The Favour Bank
Tom Wolfe was the genius who invented it. Of course, he did so to paint a picture of how the 'old boy system' in 1980s New York worked but it was genius nonetheless.
Don't worry if you haven't read Wolfe's masterpiece, Bonfire of the Vanities, perhaps you've seen the movie, Pay It Forward or read another masterpiece by litery fiction writer, Paulo Coelho, The Zahir. Wolfe invented The Favour Bank, and Coelho made it a rule to live and love by.
The idea is simple: do things to help others without expecting things in return. In the 'bank' ideology that is called a deposit. People can make deposits into their accounts in a myriad of ways from the simplistic to the grandiose.
One of my favorite ways of making deposits is by using my networking skills. Over the years I have amassed a great web of friends and colleagues throughout several countries now and all from different walks of life. As the theory goes, if you righteously make deposits into your account when the time comes for you to make a withdrawal, somebody will make a deposit on your behalf. Most likely, it's not the person(s) whom you've helped. I'm not as genius as Wolfe or Coelho, at least not yet, so I hope that you get the idea.
Many of us live our lives like this without calling it anything. We help people because we are just good people. Those who are like that have the biggest accounts in The Favour Bank. Those are people I'm telling you about today.
I have written about Terrance Dean before, so you should know I am biased when it comes to him. He is a wonderful soul but beyond that, an extremely brave one. Dean has written a memoir, which coincidentally outs a great deal of Hip Hop moguls and personalities as being homosexual. His story is riveting, heartfelt and will change the level of acceptance in the music industry as it pertains to those with alternative lifestyles.
Visit his Web site, www.TerranceDean.blogspot.com. His latest book, Hiding in HIP HOP is available on Amazon.com and later this month, wherever books are sold.
I also would like to point you toward a new blog about the life of a young woman and her dating adventures. The blog is penned by five different women, albeit, anonymously. One of my friends is a contributor, although, she swore me to secrecy. It's fun and funny, so take a peek at The O Spot.
Finally, check out Bryant Monteilh, another good friend, who recently launched a video newscast for his radio station. Monteilh is a news radio announcer on the Michigan-Indiana border, known as Michiana. Check out his latest video clip, here. The pink poodle story is worth the click alone! LOL. A pink poodle, seriously.
You don't know these people and most of you reading this, don't even know me.
But ask yourself: What would it hurt to take a few minutes of your time by visiting these three Web sites and perhaps *gasp* leaving a comment?
You may learn something. You may even laugh. Most importantly, you will do something positive to help someone else. That positive energy will come back to you when least expect it but need it most.
If you have been keeping up with this blog (I thank you as I learned yesterday, my own mother does not *sighs*), you may know I needed desperately to edit my manuscript before sending it to an agent who requested it. I went to a message board to seek editing help where some evil critters ate me up before they spit me out.
This week, I went back to that site for the first time since that episode to delete my account. Waiting for me, was an email from a former English/creative writing teacher and editor to several published book authors. She offered to read my first few pages. She gave me fabulous notes and pointed me in the right direction to polish my writing. As if that wasn't enough, this godsend, fell in love with my book (it wasn't as bad as I thought!! woo-hoo!!) and offered to read and help me edit the entire 83,000-word manuscript. She offered this at no charge. Funny thing is, she said she was repaying all the countless hours her mentor put into her.
Welcome to The Favour Bank.
Don't worry if you haven't read Wolfe's masterpiece, Bonfire of the Vanities, perhaps you've seen the movie, Pay It Forward or read another masterpiece by litery fiction writer, Paulo Coelho, The Zahir. Wolfe invented The Favour Bank, and Coelho made it a rule to live and love by.
The idea is simple: do things to help others without expecting things in return. In the 'bank' ideology that is called a deposit. People can make deposits into their accounts in a myriad of ways from the simplistic to the grandiose.
