Joe Snyder - A Great Giver

It was shortly after I started the Productivity Newsletter in 1981, when I received a phone call from Joe Snyder, a consultant.  He told me he loved the newsletter and he wanted to help me promote the concept to American companies. I told him I needed keynote speakers for my first Productivity conference. He got me Mike Rose, the president of the Holiday Inns, and Don Ephlin then the senior VP of Ford Motor Company’s auto union. It was a great gift to me for having these noted people keynote my first conference legitimized the event.

Joe was amazing. He fulfilled a desperate need of mine and he didn’t want anything in return. It was so unusual for me to find in business a person who sincerely just wanted to help others.

I also want to help others but frankly I would always “horse trade.”  I give with the expectation of getting something back.  Maybe not consciously, but I do expect people to appreciate what I do for them.  But here was Joe Snyder, a consultant and one of his clients was the chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank who only wanted to serve me.

He taught me a great lesson. Just serve others and don't worry about yourself.  Real service is the art of giving fully without return expectations.  I am sure it all comes back but when and how should not be part of your thought process. In fact, expecting something in return just “muddles the water,” it reduces the power of giving.

When you think about yourself it just gets in the way and blocks the energy from serving you.