Outward Mindset, Dynamite Results

Germany, 1867. Driven by an insatiable scientific curiosity about firepower since boyhood, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel patents dynamite. It’s an explosive success. From the monumental Panama Canal to Mount Rushmore to the turn-of-the-century mining boom, dynamite becomes the potent means that unlocks once unfathomable ends.

But Nobel’s success comes at an exorbitant price. While taming the volatility of nitroglycerin in the early 1860s, an explosion in the family factory claims five lives, including that of Nobel’s younger brother. Initially despondent, Nobel becomes more resolute than ever to harness firepower’s useful properties. However, toward the end of his life, before witnessing much of the value his invention will bring to the developing world, Nobel ponders his legacy with trepidation. A confirmed pacifist, he curiously owns 90 weapons factories around the world. He begins to wonder whether his creation causes more harm than good.

In a flash of genius as bright as dynamite’s blast, Nobel looks forward for a solution. With 350 patents to his name, he has amassed one of the world’s largest private fortunes. In 1895, shortly before his death, Nobel writes his last will, leaving much of his wealth to establish the Nobel Prizes: awards presented annually to the top contributors in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Economics, and World Peace. Today, though credited as the inventor of dynamite, Nobel is most commonly associated with the tradition of honoring the world’s top contributors to peace and improvement.

As significant as Alfred Nobel's patents and inventions were, it was his outward focus—his mindset of honoring others—that indelibly etched his lasting legacy into our collective consciousness.

The legendary Dale Carnegie, in his timeless best-seller How to Win Friends and Influence People, made one of the most compelling, lucid cases ever for elevating others. Founded on a Biblical tenet, his basic philosophy asserts that we receive the best returns in our personal lives when focusing more on others and adding value to their lives. Having observed this verity in my service as a Training-Development Specialist, I’ve begun introducing the Carnegie-focus via my own recent formulation: the G.I.V.E. acronym. An iteration of Carnegie’s philosophy, G.I.V.E. is naturally underpinned by an outward mindset.

G.I.V.E. is predicated on three interrelated assertions:

1. Every individual, regardless of circumstance, always possesses two valuable assets that can be offered to help others: talents and connections.
2. In fields where one possesses talents (e.g., technology, math, fitness, mechanics, etc.), they should offer help as needed and when possible.
3. In fields where one is limited, they should facilitate connections to those with the requisite talents as needed and when possible.

G.I.V.E. is a proactive (but gentle) way to add value to others’ lives. It amounts to a “here’s how I can help” versus “if I can help” approach.

Distilled to its essence, the G.I.V.E. approach comprises four phases, of which the inquiry phase (arguably the most pivotal) focuses on others to identify their needs. During the inquiry phase, questions are customized to the person and subject at hand. The outline below shows the four phases of the G.I.V.E. approach and supposes an employment networking event:

1. GREGARIOUSNESS: Be gregarious to build rapport. Engage in cocktail chit-chat.
2. INQUIRY: Get curious. Ask questions to learn about others’ needs. Example questions: What occupation(s) are you pursuing? How did you get inspired to move in that direction? What do you find most exciting about that line of work? Regarding hitting your job-search target(s), what's the highest leverage challenge you're facing? If able to resolve this one challenge, what advantage(s) would you obtain? What steps are you presently taking to resolve this challenge?
3. VALUE: If you’re an expert on the topic at hand, offer help; if not, facilitate connections with people you know who are experts.
4. EVALUATION: Pause every so often to assess how well and often you’re adding value to others’ lives.

Integral to the G.I.V.E. process is the commitment that the interaction transpire genuinely, without any thought of reciprocity. Paradoxically, reciprocity comes most frequently to those who do not seek it. Friends readily rally around friends who have previously championed their cause, especially during exigent moments.

Alfred Nobel’s legacy, although bolstered by an impressive resume, took on its greatest luster when he practiced an outward mindset—a "giver" mindset. So a word of caution—nay, encouragement—to all who decide to practice such a mindset: be prepared to realize dynamite results.