5 Paths to Positive Character Flow

Giving these gifts -- and an attitude of gratitude -- will boost your success in business and in life.

learn more about Najma Khorrami

By Najma Khorrami

PeopleImages | Getty Images

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In business, positive cash flow is the basic concept of having a flow of money (income) that is higher than the outflow (expenses). Positive cash flow is, of course, necessary for a profitable and successful business.

In everyday living, though, the way we conduct "business" in terms of relationships, both personal and professional, is less black-and-white than positive cash flow. Say you have experience in marketing and a friend asks you for help with advertising an idea. Would you make time to help them? Or do you save all your expertise for paying clients?

There is another type of flow we should pay attention to as we find success — a reversed flow that comes from appreciating what is valuable in life. I call this "positive character flow," and it is characterized by giving more than we take.

Successful entrepreneurs are guided in their decision-making by positive cash flow as well as positive character flow. The value an entrepreneur sees in others and others' assets often strengthens cash flow and character flow.

Here are five gifts you can give, and appreciate in others, in order to promote both positive cash flow and positive character flow.

1. Giving time

In business, a company's assets reflect its cumulative financial holdings, including cash, inventory, land, etc. One of an entrepreneur's assets is time. By appreciating others' time — and also sharing their own — entrepreneurs can recognize and develop significant character. For example, say a volunteer position requires a 200-hour time commitment. The investment is valuable because it reveals one's interests and willingness to give of their time. In return, the commitment itself develops the volunteer's character, i.e., positive character flow.

2. Sharing connections

Connections often help us succeed in business and in life. Valuing connections is extremely important to junior entrepreneurs seeking to build a business. A great example is the show Shark Tank, in which the top prize is connection to a billionaire who has other strategic connections. When a successful entrepreneur gives from another of their assets, namely professional connections, character flow is built. Sharing connections, whether with colleagues, family, or friends, can help shape meaningful relationships. At times, financial rewards are gained by giving or sharing one's connections, like for the Sharks.

Related: 10 Successful 'Shark Tank' Women Alumni Share the Business Lessons They Learned from the Show

3. Offering expertise

Expertise is an asset developed both in business and in life (as wisdom). With success comes an opportunity to pay it forward, which certainly builds character flow. A published author, for example, might help a novice understand the process of publishing a book. Or perhaps an experienced family member helps you negotiate the terms of a professional contract. It's critical to value others' expertise to overcome bottlenecks along a business path.

Related: 3 Benefits to Giving Away Your Services and Sharing Your Expertise

4. A willingness to help

If you're in search of a job, you're likely looking for a desired monetary benefit and/or experience. You sell your education, job history, and skills on your résumé. Your competency is on display, but recruiters are looking for how hard you're willing to work. They want to see your willingness to help with things big and small. A person who is willing to help understands the intangible satisfaction of giving back to others, which makes them a believer in positive character flow.

5. Making others feel good

The biggest pillar, perhaps, in attaining positive character flow in life is rooted in how we make others feel. If we do not show we care, others may feel neglected and ignored, despite our intentions. As a volunteer crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line, I understand the importance of allowing others to feel heard and valued. Such help lines exist to allow those in need to feel heard.

Helping others to feel supported, cared for, valued and appreciated is tremendously vital to a life worth living. Positive character flow is achieved regularly through this last gift. The way we make others feel reflects our appreciation of humanity, decency and goodness. If you are a new or successful entrepreneur, giving back to others — whether personally or professionally — is particularly meaningful. Why? Relationships are strengthened when others are remembered, acknowledged and valued. As psychologist and philosopher William James once said, "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated."

Related: Why Making Others Feel Important Will Make You Happier and More Successful

At the end of the day, both positive character flow and positive cash flow are ingredients to feeling content and satisfied. Learning to appreciate the five gifts above can help bring tangible and intangible rewards, and ultimately success in both business and in life.

Najma Khorrami

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Writer

Founder at Gratitude Circle

Ms. Najma Khorrami, M.P.H., is the Founder at Gratitude Circle, a social media app and tech startup featuring a gratitude hotline thanking frontline workers. Ms. Khorrami is a global and public health professional and her studies include Harvard Business School Online.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

The Dark Side of Pay Transparency — And What to Do If You Find Out You're Being Underpaid
Thinking of a Career Change? Here Are 4 Steps You Can Take to Get There.
A Founder Who Bootstrapped Her Jewelry Business With Just $1,000 Now Sees 7-Figure Revenue Because She Knew Something About Her Customers Nobody Else Did
Everything You Need to Know About Franchise Law
Starting a Business

90% of Online Businesses Fail in Just 4 Months. You Can Avoid the Same Fate By Using These Strategies.

It's not catastrophizing when we think about potential failure; it's in fact a chance for any business to precisely see any outcome and prepare in advance.

Business News

A Scammer Posing as Elon Musk Tricked a Florida Principal into Sending $100K in School Funds: 'I Fell for a Scam'

Dr. Jan McGee has since resigned as principal of Burns Science and Technology Charter in Oak Hill, Florida.

Business News

'Crying Northwestern Kid' Turned His Viral Fan Moment Into a Successful Harvard Admissions Essay. He Says the Experience Taught Him About Empathy.

Six years ago, Phillips was watching No. 8 Northwestern take on No. 1 Gonzaga during March Madness when he became a meme.

Marketing

What Is a Brand Personality? Here's How to Develop One.

Connect with your audience on a deeper level by giving and cultivating your brand a personality. Read here how to do so.