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Lesson Learned: Being of Service

I’ve been thinking a lot about the golden rule … “Do onto others as you would like them to do to/for you.” Aside from the obvious benefits, I think this concept of being of service is some really important in the self employed/freelance world.  I’m noticing that with “freelance” you are constantly putting yourself out there, hoping the universe will reward you with a shiny new client, or maybe even a much needed break. You do things with the hopes that you will get something in return.

What if you changed things up a bit and did things, just for the act of doing things…more importantly – did things for others with no intention of getting anything in return? Again, nothing new and ground breaking here…but is this the key to success in the world of the self employed.

Gabrielle Bernstein, my self-aclaimed spirit guide these days talk about this concept often. She often mentions instances where she’s gone out of her way to be of service to people she admires…and just by the act of doing good…the universe showers her with things she’s been hoping for. She reminds us that you may not see an immediate result, but if you change the way you think about “being of service” BIG things change for us. You start to manifest everything you ever dreamed of…one at a time.

I know I’m rambling a bit here, but basically the question is “How can I make your life easier…??” When you ask this question to those you work with, those you hope to work with, family and friends, what happens?

You can download Gabrielle Bernstein’s Service Meditation here where she starts of the meditation with an excerpt from The Prayer of Saint Francis.

In the spirit of the holidays and giving, I’m just curious to hear about how this concept has worked for you. Have you tried it and seen great results?

 

(photo for Clementine Daily)

11 comments on “Lesson Learned: Being of Service

  1. I LOVE this blog post Cassie.
    Such a beautiful and simple concept but so very important for everyone in this world whether they are a freelancer or not. I am such a big believer in giving back and for it always being for the sake of giving not for what you will get in return. I have always donated a portion of my monthly revenue to a person or charity in need and I have an entire line of Charity Cards in my shop where I donate proceeds to specific charities that I support.

    Giving feels amazing and I encourage everyone to give it a try! 🙂

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Shalya! Just stopped by your shop to check out your cards and I love it! Might snatch up that engagement one for a friend of mine 🙂

      Happy Holidays!

  2. I’m not an “official” designer. Meaning I did not go to school to learn design, and I don’t have a diploma. Because of that I feel uncomfortable asking people money when I work for them. Which is quite of an issue if I want to make a job out of freelancing. BUT, all of the projects that I actually did for free, ended up bringing me more visibility and new clients ! + People are happy about my job so I also gain on confidence ! Which basically helps me lack my non-graduated-fake designer feeling. So it is actually more than a win-win.
    Just to say that some situation may not appear as ideal and you don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of it when you in fact, are .

    1. Oh for sure. Everyone’s path to “greatness” is different and there is no “right” or “wrong” way to go about it. Congrats on putting yourself out there 🙂

  3. Hi Oceane, I just took a look at your portfolio and just wanted to say that you are a really talented designer so please don’t worry about not having a “degree” keep in mind that training comes in many forms and innate talent (which you obviously have) is what really matters. 🙂

  4. I think for me, the act of helping another without any hope or expectation of a favor in return alleviates a lot of potential disappointment. When I act with the motivation of “I hope they will pay me back,” a lot of the joy I get from being helpful is diminished. I find that when I assist someone else simply because it’s how I would want that person to treat me, then I am already satisfied by my action alone. Any favors in return become happy bonuses instead of expectations 🙂

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on expectations. I think I’m always battling expectations of myself and others. It’s really hard to let things slide and just do things to do things. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

  5. I just stumbled across your blog today and am so glad I did. The aesthetic is beautiful and the content is just lovely. I’ve been thinking about this very topic this past week. I’m not a freelancer, but I am a contractor that focuses on digital strategy, and while it’s a little different the idea of being genuine and wanting to help others is definitely important. I’m the happiest when I’m lending a hand without thinking about what the end goal is. Sometimes my colleagues think it’s foolish, but for me, making others happy and watching them feel at ease is just as important as making a living.

    The other day we were in a meeting and one of my bosses made a point of making the statement of “there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the states,” for a new European employee and it kind of made me cringe. I don’t believe in that. Putting yourself out there for the sake of sharing ideas and chatting is the way to go.

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