Sometimes, it is not all about you

Recently I was reminded of the importance, and joy, of being able to contribute in a positive way to the world around me.

This was through participation in a charity auction, at which I was up for auction for a ‘lunch date’.

For many years I was the Chair of Oxfam in New Zealand, so I'm not unfamiliar with life's experiences in the NGO sector. It was a great privilege, and gave me so much more than I was ever able to contribute back.

Of course, many good leaders do good things for charities and NGOs, but occasionally something happens which reminds you that it’s not just something on your "to do" list. It is indeed a great joy and offers an inner sense of happiness that's sometimes difficult to achieve in the fast-paced tempo of a leading a company.

This occasion for me was a charity auction run by ChildFund, an organisation which helps children escape poverty in some of the poorest places on earth. Their concept was to conduct an online auction for a one-on-one lunch with a New Zealand corporate leader, and I was approached to participate.

Not surprisingly, given it was a group of CEOs, the concept became quite competitive as the auction rolled out, with plenty of banter between those up-for auction: “Did you see how much that other CEO is going for?!". At one stage I was a little nervous about the security risk of having lunch with a complete stranger and questioned whether this was the wisest choice I had made!

Eventually the auction closed and my top bidder turned out to be a representative from a prominent law firm. My fellow CEOs and I patted ourselves on the back for doing something worthy, and I had an enjoyable lunch with the successful bidder. However, having thought more clearly through the security risks, I pondered whether to do it again.

That was until I was presented with a gorgeous photo of a beautiful young girl in Sri Lanka holding up a sign thanking me personally for the difference the auction had made to her life and her community. It was a sharp readjustment to my perception of what the auction had been about. It wasn't about the rivalry between the CEOs, as her life risks are immeasurably greater than my own. It was about being able to give something to make a difference, and it was a joy to really experience that again.

I think a key lesson for corporate leaders is to not be swept up in your own self-importance. It's humbling and joyful to make our actions about others sometimes, and if ChildFund approaches me to do it again, I'm in.