🏁 Axios Finish Line: Don't flinch

Our generosity guru | Thursday, April 28, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PwC   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Apr 28, 2022 Apr 28, 2022 Welcome back. Reach tonight's host — Axios CEO Jim VandeHei — at jim@axios.com. Smart Brevity™ count: 488 words ... 2 mins.     1 big thing: Don't look away Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Confession: Well into my late 20s, I often flinched at giving money to a homeless person, rationalizing that I might be enabling laziness or drug use, Jim writes. My wife, Autumn, is the opposite. She always gives money and engages every person in need. One day, with the kids in the backseat, she pushed back against my view, saying: "If I'm going to make a mistake, I want to err on the side of giving a drug addict money rather than not giving a hungry person means to eat that day." Why it matters: She changed my mind about generosity. More importantly, she inspired our kids (on their good days) to adopt a similar help-don't-hide approach to people in need. This mindset applies to leadership, as well as life: We all have chances to help those struggling instead of looking the other way — or justifying doing nothing. What this might look like in regular life or at work: If you see need, act: It's so easy to see someone in need, on the street or in the office and convince yourself it's none of your business — or that someone else will step up. Be the one who takes action. If you wonder, ask: I am an introvert, so my natural instinct is to keep to myself. People like me need to force themselves to simply ask if someone needs a hand when things seem off. This remains a struggle for me. Err on the side of generosity: Autumn is right. Are you ever going to feel bad about giving money or time to others? Never. "Our job is to give. Let God decide if the recipient did good with your gift," she says. Surround yourself with givers: All habits are contagious. Between Autumn and my parents, who give all their time and focus to their kids even though we're adults, I am smothered by givers. It can't help but rub off. Others are watching: You will be surprised how many watch and copy you. All actions are contagious — and goodness spreads just as easily as badness. The bottom line: We try hard to apply these principles at work — paying close attention and swarming when people hit ruts. All of us have this opportunity every day in small, meaningful ways. Share this story.     A message from PwC The key to trust: transparency     Our community of solvers remains committed to building a culture of belonging. Looking ahead: We are doubling down on our commitment to build trust, with a sharpened focus on supporting underrepresented communities, while advancing progress in our firm. Learn more.     Axios' generosity guru Axios chief of staff Kayla Cook Brown. Photo: Axios   Zoom in: At Axios, chief of staff Kayla Cook Brown — our first hire, even before we had a name or office — is the heart and soul of our company (photo above). She's our don't-look-away specialist, always aware of who's up, who's down. She'll constantly point out who needs a pick-me-up — and usually know the perfect word or gesture for the moment. Every person and workplace needs Kaylas.   Thanks for reading. Please invite your friends to sign up here. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: