Early in my work with Niteo, I learned about investments in people. I founded Niteo, a local-global charity, to do literacy equity work. With generosity and grace, it was my African experiences and partners who helped me understand the difference between investments and gifts.
Learning about Investing
A little boy walks barefoot in the red-clay, African soil. I don’t know his name and I don’t know his story. He looks so small, but for his distended belly. He wears only a tattered tee that long ago was white, I think. As he walks along the path, camouflaging his childish frame, is the grime of play and neglect.
And then, oh the horror…
My tragic pop of colour…
A red lollipop. How could any gift be more meager and yet more jubilantly held?! This little boy, wielding the candy of a hero!
Looking now, I can see it more clearly. He didn’t need that sweet red orb on a stick, he needed so much more! My meager gifts of pity, handed out on a street corner, call for so much more!
So many years later, as I look at the image snapped into my digital stone, I make a vow again. I will not be the one who brings the gifts and teaches the lie, “I have and you need.” Indeed, there is so much more.
I will leave a legacy of one who doesn’t offer a gift, but rather an investment. It is a commitment, to honor and dignify the child who will become a leader. I will engage and respect. My vow is forever. My vow is to partner.
“Thank you, sweet little boy, with a red lollipop, for the lesson that our world deserves so much more. I hope you enjoyed the candy.”
[Reprinted from www.niteoafrica.org blog]
Investing as a Relationship
In a nutshell, an investment is inherently reciprocal. There is an expectation of a hopeful return in the equation. In the financial world, there is an agreement on both sides.
Sometimes we gift and sometimes we invest. Each plays a different role in establishing a relationship. Neither is right or wrong, just different.
Here are some ideas:
| Gift | Investment |
| Freely Given Creates a hierarchy Instant offering Generosity Unilateral | Expects a Return Creates equity Ongoing exchange Growth Reciprocal |
When we are in service organizations, non-profit work, or community-building, it is important to know when we are ‘gifting’ and when we are ‘investing.’
Throughout my almost 30 years in education, I believe in ‘investing.’
I am pouring out my life for students, teachers, and parents. I invest in my team and my school community. In return, I definitely get paid. And also, I have this life of fulfillment as I stir together the alchemy of meaningful work. In addition, I expect reciprocity and build ‘relationships’ into everything. My motivation is learning.
Invest in Yourself
Yet, there’s an essential relationship to consider within the gifting and investing paradigm:
Your relationship with yourself!
This was a definite investment that was missing for many years of my early leadership. I spent 7-8 years very isolated and very alone as a school leader. Sure, I may have gifted myself some self-care and even a nice vacation. But, those gift didn’t sustain me.
What I needed is to invest in myself.
I needed to grow, change, evolve.
What got me to this point, won’t get me where I want to go.
So, I started investing in myself as a school leader. I joined a Better Leaders, Better Schools Mastermind. Additionally, I did the altMBA, studied with the Neufeld Institute intensively, and pursued the Academy for Leaders and Facilitators’ Training with the Center for Courage and Renewal. Remarkably, I learned how to read professionally AND get my work done.
I started slowly, maybe just 1-2 hours per month, and over time that grew. By the last few years, I was able to devote an average of 3-4 hours per week to my own professional growth.
My investment in my professional growth was the foundation for my professional achievements as a leader and also a huge factor in helping me sustain for over 15 years.
Ready to Invest
You don’t have to be alone on the climb. You can invest in yourself with our Learn Forward™ village. Become a member of the EdLeadership Peak Training and start at whatever tier you feel ready for: Base Camp, Alpine, or Summit levels.