The Generosity Mindset® Holiday Gift Guide

Many holiday gift guides are full of things nobody needs. Gadgets that have the shelf life of a fruit fly. Books whose spine is never cracked. Another coffee mug.

Don’t even get me started on fruitcakes, which I detest with a passion. (If you love them, please let me know; I’ll give you any I receive.)

And then there’s the person who’s difficult to buy for. You want to get them some sign of your appreciation for them, but you have no idea.

This gift guide is guaranteed to solve these common gift-giving problems.

This guide represents investments in others and yourself as well. Instead of gifts that depreciate, investments that enhance your reputation as a professional of value. Some you give to others, and yes, some you give to yourself.

All of them build the kind of practice where you're confident in your value, clear on your pricing, and surrounded by people who get what you do.

What to give others

A Google review or LinkedIn recommendation for someone who needs it.

This gift works for just about every small business owner I know. I’ve met very few that have enough.

It will take you just a few minutes, yet it means everything to them.

Referrals and reputation are the lifeblood of small business owners. A thoughtful review or recommendation doesn't just help their marketing. It’s a reminder for them that their work matters. Positive reviews provide a boost during challenging times when everything seems to be going wrong.

Be specific. Don't just say "great to work with" or “super person.” Say what they did, how it helped you, and why someone else should work with them.

Yes, even if you haven’t formally worked with them as their client, you can still leave a review on how thoughtful a professional they are, how their insights have helped you, or what their generosity has meant for your business.

Thoughtful comments on their LinkedIn post.

Not "great insight!" or "love this!" Anyone can do that, which means by definition that it’s not memorable.

Offer something substantive. Offer something that honors them and their unique perspective. Something that adds to the conversation and makes others stop and read.

When you leave a meaningful comment, you're not just engaging with their content. You're raising their visibility. The LinkedIn algorithms reward engagement, and your comment helps their post reach more people.

Additionally, your endorsement signals to everyone else reading that this person's work is worth paying attention to. That’s a precious gift.

A genuine referral to someone who needs exactly what they offer.

Please, don’t do the vague "you two should meet." That’s like throwing a present out on the driveway as you speed by their house, hoping they aren’t looking out the window.

Offer a thoughtful introduction that shows you’ve been paying attention during their elevator pitches and your coffees with them.

"Bill, meet Kriston Sellier. I know you’re considering some branding help for your manufacturing company, and Kriston is a fantastic resource with an outstanding track record. She’ll listen and be respectful of where you are in your thought process." (Follow that Kriston link if you need just such a professional; she's outstanding.)

That's a gift. It shows you were paying attention. It shows you care enough to make a real connection. And it might lead to business for both of them.

A crucial detail: get permission from both parties first. Here are more suggestions on how to do it.

Offer a specific compliment about their work.

Not "great job." The value of such a compliment lasts as long as ice cream on an August day.

A much more effective compliment is something more precise:

"Our common client Sarah told me about how you reframed their problem in an easily digestible way and calmed their fears. They praised you for giving them the message they needed, and I wanted you to know what they said. Kudos to you!"

Specific compliments do two things: they tell the person you're actually paying attention, and they reinforce what they're doing well.

Generic praise is nice. Specific praise is transformative.

I encourage you to send a handwritten card or note if you can. It will be taped on the computer monitor or tacked to the bulletin board and will be a gift that keeps on giving.

An introduction to someone in your network who could help them.

You're not asking for anything. You're not getting a referral fee. You're just making a connection because you see how two people could help each other.

This is what generosity actually looks like in professional practice. You're not giving away your time or your expertise for free. You're using your network to create value for others.

The nudge to a colleague who's second-guessing themselves.

Sometimes people just need to hear "keep going."

They're doing outstanding work. They're on the right track. But maybe they're doubting themselves, or their business is in a lull.

You may or may not know that, but either way, your message could mean everything to them.

Let them know that you see their excellence. Mention something specific about what they’re doing that stands out. Tell them it matters.

That nudge might be the thing that keeps them from quitting right before the breakthrough.

Here’s where a handwritten note works best as well.

What to give yourself

Yes, one aspect of The Generosity Mindset® is taking care of yourself and your business so you're in a sustainable position to help others.

Here are a few gift ideas to sustain yourself and your business.

Permission to take a real vacation

Two weeks. A week. Just take one.

I know what you're thinking: "My clients need me. Things will fall apart."

Here's the truth: If your clients can't survive without you for a week or two, you haven't built partnerships. You've built dependencies, and those client relationships don’t scale.

Codependent relationships trap you, and you’re not serving your clients well if you foster them.

Real vacations force you to build systems, set boundaries, and trust that your work holds up even when you're not hovering over it.

A folder of your own testimonials

Every client compliment. Every thank-you email. Every LinkedIn endorsement or Google review. Every "I couldn't have done the job without you" moment.

Print them. Put them in a folder or a document you can access when you need it.

Imposter syndrome never really goes away if you’re stretching yourself.

On the days when you're questioning whether you're worth what you charge, this folder will remind you that your clients and professional colleagues already know the answer.

It will muzzle the irritating voices in your head that say you’re not ready or capable.

One administrative task permanently off your plate

Bookkeeping. Scheduling. Inbox management. Consider delegating tasks that you have been managing on your own because you believe outsourcing "isn't worth it."

It is worth it.

Every hour you spend on administrative work is an hour you're not spending on the work only you can do. The work that commands premium pricing. The work that builds your reputation.

Outsource the task, and receive the dividend of the hours that get returned to you.

The best gifts aren't wrapped in boxes.

They're investments in seeing your value clearly and helping others see theirs.

This holiday season, give yourself permission to invest in your practice. Give others the recognition and support they deserve.

That's what the Generosity Mindset® is really about.

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I'm John, and I work with service providers who are tired of working too hard for too little money and know they need to do something about their pricing. If you're seeking a gift for a colleague who struggles with pricing confidence, you might consider The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices. Read the reviews before you buy here.