What do the words equity, savings account and gas tank have in common?
Each requires you to put something in before you take out. If you don’t put anything in, they have nothing to give you back.
This simple concept is an important one for both your personal and professional life.
So far, my week has been full of empty gas tanks: people who want something without putting anything in first.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since graduating college is: don’t run on an empty gas tank.
I believe we should all give more than we take, but why do certain people feel that they deserve to have equity without investing anything first?
Filling up other peoples’ gas tanks before emptying them is crucial. Are you conscious of this concept? Do you give before you take at work and at home?
Cars can’t operate on an empty tank, so why should you?
Do you have people in your life who constantly take instead of give? How did you address the problem?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I love this post. Incredibly true and well stated. I so often feel this way, but never thought of it this way before. Typically when people are ‘draining’ my tank, I try to diminish their influence on my life by keeping my distance.
Most annoying “gas tank drainers”:
1. Friends who don’t respond to emails, phone calls or invites, then suddenly want you to be there for them after being in hibernation for a long period of time.
2. “Friends” who always cancel plans at the last minute.
3. People who want to meet you to collaborate on projects/business, but really they don’t want to hear anything about you, just what you can give them.
4. People who pretend to be entrepreneurs and suck the life out of you trying to make you a part of their “home run” business idea.
5. Bar tabs, cabs and dinner bills…
6. Social Media when not used for a purpose.
And on that note, yes Ashley, I agree- some people need to be kept at a distance until they learn how to fill my tank first.