Chrissy Vaughn |
on February 22, 2008 |
category: a look into agency life |
Our bonus compensation plan
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. . . . Serve and thou shall be served.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I read this quote the other day, and it struck me as exceptionally valid. As the chairman of the Philanthropy Committee here at Hacker, I often get swept away in a romanticized view of service. It's easy to imagine that the charitable events we promote and the donations of time and money from employees are truly selfless displays of generosity. After all, to think that your acts of kindness are 100% altruistic creates a very noble feeling. But, as Emerson so poignantly points out, in helping another you are ultimately helping yourself.
The benefits can be tangible: a boost of our reputation in the eyes of clients, a wonderful PR opportunity, or an annual tax write-off. Or, the benefits can be the abstract positive effects that stem from giving of time and service: a boost in employee morale, the sense that you’re doing the right thing, the good feeling you get when you help someone in need.
It’s always been my goal as Philanthropy Committee chairman to inspire people to give back . . . no matter what benefit they might be directly or indirectly receiving as a result. I'm of the opinion that everyone has their own reasons for doing charity work, but as long as someone in need benefits from that work, it can never be a bad thing!
