. And so when we are able to help our fellow men, we are in a way, being kind to ourselves as there are so much benefits (health and emotional ones) to be “received” from the “giving” experience. Blessed are those whom are called to bless. Bless you! 😉
Hi Claire,
I think you would like to see this:
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/10_ways_to_get_ahead_through_giving
Sevenly is really an admirable cause set up to help people in need. People are vulnerable and we all ought to lend a helping hand whenever we can. Love pays forward.
Beautiful post, Claire.
I’ve been trimming excess over the past year. Time, energy, focus- all these things have been in process of alignment.
<3
I have a little different phase of excess in my life right now. Financially my excess is quite non-existent at this time as I am a start-up and every ounce of everything I’m made of is invested in my new business. But I do have an excess of information running through my brain and will start sharing it on Twitter today, Monday May 6, 2013, in my new daily program, “Your Daily”. This post is not about promotion of my program so I will not be posting a link. In my program I will be sharing my thoughts on many things I’ve learned over my 30+ years in business and life in general. I believe I can benefit others with my experiences over the years and what I learned from those experiences. So for now my excess will be given to those that will listen to what I have to say as I attempt to give away my thoughts on how others can improve their quality of life. Your message has prompted me to find my excess and share it with those that can learn from it.
I’ll look up “Your Daily” now!