Mother Teresa might have said, “It is not how much we give, but the thought we put into giving.” Giving is an incredibly rich subject. How do you go about it? Do you make a list? Do you spend according to how much someone has given you? Is it done with a pure heart, or is it a necessary evil? Do you confuse giving with investing?
Geez, with so much written about giving particularly in the bible, one would think giving should be joyful and uninhibited. “But I don’t have a lot of money,” well, “no man is so poor, that he does not have something to give”…I believe that was Emerson.
It all comes down to a simple reality. Purpose. Who are you giving to and why are you doing it? Recently, I wrote a feature for JM Field Marketing about customized gifts for the holiday season. That raises an interesting question. Is a gift that is not customized really worth giving? I think not. The whole concept of last-minute shopping is reflected in the gift, and not lost on the recipient. A customized gift, something engraved, something personal, something relevant shows a little forethought and caring, which hopefully is kind of what the season is all about.
If you want to give a gift that truly reflects your feeling for the recipient make it personal. Need an idea for a corporate gift? We have a gift for that. Make this year’s gift as special as the season itself.
–Richie
