Wanna bite to share?
Oprah Winfrey said “it’s not just about being able to write a check. It’s being able to touch somebody’s life.” Rockefeller, Melon, and Carnegie used innovation to amass unimaginable fortunes. Later in life they used their fortunes for the betterment of society, and blazed a path that Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are following today.
Although few of us have amassed incredible level of wealth but we all have an abundance of something valuable to give back. Sharonomics is a new word I created and defined as follows:
SHARONOMICS (Share – ON- Omics)
1) Form of philanthropy for the information economy that involves the distributing of accumulated knowledge and experiences to where they can do the most good.
From your lifelong experiences, what troves of wisdom have you collected that have served you well and now can be shared to benefit others? Did you drink from the purest streams? Did you seek the finest teachers, read the best books, travel to the most magnificent locations and strive for unique experiences? WHAT are you going do with all of this rich data that you collected?
My challenge is for you to find creative ways to share your wisdom as a teacher or a mentor. Look for opportunities to use your unique abilities to reach and teach others. Not by divulging your valuable intellectual property but by sharing your wisdom to empower others, reduce suffering and make the world a better place.
Finding the place your ideas will do the most good is part of the challenge. “I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution,” described Andrew Carnegie. You may have a few pieces of a puzzle in your pocket or some spare parts on your workbench that are useless to you, but can solve someone else’s problems. You may have some ideas that don’t have much use in your hands but can empower someone else. Try to identify other’s needs and place your ideas into their hands.
There was a time when our collective knowledge was passed through generations by word-of-mouth. Later, apprenticeships were common for teaching trades and crafts. Artists have always shared their ideas through what they create. Today there are plenty of new media outlets like Wikipedia where volunteers transfer information to the next generation, and if you can cut through the noise of twitter, you can share specialized knowledge, but do we take it for granted that our important values, techniques and life lessons are reaching the optimum audience.
Henry Ford said “Time and money spent in helping men to do more for themselves is far better than mere giving,” but is it the time and money that helps or the shared ideas that provides empowerment? Most of us don’t have surplus time or extra money to give but we do have expertise. Look for ways to share your expertise and the world will be a better place.
Are there ways that you are sharing that you would like to share?
From time to time on my blog, I share techniques that I use and things I know that others find difficult or a ‘mystery’. For instance, some while back I shared how I do some of my digital work in a three part photoshop tuition. I hope sometime in the near future (when wordpress.com get their current changes sorted out) to do a few posts or pages for new wordpress (dot com) bloggers about how best to use their blogs. I had started doing this a while ago, had taken screenshots and had just written the first part and then wp changed everything! So frustrating!
I agree with you Val – by contributing your specialized expertise to a blog (or adding comments to other people’s blogs) you are practicing “sharonomics” – and the knowledge bank is searchable on the web so anyone having the need can find your information!
I understand the frustration of upgrades that are really downgrades – hopefully thing will improve again and you can teach tips from your experience on the best use our blogs – You certainly have a lot of expertise in many areas to share!
Hey did you notice – at the top-right of my blog right below the flags, there is a new drop down menu that translated my page into about a million languages just by clicking.
Er… one point… early on my blog was searchable on the web, these days it isn’t as I closed it to search engines when I began to post more personal stuff, it feels ‘safer’ to me that way. That said, things I say in comments that I post to others blogs (and that have a link back to mine) that are open to search engines, will of course, be searchable!
Yes, I just saw your translator – good idea. Unfortunately the only language I speak and understand is English!
from my experience traveling, the most useful language to know is English – so we are both lucky – thanks Val
Sorry for interrupting you both. I just wanted to say that i am fun reading threads like this as i am also learning on your comments.
As an avid volunteer addict, I share my technical skills with my woman’s club as well as my involvement in community service projects. As a blogger, I’m always helping out fellow friends with plugin advice, promoting them, etc. Still I feel I get more in return. I find the blogger community to be one of the most caring and giving groups of people I’ve ever met which makes me rich in that aspect. 🙂 It’s been an amazingly uplifting experience.
You are giving people a voice and that’s exactly what I mean by “sharonomics.”
Melinda, you are using your specialized knowledge to empower others. Not everyone has your technical ability with blogging and without your help, their message would not carry past their front porch!
I’m happy that you find it uplifting since I know you are much appreciated by many. And I often people say how much you get them to laugh through your own blog!
Hi David,
I LOVE this post! I think this idea a perfect continuation of the phrase “Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime.” I have always believed that ideas and knowledge and skills are a far more better thing to distribute than money when you want to help a group of people.
Ideas and skills will multiply organically.
I’m glad you liked it and you’re right Sara: “Give a man a fish…” exactly fits with what I wrote. I enjoyed reading your post about giving back, self-interest and finding a purpose too. Thanks for your comments!
For me, what matters most is how you touch other people’s lives. It is the only way you can show to them what personality you have. If people find you interesting, it is because you did contributed to their development.
I try to help people with my IT knowledge as often as i can. I often browse programming forums and share some of the things i know, depending on my free time. This is because i was once also a beginner and i know how you feel when no one’s helping you with an urgent problem.
Though lately i rarely even find time to sleep, so i took a break from the forums.
Richard recently posted..Graco Magnum X5 (262800) Airless Paint Sprayer Review
I like what you have said, Look for opportunities to use your unique abilities to reach and teach others. That’s true! Better start looking on some phases of your life by grabbing opportunities.