🎁 If you teach a woman to fish

Author

Patrick Kucharson
March 21, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

This is Better Gift Coach, where we share stories of the best gifts ever received/given and then we squeeze them for every last drop of opportunity to replicate what made them great. Then we thoughtfully distill that insight into a very refreshing weekly email.

We can basically hear you audibly making the “aaaaaah” sound after you sip each section of our emails.

Don’t worry, those are clean hands squeezing the orange

A few weeks ago, I published 🎁 What someone grieving really needs which provided suggestions for offering services as bereavement gifts. After publishing that piece, another subscriber, Emily, shared the story of one of her favorite gifts – a friend offering their time & expertise as a birthday gift.

Emily’s story encouraged me to squeeze every last drop out of the topic of “services as a gifts” by expanding on how it can be employed in other gifting occasions (beyond bereavement).

Thanks, Emily!

If you or someone you know would enjoy plant-themed jewelry…check out Emily’s online shop - flfshop.com. Emily is incredibly talented and a fun IG follow.

 

Estimated read time: 2 minutes & 53 seconds

 

 

THE GIFT STORY

🎁THE GIFT:

The “if you teach a man/woman to fish" Gift

Within a few months of getting it, my expensive Anthurium had dropped all of its leaves and was basically a stump with roots. Being inexperienced with this type of plant, my attempts to save it were unsuccessful. One of my “plant besties” offered to take my struggling plant into her care, and thankfully was able to bring it back to life. Once she taught me how to care for it, she mailed it back to me just in time for my birthday. It’s now thriving and is one of my absolute favorite plants, not just because of its beauty, but also because it reminds me of the kindheartedness of my friend.

Emily from Ohio

Your stories inspire others
to be better gift-givers.
Reply with your story of a gift given/received
~ or ~ click the button below

 

🌮 WHY THIS GIFT IS GREAT:

  • Helpful

  • Very thoughtful

  • Budget-friendly

  • Teaches/transfers useful knowledge

  • The background story adds special meaning to the gift

 

 

MAKE THIS GIFT YOUR OWN

 

💡TIPS FOR YOUR GIFT:

Things to consider:

  • Wonderful last-minute gift (the offer is the gift…and they aren’t likely to redeem it on the spot)

  • Most people who “have everything” can always use a helping hand or want to learn something valuable

  • You could also gift the time of a professional (versus volunteering yourself). Read 🎁 What someone grieving really needs for how to approach hiring a pro

  • Offering a helping hand with something they know how to do can be a great gift, but offering your time/expertise to teach/transfer useful knowledge can make an especially awesome gift

 

Knowing how much this community loves pb cups…

 

 Suggested areas to offer time/expertise as gifts:

  • Tech support (calling all you millennials…)

  • Gardening (a gift that grows back every year)

  • Decorating/crafting (a gift they can enjoy daily)

  • Moving (you’ll usually receive free pizza at the end)

  • Handiwork (first-time homeowner need these skills)

  • Financial guidance (tricky to offer, but often needed)

  • Cooking/baking (teach them your dish that they love)

  • Organizing (see 🎁 What someone grieving really needs)

  • Travel companion (don’t forget to make a roadtrip music playlist)

  • Cleaning (offer to help them clean before/after they host a large event)

  • Transportation (airport dropoffs/pickups, designated driver dropoffs/pickups)

  • Escape from in-laws (not that you’ve ever needed one…)

Please reply with any questions/thoughts

 

🚀PUTTING THE GIFT IDEA INTO ACTION:

  • Who on your gift list already “has everything”?___

  • What assistance will be your go-to offer(s) of time/expertise?___


📂 If this gift idea is save-worthy, create a “Gift Ideas” inbox folder & file it away for future use ~or~ find it again in our library.

 

 

COMMUNITY FUN 

▶️FORWARD THIS GIFT IDEA TO:

  • Someone with expertise in a desirable domain

  • Someone who gives gifts for another who “has everything”

And introduce them to your favorite 1-minute-a-week shortcut to always having awesome gift ideas well in advance. They can read past editions and subscribe here.

 

👂LET'S HEAR FROM YOU:

🔍SEEKING GIFT STORIES FOR:

Please reply to this email if you have stories of awesome gifts to share with the community that fall under the below topics:

  • Graduation gifts

  • Gifts for people who “have everything”

  • Mother’s day gifts (never too early for gift ideas to make moms smile)

Thank you!

 

😆GIF/MEME:

Peace, love & peanut butter cups,
Patrick Kucharson
Better Gift Coach

P.S. Inspired by “plant besties”, who wants to be my gift bestie? Reply to this email seeking suggestions for one of your upcoming gifts so I can jumpstart our gift-riendship. Currently, only about 2 of you take me up on this offer each week. I find it an awesome way to connect with you all. I’d like to get that up to around 5 a week by the end of April. Don’t be shy!

 

 

SUBSCRIBER PUTTING OUR IDEAS INTO ACTION:

After being inspired by: 🎁 $0 cost for memories never lost

“So I wrote my friend a letter filled with my favorite memories through the years. It was as much a gift to me as it was for her. It was great to be able to sit down and remember the special times we have shared together. Thank you so much for the inspiration. It was so much better to be able to give her such a special gift.” - Cheryl

Thanks for sharing, Cheryl! It’s stories like these that fuel me to find the best gifts and share them with awesome people like you.


Want more? Here are a few of our past popular posts:
🎁 Thoughtful, free, ready in 15
🎁 Freedom from last min gift headaches
🎁 Big hugs from kids AND their parents

 

 

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