Dancing to your own beat among the monetised mayhem
Giving is always better than taking
A little intention from a little player
Between the constant pings and notifications, I've noticed something that really pisses me off.
When did every thought, conversation, and idea have to turn into currency?
Even world leaders are grasping at what they think the world owes them.
Have we all become too entitled? Is this trend of looking inward and protecting "what's mine" just temporary, or is this our new normal?
If it's the latter, can I get off the train please?!
A different kind of magic
I've been thinking about influence and where it matters most. Leaders who operate on the global stage should naturally think globally. Isn’t that the job description? Yet many are doing the opposite, protecting what they have and taking what isn’t theirs.
Clearly, I have no influence over them - beyond making sure I get out there and use my democratic right to vote and protest. So, I’ve climbed down from my high horse, and been thinking about what I can do.
Where does my own influence come into its power?
It's in the smaller circles:
Local businesses with real relationships
Sustainable food systems that create resilient economies
Communities that support each other
This is where I can actually make a difference. Where my words and actions might create positive change.
Giving without always counting the cost or reward
In my business, I want my influence to create positive change without obsessing over the return. This means sharing content that helps people, whether or not it leads to a sale.
If my free resources convince you to work with me, fantastic! But if they simply help you solve a problem and you move on? That's perfectly fine too. I was happy to help.
I run a netwalking group with the simple goal of connecting people - I find that walking makes the conversation flow much better than sitting around a formal table.
I give feedback to colleagues and share tips without pulling out an invoice, because I believe in collaboration.
I work with an amazing charity without payment because their mission matters to me.
But guess what, I’m still being selfish
But I don’t do any of this out of pure altruism or because I'm extraordinarily generous. In fact, I'm being completely selfish by staying true to who I am and creating the kind of environment I want to live and work in.
Could we all take a moment to question our motivations and let go of the pressure to monetise every single idea, connection, or bit of knowledge we have?
Maybe our real wealth and power comes not from what we can get from each interaction, but from what grows when we give without constant calculation?
Hey, let’s start a club! We’ll call it the Connection Club and it’s open, kind, collaborative, sales-second and POWERFUL. We might even call it “friendship”. Or has that ship sailed?
Please email me to let me know how you choose connection over transaction.