Give More, Get More?

University of British Columbia professor Elizabeth Dunn recently spoke during a T.E.D Talk about the idea of how giving will increase someone’s happiness. I thought about the idea for a minute and realized that monetary giving can be rewarding, but giving of your time can be just as rewarding. Often, when we think about giving we think about our financial situation and whether we can afford to give. I have never seen anyone on the corner with a sign asking for time instead of money, simply because money is the commodity that most people value.

But what if time was just as valuable as money? Let’s think about that for a moment. How much would you pay to spend more time with a lost loved one? How much money do you spend to do the things you enjoy? We exchange money for the time of others regularly. With that being said, time equals money.

Now let’s bring this idea of time equals money to the employment world. It’s been documented that nearly 80 percent of jobs are not posted, but usually filled by “people who know people” which is commonly referred to as networking. Workforce Solutions provides workshops regularly in our offices, libraries, schools, and community centers that stress the importance of networking. Networking is simply discovering who you know, or can meet to help you with what you need. When we network, we are spending time to build connections that will hopefully pay-off later. Building business relationships is usually expected to yield returns for both parties, and often they do.

Volunteering is also another way of spending your time, and many volunteer opportunities will open the door to actual paid positions, which is another reason Workforce Solutions encourages our customers and staff to participate in volunteer opportunities. Via their website, many companies request volunteers to participate in events. With volunteer opportunities, you will have a chance to meet various staff members including human resource professionals, recruiters, and management. This may be a chance to get more information about the company and discover job leads before they are posted publicly. That may be your doorway to employment with the company.

Ultimately, time equals money, and if you give more of your time you will get more in return. The pay-off may be in monetary form or to create lasting relationships. Networking and volunteering may be your means of getting that next big break.

Cornelius Booker is a senior member of the Regional Navigator team and a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelors in Marketing and later received his M.B.A with a focus on Business Marketing and Management. With his personal experience and passion for the disabled community, Cornelius’ insights are an invaluable asset to the Workforce Solutions organization.