Generosity and Peak Performance

Brett Steenbarger | Forbes

Mention “Wall Street” or “hedge funds” to many people and images of greed and cutthroat competition are likely to come to mind. As I noted in a recent article, however, many of the best practices that I observe among successful money managers are distinctively spiritual. In transcending the ego, they are able to focus deeply, rigorously generate ideas, and find creative ways of expressing those views in markets. Perhaps nowhere is the business/finance stereotype so challenged, however, as in the area of generosity. A broad range of research findings–and observations from trading floors–suggests that giving plays a powerful role in winning and peak performance.

A particularly impressive research summary prepared by the Greater Good Science Center for the Templeton Foundation finds that generosity is significantly associated with happiness, general health and well-being, and quality of life. Interestingly, there appear to be brain links that connect generosity and happiness, with even small acts of giving triggering positive emotional experience.

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