This powerful concept immediately grabbed my attention, maybe because it aptly characterized something that has been floating shapelessly at the back of my mind. Also, according to reports, recent studies conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School show that "people were significantly happier at the end of the day if they'd been instructed to spend the money on others rather than on themselves" (refer to "Those who give money to others rate themselves as happier, study suggests" at The Daily Gleaner. See also "The path to happiness: it is better to give than receive" at guardian.co.uk).

 

The phrase “be a river, not a dam” was used by the Health Ranger: 

You see, the “me” in everyone has been growing since childhood.  That is normal and is an integral part of self-preservation. We accumulate cash, properties and opportunities. We work (hard or otherwise) to fill up our reservoir, so to speak, and prosper.  Some have huge reservoirs; others, just enough. What is NOT normal, I believe, is sharing our prosperity with others.  I do not only mean giving gifts to our less fortunate brothers and sisters, although that is something everyone should also do.  What I mean is sharing opportunities with others; not just the fruits, but the roots. The reason is simple.  "Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for life."  Who knows he may also teach others how to fish, paying it forward.

 

This is the concept of the Pinoy Entrepreneurs community. Everyone is encouraged to share with others, whether it is a business opportunity, or a tip or two. Everyone is encouraged to share their stories so that others may be encouraged to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

 

Now, what if you teach someone how to fish, then he builds a fleet and pushes you to extinction? Here’s the opposite mindset: hold on to the opportunity as much as possible. This is reflected in exclusive contracts, patents, monopolies, etc. These concepts are perfectly normal and, in fact, also serve a purpose.   

In the end, it's a judgment call. It is, as we love to say, on a case to case basis. But what I’m discussing is NOT the normal concept.