Give First, Receive Abundantly: Our Annual Tradition Starts Now

• 5 min read

You’ve heard us say it a hundred times: give first, receive abundantly.

It’s the foundation of everything we write about. The principle behind the reciprocity rule. The breakthrough moment in our upcoming book when Sarah stops counting referrals and starts building real relationships. The reason our platform tracks who gives, not just who shows up.

Give first. It sounds simple. But here’s the thing about values: they don’t mean much until you act on them.

So this Christmas, we’re starting a tradition.

The Rhythm of Giving

We haven’t launched yet. We’re still building. Still writing. Still preparing to welcome our first members in January.

But we’re not waiting to live our values.

Every December, Rhythm of Business will make a meaningful contribution to organizations supporting families in our community. This year, it’s a donation to help provide meals, shelter, and dignity to people who need it most during the holidays.

This isn’t a marketing play. We’re not asking for anything in return. We’re not tracking ROI on generosity.

We’re just doing what we ask our future members to do: give first.

Why This Matters Before We Launch

You might think, “Shouldn’t you wait until you have revenue? Until you have members? Until you’re actually a company?”

Here’s what we’ve learned from building this platform: the people who wait to give until they have “enough” never give.

They say, “I’ll start referring others once I get my first referral.” They never do.

They say, “I’ll be generous once my business is stable.” It never is.

They say, “I’ll give back when I have more time.” Time doesn’t appear.

Giving first isn’t something you earn the right to do. It’s something you decide to do. Right now. Before you’re ready. Before the circumstances are perfect.

That’s what we’re doing today.

“Your network doesn’t owe you referrals. But when you give first, they feel compelled to give back. Reciprocity isn’t manipulation. It’s human nature.”

What We’re Building - and Why Values Come First

Rhythm of Business exists to help local business owners get warm referrals without the networking overwhelm. 30 minutes a week instead of 6+ hours a month. Real relationships instead of handshake theater.

But the platform is just the tool. What matters is the culture we build around it.

We want to attract people who understand that networking isn’t about taking. It’s about giving first and building relationships that compound over time.

If we want that culture, we have to model it. Not eventually. Now.

So every December, this is what we’ll do:

  • Make a meaningful contribution to community organizations
  • Publish what we gave and what impact it had (starting next month)
  • Invite our members to share their own giving stories

We’re calling it the Rhythm of Giving.

The Compounding Effect of Generosity

In our book, Sarah spends weeks giving referrals without receiving anything back. She connects Emma with clients. Helps Tom with resources. Mentions Miguel in her videos. Week after week, nothing comes back.

Then in Week 9, everything changes. The referrals start flowing. Not because she asked harder. Because she’d built something she didn’t know she was building: a network of people who wanted to help her back.

That’s how generosity works. It compounds invisibly, then suddenly.

Every referral you give creates a small debt. Not a transactional debt - a relational one. People remember who helped them. They look for opportunities to return the favor. They mention your name in rooms you’re not in.

Give 3 referrals before asking for 1. Give without keeping score. Give because it’s who you are, not because of what you’ll get.

The returns take care of themselves.

“Give first. Give generously. Give without keeping score. Then when you ask, your network will move mountains for you.”

An Invitation

If you’re reading this on Christmas Day, we have a simple invitation:

Think about one person you can help this week. Not for business reasons. Not for networking ROI. Just because you can.

Maybe it’s an introduction you’ve been meaning to make. Maybe it’s a resource you could share. Maybe it’s just reaching out to someone who’s been quiet lately to ask if they’re okay.

Generosity isn’t about the size of the gift. It’s about the decision to give without expecting anything back.

That’s the rhythm we want to set. For ourselves. For our future members. For the kind of business community we believe is possible.

Give first. The rest follows.

What’s Next

In January, we’ll publish what we gave and the impact it had. We’ll also be launching Rhythm of Business for our first members - local business owners in Southern British Columbia who are tired of networking that eats their time and delivers inconsistent results.

If that sounds like you, find your group and get on the list. First 50 members get something special we’ll announce soon.

Until then: Merry Christmas. Give first. Receive abundantly.

- Neil Hughes
Founder, Rhythm of Business

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