Give

One of the things said in the James Clear email this week was “Always strive to give value before you ask for value.”
Sounds simple enough and I find often it is the simple things that are most profound.  What I like about this one is the change of emphasis from expecting to giving.
There are many circumstances where something is simply an exchange ie money for goods.  Yet even in this scenario I believe in both giving and receiving.  I know that I can vote with my feet, and there are times I feel I am not receiving value for money.  There was one restaurant we went to where I felt the food was not fit for a repeat performance.  One of the tests I personally have is, is this food ok and presented in such a way that if I were the server would like it for myself.
In the first instance though, no matter the situation I will try to give to the server.  It may be just a smile, or courtesy, or a kind word.  My aim with any interaction is to attempt to make the giver feel good about themselves. 
Such things I have found really come back to me.  In fact, it has lead me to the belief that “make them look good and they will make you look good.”   I did find this when leading a sports club.  The motivation is for the others benefit, but it really seems to be an outcome of such an attitude is that it works out well for me too.
So to me it is really beneficial to put others before myself.  If I am in trouble I know I will be considered favourably by those I have treated with dignity and respect.
My motivation may be aimed to benefit someone else, but I know where I treat others well it is guaranteed to be well for me also.