One of my favorite ways of making deposits is by using my networking skills. Over the years I have amassed a great web of friends and colleagues throughout several countries now and all from different walks of life. As the theory goes, if you righteously make deposits into your account when the time comes for you to make a withdrawal, somebody will make a deposit on your behalf. Most likely, it's not the person(s) whom you've helped. I'm not as genius as Wolfe or Coelho, at least not yet, so I hope that you get the idea.
Many of us live our lives like this without calling it anything. We help people because we are just good people. Those who are like that have the biggest accounts in The Favour Bank. Those are people I'm telling you about today.
I have written about Terrance Dean before, so you should know I am biased when it comes to him. He is a wonderful soul but beyond that, an extremely brave one. Dean has written a memoir, which coincidentally outs a great deal of Hip Hop moguls and personalities as being homosexual. His story is riveting, heartfelt and will change the level of acceptance in the music industry as it pertains to those with alternative lifestyles.
Visit his Web site, www.TerranceDean.blogspot.com. His latest book, Hiding in HIP HOP is available on Amazon.com and later this month, wherever books are sold.
I also would like to point you toward a new blog about the life of a young woman and her dating adventures. The blog is penned by five different women, albeit, anonymously. One of my friends is a contributor, although, she swore me to secrecy. It's fun and funny, so take a peek at The O Spot.
Finally, check out Bryant Monteilh, another good friend, who recently launched a video newscast for his radio station. Monteilh is a news radio announcer on the Michigan-Indiana border, known as Michiana. Check out his latest video clip, here. The pink poodle story is worth the click alone! LOL. A pink poodle, seriously.
You don't know these people and most of you reading this, don't even know me.
But ask yourself: What would it hurt to take a few minutes of your time by visiting these three Web sites and perhaps *gasp* leaving a comment?
You may learn something. You may even laugh. Most importantly, you will do something positive to help someone else. That positive energy will come back to you when least expect it but need it most.
If you have been keeping up with this blog (I thank you as I learned yesterday, my own mother does not *sighs*), you may know I needed desperately to edit my manuscript before sending it to an agent who requested it. I went to a message board to seek editing help where some evil critters ate me up before they spit me out.
This week, I went back to that site for the first time since that episode to delete my account. Waiting for me, was an email from a former English/creative writing teacher and editor to several published book authors. She offered to read my first few pages. She gave me fabulous notes and pointed me in the right direction to polish my writing. As if that wasn't enough, this godsend, fell in love with my book (it wasn't as bad as I thought!! woo-hoo!!) and offered to read and help me edit the entire 83,000-word manuscript. She offered this at no charge. Funny thing is, she said she was repaying all the countless hours her mentor put into her.
Welcome to The Favour Bank.
It appears that this former English/creative writing teacher/editor has come full circle... Great!
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Hey Nina!
It's not only that. I am not the first or only person she helped/s. She was actively looking for manuscripts to read. I truly think it's not just about her but an entire system where people come and go with different needs. At the time, she was giving, I happened to be in need and she found me.
As I am not an editor, per say, I won't be able to repay that debt in the same way. However, when I meet someone I can help by putting them in touch with someone else, I do my best to help them, etc. I think The Favour Bank is more about perpetuating acts of kindness than one's own journey. Although, it makes one's journey all the more enjoyable for being able to help.
Thanks for reading.
LL
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A.
As Always you make us think... you are so right about many not realizing that the Favour Bank exists.....then again I have just noticed a shift over the past 6 month or so in people where they actually are doing things without expecting something in return. There seems to be a more positive energy flow these days and its almost like you can feel it in the air
I, personally go out of my way to help my friends expecting nothing in return ever. I feel that by accepting something for what it is, and being able to move on and not have my EGO want something in return is the greatest feeling there is.
I have also met/networked with many people over the years and have learned something from all of them. The lesson I have learned from various cultures has allowed me to grow, and allowed my so called Favour Bank to grow, without realizing it until your little and always well written entry.
By the way, I am so happy that your getting help with the manuscript - that is total awesome.. I am so happy for you...good deeds are always recognized and rewarded in the simplest ways at the most unexpected times. Great Job...
