You Get What You Give: The Joyful Business Philosophy That Actually Makes You Money
My husband, Bill and I at an event
This morning, I did something I’ve never done before—I brought my husband to a networking event.
It was the San Antonio Networking Group (SANG), I’ve been before—it's a warm, welcoming group with a good mix of familiar faces and new energy. While my heart will always belong to Working Moms of San Antonio (that’s my home base), I also think it’s important to get out of your usual circles. It keeps you fresh. It reminds you how many different kinds of business owners are out there doing meaningful, joyful work. And having my husband there? Kind of fun! We got to riff off each other a little, talk each other up, and, yes, maybe even rescue each other once or twice when the conversation needed a redirect.
It reminded me of how much I value a great networking partner—someone who can tag-team conversations with you, recommend your work when it feels awkward to do it yourself, or just give you a break when you’ve hit your social limit.
I’ve had that for years with Brit (if you know, you know), and it’s one of the reasons I love going to events with her. But here's the thing: you don’t need a buddy to show up.
Both SANG and Working Moms of San Antonio are the kind of spaces where you can come alone and still feel welcomed. If you’ve been on the fence about showing up to something solo—this is your sign.
Givers Gain—and Other Golden BBs
The guest speaker at SANG today was Howie Nestel, and I’m still thinking about what he said. His message was rooted in this idea:
Givers Gain.
The energy you put into the world comes back to you. Not always immediately. Not always from the same place. But it does come back.
He said life is a mirror—how you treat people, how you show up, how generous you are with your knowledge or time—it all gets reflected. And it’s not just a feel-good idea. It’s a business principle.
Another one that stuck with me?
“There’s no silver bullet in business. Just a million golden BBs.”
That’s it. That’s the message. Business success is built on small actions that compound over time. Consistency. Integrity. Storytelling. Training your team. Nurturing your culture. Following up. Caring.
Philanthropy = The Right People
Howie also shared something that really resonated:
Philanthropy is where the best connections are made.
Because when you give your time and effort to a good cause, you meet people with the same heart. Not just business contacts—true connections. And honestly? Those are the people you want to work with. They lead with values. They believe in generosity. They’re joyful.
Which brings me to...
The People Are the Magic
That golden BB energy was all around the room today. I met so many lovely people—people I hope to stay in touch with and maybe even collaborate with down the road.
Dr. Rosie Bumgardner from Inspiring Optimism handed me a card with a sunflower on it, and I was immediately charmed. Her business is rooted in resilience. She leads engaging workshops and gives keynote speeches that inspire people to keep facing the sun, no matter what.
Cheryl from solowebsolutions.com is a thoughtful, approachable web expert who helps people build and manage their online presence without the overwhelm.
Bernadette, a calm and competent bookkeeper, reminded me how important it is to have someone in your corner who loves the details you don’t.
And Audrey from VentureX showed me what “The Future of Workspaces” can look like. Her community office space is flexible, modern, and focused on creating connections—not just providing Wi-Fi and coffee.
These women were each building joyful businesses of their own—and their energy made the room better.
Joy Makes You Money
This joyful business thing isn’t fluff. It’s strategy. It’s service culture. It’s training your team to connect and empowering them to care. It’s about how you treat people, and how your business feels—to your customers and to your team.
We talked about this in my post on Acapulco and hospitality, and again in my Gen Z service culture post. You can train for connection. You can build a culture that makes people want to stay. And yes, that culture can drive revenue.
R&D: Rip Off and Duplicate (With Credit)
One of my favorite lines from Howie today was his take on R&D. Not Research and Development, but:
Rip Off and Duplicate.
(It’s only fair to credit him since I’m clearly doing that right now.)
In that spirit, I’m passing along a few golden BBs of my own. Take what you need:
Ask yourself: How does joy show up in your business today? And what would it look like to turn that up a notch?
Look at your client or team interactions. Are you giving what you want to get?
When was the last time someone smiled because of something you built? That’s the moment to chase.
If you want to build a more joyful business—one where people feel connected, and yes, where the revenue follows—I’d love to help. That’s my thing.
👉 Visit the blog for more insights
👉 Contact me for consulting or team training
👉 And if you ever get the chance to attend a SANG or WMSA event—go. Bring a friend or go solo. Either way, you’ll leave with something worth keeping. I’d love to see you there!
