Give Even When You Need It
My parents taught me valuable lessons — one of the most impactful was about managing money and staying resilient.
They were Palestinian refugees who lost everything they owned twice in their young lives, and a third time in my own youth. They lost their cash, their belongings, their properties — everything except clothes and few small pieces of furniture.
Looking back now in my own adulthood, they did something that helped me stay resilient when I didn’t have any money — giving, even when they themselves were in need.
While they were always frugal, my mom’s salary was not enough to pay the monthly rent. Even when my dad was not able to secure work, when they had any money, they gave some away.
I learned that you don’t have to have everything to be able to give something.
The minute you have something, you are able to give some to someone else, because you don’t have to have it all for you to give some out. There were many days I had no money or might have borrowed money to survive, but I still choose to give some of that money to the causes or the people important to me.
Sometimes even small amounts are painful, but the point is I was choosing to give it.
I share this because people think I’m set for life with my financials, but the truth is I am not. I continue to work to thrive, and I continue to make mistakes like everyone else. I gain and lose money on a daily and monthly basis. Even now, marking 20 years of business, I think about the times I was given money when I needed it, but chose to give some away.
I share this hoping that others will be inspired to give from what they have even when they think they might lose it all.
I believe we perform better when we are able to give.
BEFORE YOU GO
We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.
- What can you give besides money to communities you serve or care for? Start with your Knowledge or time.
- What can you do to make sure you are OK to survive and stay afloat?
- What other insights do you have for resiliency?
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Faris Alami is Founder and CEO of International Strategic Management, Inc. (ISM). He works internationally, presenting Exploring Entrepreneurship Workshops and other entrepreneurial ecosystem — related ventures.
