To me, “paying it forward” works when the action is anonymous, just as it does when the doer and the action are known. Perhaps you can’t professionally pay it forward where you’re at, but you can surely do something anonymously and simple, like dropping a coin in someone’s expired meter, paying a toll for the person behind you (or two behind you to divert suspicion), or pay a simple compliment, such as “Job well done,” which really works well when you tell that to a person’s boss (perhaps not in Poland, but hopefully you get my point).

Another tactic I’ve taken that sometimes helps others to loosen up is to seek their help with something (for instance, “You always do a good job at {writing reports, chairing meetings, communicating with customers, or somesuch}. Would you share some tips with me?”). This shows respect for the other person’s knowledge/experience and sometimes makes them willing to ask for your or somebody else’s help in the future.

Just some thoughts that may help. If so, great; if not, maybe they’ll help another reader.

Take care.

Joyce

There are culture differences that sometimes prevent pay-it-forward opportunities. And, without the opportunity, there can be no pay-it-forward lifestyle.

Some otherwise open to providing such an opportunity for others may feel disrespected when approached, choosing to see it as an attack, either implicitly or explicitly; others fear it, distrusting a history of ulterior motivation behind every good deed; and some equate the value of such help to its cost, meaning anything free is worthless and the price tag to pay it forward ingenuine.

I have experienced this in action in North America. By joining professional associations and becoming active, I by-passed these obstacles. But countries like Poland, where I am, lack pay-it-forward opportunities.

I believe pay-it-forward does return to the sender in a “what goes around comes around” sense.

So I am seeking such pay-it-forward opportunities based in North America. I have a background in public relations and business consulting and I can freely tele-advise or manage a project where a young company may already have the hands in place but lack the 19 years’ internationally tinged experience I can bring to it.

Thanks for this opportunity to advertise myself, Chuck! I really do miss the times I spent helping out SMEs when I was back home and I look forward to doing so again before I leave Poland.

All the best,
Richard Whipple

Congrats on the new blog!

Dan Karleen

We really have to get together sometime, as I live in Raleigh and work downtown.

God bless
Al Boyce

As I have said several times before, thank you for setting up these LinkedIn Live events. I always enjoy going to them to meet and help other local professionals.

IBM will be hosting a recruiting event geared toward women and minorities in the RTP area January 31 and February 1 called Project View Plus. This is an invitation only event and you need to email your resume to IBM by January 25. If anyone is interested, please email me.

Allan

Best,
Kim Hetrick