M
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Hiya Mannie!
It's terrific that you have experienced this shift towards positive energy. I believe not enough people believe in that. There's never an amount of it that can be considered too much!
You mentioned the ego, which can be a undercover motivator, etc. I try to get away from that by not taking credit for anything that comes out of the help I may have given. I've learned it's best to ignore your own role. Thus, I have taken to do things and then forgetting I have done them. Then credit is never expected! LOL. It works for me.
As always, Mannie, I enjoyed reading your comment. I hope you enjoyed your birthday yesterday. Another great Taurean in the clan! Did I ever tell you, the bulk of my mother's family was born in May? LOL. Nina's one of them!Crazy, ain't it?
Thanks for stopping by,
LL
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Here's what Nashville was trying to post in her comment:
Thanks, Nash! Hopefully, it will continue to catch on.
LL
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This was a greate movie..people have no clue what paying forward does for others and for themselves....what seems to always surprise me is how people look at you when you do something nice for them....its almost like a "lost art" in a manner of speaking
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I agree. People are so hardened, we are surprised by random acts of kindness. We are also so cynical, we rarely believe kindness comes without any strings attached. We can change that though, by living it.
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Hello!
I'm a big fan of Paulo Coelho! You will love this! He's the first best-selling
author to be distributing for free his works on his blog:
www.paulocoelhoblog.com">http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com">www.paulocoelhoblog.com
Have a nice day!
Aart
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Hi Aart!
I discovered Paulo Coelho last June while traveling. I was desperate for a book to read and the hostel I was staying at in Frankfurt, Germany didn't have any good trades. Well, my roommate, Cathy, had a little book she loved but wanted to keep. However, since she was soon returning home to Canada, she gave it to me. The book was called, "The Alchemist." A must read for travelers.
Needless to say, I was moved and inspired by the story. However, that's not where my tale ends. After the summer, I returned to Norway to retrieve my winter clothes. While there, I couldn't help but tell my sis-n-law about this great book I read and its author. The funny part of the whole thing is, while I was gone she had discovered him too. She gave me "The Zahir" to read, where I discovered his spin on The Favour Bank (his spelling, btw).
"The Zahir" is now my favorite book, ahead of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." "The Witch of Portobello" was enchanting but not my favorite of his works.
Thanks for sharing his blog, I will add it to my blogroll. For those who like crime thrillers, J. A. Konrath gives his work away free too. Different genre but the sentiment's the same.
Thanks for stopping by Aart. Welcome to the Met.
LL
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We better get front row seats when the tour goes out!
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People reap what they sow. This is the law of cause and effect, or the law of karma, and it applies generally to all aspects of human interaction with each other. Accordingly, because I know that the law of karma does actually work in human affairs, whether people believe in it or not, I can attest to anyone that the Favour Bank principle, which is essentially the same thing as the law of karma in my opinion, will work for them if they do their own part by treating others as they themselves would like to be treated at any time, whether in need or otherwise.
But even if people do not believe in such concepts like karma, and there are people like that everywhere, surely such people can still appreciate that this world would be a far more pleasant place for everyone including themselves if human behaviour naturally entailed being kind to each other.
Maybe people should be less concerned with reward, and more focused on doing their part to make this world a better place. Because, in so doing, the person we really help is ourself.
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Hey LuvDane,
Your comparison of The Favour Bank concept is to the law of karma is on point. However, when one uses words like 'karma' the general population reacts negatively. I think that is quite funny as karma is only the return of what one puts out into the universe.
As mentioned, in BotV Wolfe used it to describe the old boy network that corporate America thrives on. However, in The Zahir Coelho's protagonist makes withdrawals to help find the location of his missing wife. It can truly be applied to anything, the same with karma.
Perhaps both of these authors understood what I don't. That the religious GP needs their dose of karma with heaping spoonfuls of sugar. LOL. At any rate, you are right. The world would indeed be a better place if we would all apply this simple philosophy to our lives. I figure it can start with me.
Thanks for reading,
LL
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