Giving and getting to build lasting relationships #146
Relationships are about trust, not a balance of give versus get. Wise people invest in others, only asking, pay it forward -- force magnifiers reach others. Every person matters; every job matters.
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday December 28, 2025
Relationships matter. They always have — and they always will. In my career selling technology, success didn’t come from the latest product spec or the slickest demo. It came from relationships. People trusted me because I invested in them. They expected value, and I delivered.
I’ll never forget what Steve Jobs once said to me: “My money doesn’t break. I don’t expect your products to break either.”
That wasn’t just about hardware. It was about trust. When you give your word, when you give your best effort, people expect you to stand behind it.
As we gather with family and friends during the holidays, we’re reminded of something simple but powerful: we give, and we get. But here’s the catch — too many people keep score. They weigh the give against the get, ready to walk away if the math doesn’t add up.
Smart people don’t play that game. They invest in others without expecting an immediate return. They give because someone else needs the gift — whether it’s money, ideas, or mentoring.
And wise people take it a step further: they encourage recipients to “pay it forward.” That’s how one act of generosity multiplies to ten, a hundred, and a thousand people.
But it all starts with two things: respect and character.
Respect isn’t just about how you treat the person in front of you. It’s about how you treat people when others are watching — and when they’re not. I recently had a customer come into my store talking on speakerphone. She argued loudly, using language that would have made my mother reach for the soap. I decided right then: this isn’t what other customers deserve. Respect matters, even in small moments.
Character is what you do when no one’s looking.
Character is revealed in the quiet choices. Do you keep the money that falls from someone’s pocket — or return it? As I became a leader at Motorola, I saw how character shapes culture. The company built its values around dignity and respect. Every person mattered. Every job mattered. That’s what made the team strong.
Today’s best companies follow the same principle. They don’t treat employees like cogs in a machine. They treat them like partners. Nonprofits do this too — respecting clients, employees, volunteers, and donors alike. Families thrive on these ideals as well. After all, who wants to spend Christmas with Scrooge?
Make a difference—one person at a time.
Not everyone enjoys these kinds of relationships. Some people feel invisible. We pass them every day without noticing. This season, I challenge you to make a difference — one person at a time. Start small. Offer a smile. Ask, “How are you?” And then listen. Really listen.
If you want to go further, look around your community. There are countless organizations doing incredible work: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Camp Fire, Café con Leche Road to College, Faith Mission, Grace Ministries, Interfaith Outreach Services, Kiwanis, Lions Club, Optimist Club, Rotary, Salvation Army, Scouting. Food banks and pantries help families who don’t have enough to eat. Churches reach beyond their walls to change lives.
You don’t need a big budget or a big title to make an impact. You just need a willingness to share what you have. Think in terms of the four Ts:
Time – Volunteer an hour. It matters.
Talent – Use your skills to help someone grow.
Treasure – Give what you can. Even small gifts add up.
Testimony – Share your story. It might inspire someone else.
Pay it forward, by inviting your holiday guests from out of town to join you in a gift to another by serving a meal at a mission or delivering meals. Plant the seeds with your children and grandchildren to change the future.
Joy is in the giving—even more than the getting. So, this Christmas season, think about your community. Can you make life better for someone else? Can you give without keeping score?
Make your mother proud. Make a difference.
P.S. buy tickets for your family to the January 31 70th annual Pancake Festival at tickets.universitykiwaniswf.orgwebsite.
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection and service.