The Huffington Post | By Alena Hall
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Posted: 06/17/2014 4:43 pm EDT Updated: 06/17/2014 4:59 pm EDT Print Article
As we strive to achieve our various goals in life, we encounter countless opportunities to help others succeed simultaneously. And according to Adam Grant, taking the time to give back in these situations is what will make us truly successful.
Grant -- the youngest tenured and highest-rated professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, author of Give and Take, and the inspiration behind our Go Giver series here at The Huffington Post -- joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani today to discuss why we should all include giving when we envision the modern American dream.
"When I think about people who are givers, I would just define them as being the kinds of people who enjoy helping others and often do it with no strings attached,” says Grant. "And nobody does that every single moment of their lives. On the other end of the spectrum, even the people who are the biggest takers still have moments of concern for others. … I think we all have roles that call out our more generous sides.”
While many think that one must achieve success before acting charitably toward others, Grant’s research actually suggests the opposite.
“There are some people like Bill Gates who succeed first and then start giving back, but the majority of successful people out there began giving long before they achieved greatness,” he says. “I would love to redefine success to say it’s not just what you achieve, it’s also what you help other people achieve.”