Givers and Takers: What Are You and Why It Matters

As a new feature of Thinking Business Blog, I am posting a brief summary of the business books that I am reading. This will be a very high level synopsis of the book and what I gained from it. I will publish these summaries as I complete the books and not on a predetermined schedule. I trust you will benefit from them.

The first book I reviewed was Procrastinate on Purpose.

The second review was Bill Browder’s book, Red Notice

The third review was Atul Gawande’s book The Checklist Manifesto

The fourth review was Brad Lomenick’s H3 Leadership

The fifth review was Eula Bliss’ On Immunity: An Inoculation

The sixth review is Give and Take by Adam Grant

Grant provides a detailed compilation of research in the area of giving and receiving. The results from this research, backed up by reams of data and an overwhelming number of examples is that there are three types of people; Givers, Takers and Matchers.

  1. Givers give without expectation of receiving
  2. Takers take while giving little or nothing
  3. Matchers both give and take as they see fit.

Digging further into the book, Givers are the most successful in all areas of life. However, Givers can wear themselves out and fail when they are “selfish” meaning they give continuously to others without thinking of themselves. Givers must be “otherish” meaning that the Giver must put some thought and strategy into giving so they take the appropriate time for themselves, their health, personal development, family, etc.

My takeaway from this book is that I need to give more but ensure that my giving is balanced properly with the appropriate amount of time and energy for myself.

 

Leave a comment on your thoughts and experiences with Givers, Takers and Matchers below.

 

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Watch for the upcoming release of my two new books: 12 Steps to Business Transformation and The Thinking Business System

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