Why Do You Do It Then?

Without fail, at least one student asks how much money I am paid to come speak at functions.  Well, it happened again yesterday while speaking to the kids at Giddings High School.  Rather than typical response of, “I don’t get paid to speak,” I took a little different approach this time.  I told the class that it actually costs me a lot of money, in lost billable time and travel to speak to the classes.  That’s when one of them asked the simple question, “Why do you do it then?”  My answer was simple, “Because it’s the right thing to do.” Yes, there was the perplexed look on the faces, but I could also see the wheels turning, as they tried to rationalize why I would donate my time when I was not getting any money out of the deal. I went on to discuss the concept of just doing the right thing, giving back, investing in the future, and karma in general.  In my simplistic view of the world, giving without expectation ultimately changes lives and makes the world a little better place.  Why do I do it then, because it is the right thing to do? 

Invest in those around you by giving your time and energy.  The rewards are priceless.