By Marc C. Shaffer
One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that when the same idea keeps showing up from different places, it’s usually worth paying attention.
That’s exactly how I first heard about Give to Grow by Mo Bunnell.
As many of you know, Jeff Pelaccio, host of the Corporate Couch Podcast, and I meet regularly. Sometimes it’s for happy hour, other times it’s in between meetings, and often it’s to record our “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” podcast. In one of those conversations, Jeff mentioned that he had an upcoming author he was interviewing whose book felt very similar to the concepts behind my own book, One For All: How to Systemize Kindness, Grow Your Network, and Support Others Like It’s Your Job.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
The message immediately resonated with me and reinforced why I wrote One For All and who I wrote it for. Before I even opened Give to Grow, that conversation alone brought me back to a core belief that guides much of my work: meaningful success tends to grow out of helping others first.
About Give to Grow
BardPress.com offers this overview of the book.
Relationships are the foundation of our long-term business success.
The problem is a million things get in the way:
“I don’t have enough time.”
“I don’t want to be a nag.”
“They are super busy right now.”
And the biggest one—“I’m just not good at this.”
There’s a simple solution to breaking through all this noise: Giving.
When you focus on giving, you will remove your own mental roadblocks. You’ll be centered on solving the client’s problems and investing in their success. And you can build a system to consistently integrate the right moves into your busy work life.
The real magic to this approach: It’s always your move, and there’s always a way to be helpful. In “Give to Grow,” Mo Bunnell shows how to develop the growth mindset that keeps the focus on the relationship.
A great deal might make your year, but a great relationship can make your entire career.
No matter where you are in your career, “Give to Grow” will help you build the relationships you need to make the impact you want.
The Core Idea Behind Give to Grow
Give to Grow centers on a simple but powerful idea. Long-term growth often comes from leading with generosity.
Rather than focusing on immediate outcomes, Mo Bunnell encourages readers to invest in relationships by being helpful, thoughtful, and genuinely supportive without keeping score. The book emphasizes showing up for people in ways that matter to them and trusting that, over time, those relationships may deepen in meaningful ways.
For professionals who depend on trust, reputation, and long-term relationships, including financial planners, advisors, and business owners, this framework often feels intuitive rather than revolutionary.
Why the Message Felt So Familiar
As I worked through Give to Grow, it became clear why Jeff immediately thought of One For All. Both books share a belief that success is rarely built in isolation. Progress tends to happen when people intentionally invest in others, contribute to shared growth, and focus on strengthening the whole.
In One For All, the emphasis is on building intentional systems that help people support each other. It provides a roadmap for how generosity and connection can become repeatable practices instead of occasional acts.
Give to Grow explores how that same mindset plays out at the individual relationship level. The perspectives are different, but the foundation is the same.
If you’d like to learn more about One For All, including the philosophy behind it and how to apply its approach, you can find additional information here:
Individual Generosity and Collective Strength
One of the strongest connections between the two books is how they treat generosity. In Give to Grow, generosity often shows up through actions like:
- Making thoughtful introductions
- Offering insight before expecting anything in return
- Remaining supportive over time
- Helping others without tracking outcomes
In One For All, generosity becomes the glue that holds communities together. When individuals give consistently, trust can grow. When trust grows, collaboration often follows. Over time, the entire ecosystem may become stronger.
What This Means for Financial Planning
Financial planning is built on trust. Clients aren’t just sharing numbers. They are sharing concerns, goals, and hopes for the future.
Trust often develops because an advisor:
- Listens without rushing
- Provides clarity instead of pressure
- Connects clients to helpful resources
- Shows up consistently, even when there is no immediate action to take
This is where Give to Grow aligns closely with a fiduciary financial advisor mindset. Acting in a client’s best interest often means prioritizing long-term understanding over short-term transactions. Some advisors may find that generosity through time, insight, or community involvement helps foster deeper and more durable client relationships.
Growth That Develops Naturally
One of the most valuable takeaways from Give to Grow is its reframing of growth. Rather than something to chase aggressively, growth often develops gradually when professionals:
- Invest in people
- Remain patient
- Focus on consistent generosity
- Prioritize long-term value
This mirrors how healthy communities function. When individuals contribute without immediate expectations, trust can deepen and opportunities may follow, even if not in predictable ways. That same principle sits at the heart of One For All. Strong communities do not form overnight. They are built through repeated, intentional actions by people who care about something larger than themselves.
Reflections for Professionals and Advisors
Reading Give to Grow alongside One For All may prompt some thoughtful reflection:
- Who am I intentionally helping right now?
- How do I contribute to my professional and local community?
- Am I focused on transactions or long-term relationships?
- What kind of impact do I want to leave behind?
For financial planners, this may show up in many ways:
- Prioritizing education before implementation
- Making introductions that support client goals
- Participating in community events
- Supporting peers and collaborators
None of these actions promise specific outcomes. However, they may help build trust, resilience, and connection over time.
Final Thoughts
Give to Grow reinforced something I already believed when writing One For All. Meaningful success is rarely accidental, and it is rarely built alone. When professionals choose generosity, patience, and community over quick wins, they help create environments where people and relationships can thrive. This is often where families and business owners choose to work with a financial advisor. Trust develops through consistent actions, shared values, and genuine care.