The person in this video isn’t really Rachel from The Go-Giver, but she could be Rachel’s Indian sister.
Actually, her name is Anjali Desai, and she is talking about Seva Café, a little restaurant in Ahmedabad (India’s fifth-largest city) that operates on the principle of giving — or “paying it forward”: each patron makes a donation toward the next person’s meal. As Anjali points out, every individual act of goodwill resounds in the collective human consciousness.
I like the sound of that.
There must be something in the air about coffee and giving. Starbucks has announced that starting on January 21, they will reward everyone who pledges five hours of volunteerism service with a fresh cup of coffee, on the house.
Starbucks’ goal: to generate 1 million hours of community service.
Giving for giving: I like that idea, too.
What a neat piece! I love the idea of thinking globally yet acting locally. Often I feel that we have ideas or opinions of how the world could be different and better but it feels so out of reach. When we act in our local communities we start “being the change that we want to see in the world,” as Anjali so clearly puts it. This definitely fits with the Go-Giver idea of “giving, giving, giving”.
On a day we witness an inauguration of a President who has a central a theme of volunteering, it is good to see companies such as Starbucks not only encourage their employees but are looking for ways to encourage their customers to volunteer. Hopefully more companies will realize that it is to their economic benefit to have as part of their strategic plan the concept of having employees involved in the community.
Wow what an amazing clip! I loved how she brought in the theory of “Think globally and act locally.” With this feeling of change among us with the inauguration of President Obama I cannot help but hope that more of this will come about in America. I believe we have yet to see the worst and it is individuals who think like this, who will help rebuild America and strengthen it for the future. It makes me think of myself in how I see the world and what I want to have changed, and how I could apply that locally to make a difference. I love when she comments that in helping others people realize that we are all “one family, one world.” This is something I think a lot of us forget during hard times. It is in each other that we as a people will find the strength to pull through and come out a stronger nation than ever before.
Seva Cafe summarizes the Go-Giver’s principle. It’s not in what we get, but it’s in what we give that we find true success and happiness. Often times, we see people that seem to have it all. They may have beautiful things but they lack peace of mind. The Go-Giver brings me back to the basics of God’s principle and formula for success in our lives, “give and it shall be given unto you.” Something happens when we give without expecting anything in return. We feel peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.
Great seeing all these comments! Also in the last few days, there’s been a flurry of comments on previous posts — it’s truly great to see the conversation come so fully to life.
Nory, I love your comment — and I would add just one thing: rather than “It’s not what we get, but what we give,” I think, perhaps it’s both!
I know, for example, that I find happiness when I give love; but I also find happiness when I receive love, as well. And while I’m sure it’s gratifying to put some money in the cup at Seva and know you’re paying for the next person’s meal, it must also be gratifying to be that next person and eat the meal!
Not to split hairs. I think Pindar would quite agree with you: in the endless giving/receiving cycle, it is assuredly giving that starts the cycle going and keeps it going. This is not a chicken-and-egg puzzle: Giving rules. I’m just saying, let’s also be careful to give receivingits full due, too.
I’ll bet those Seva meals are delicious . . .
I was assigned the book for a class and sat in Starbucks today and read it. The coffee smelled great, but became that much better as I read the book and he kept speaking of it.
I did enjoy the free cup from them for donating my time (besides being a Sunday school teacher and a regular teacher, my time is given away often) and thought it was a wonderful way of acknowledging givers. I wore my sticker and got a couple of compliments on it. My friend made fun of me and said I got it just for a free cup. I had just got done reading the book and told him how it was nice for starbucks to bless me. Sowing and reaping, Tipping Point, etc. it works.
My pastor years ago taught me to be where I am and enjoy the moments of life and the people you come in contact with. Being from New Orleans, everything to me is wonderful and neat. People often enjoy me speaking of catching gators and catfish growing up. Life is meant to be shared and given away!
Tim — It’s been many years since I’ve been in Nawlins, but I remember it well — one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been!
Wear that sticker with pride! And keep having fun —
John
It’s good to see companies like Starbucks take a step forward to encourage volunteerism. In the times we are living in it is exciting to see others do their part in lighting the fire of change in the way we do business.