Todays Nugget comes from John Grigg of the Parnell Chapter in Auckland.

The foundation principle of networking is the universal law of reciprocity. So how old is this law? Here are a couple of quotations:
"Send your grain across the seas, and in time you will get a return".

"A man reaps what he sows…so let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up".

Both quotations are in fact from the Bible, the first from Ecclesiastes 11, written by King Solomon in about 950 BC and the second from Galatians 6, written by the Apostle Paul in about 60 AD. So the law of reciprocity is at least 3000 years old, and has stood the test of time! If there were a BNI translation of the Bible, these quotations might read something like "Give and you will gain", or "Givers gain".

Networking is a life skill based on giving freely, even to our competitors (which helps make the pie bigger), without expectation of reward. However, there will be a return, although it may not be immediate. As the TV commercial says: "It may not happen overnight, but it will happen".

And do remember that giving isn’t limited to business – let’s give generously to our family, friends, and to strangers (perhaps through a charity), as well as by giving qualified referrals.