You have a place to sleep, food to eat, and clean water to drink. You have friends and family, people who look out for you and folks who know your face. You have received much in life, and as you’ll see in “A Talent for Giving: Creating a More Generous Society That Benefits Everyone” by John Studzinski (Bloomsbury Business. November 18, 2025) you have much to give.
Think of all that you offer to others every day: you hand out smiles or hugs, let someone go first through a door, raise their spirits through a compliment, or present them with a gift. But Studzinski says that there’s more: you have something to give the world that “focuses on ways to develop your inherent generosity and empathy.”
He calls it “entrepreneurial giving,” which he defines as “giving your time and your skills, lending your knowledge and resources, or providing emotional support, encouragement and… Inspiration.” It’s not “about money at all.” It is about giving as only you can.
To get started, he says, take a selfie and look inward at your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you know what talents you have to share with the world in a way that’s unique to you. Think of it as charity, more than philanthropy; the former implies short-term immediacy, while the latter is long-term. Charity is giving. Philanthropy is, too, but it’s “heavy.”
Next, take your talents where they’re most beneficial—to a place that needs them, a cause you’re passionate about, or an organization that closely mirrors your interests. Know “The Ts of Entrepreneurial Giving,” the main ones of which are talent, time, and treasure. Go it alone, if you spot a problem that needs fixing, but know that two heads are indeed better than one. Be willing to mentor. Learn to network and to innovate. Know how to build trust by listening to others. Learn to channel anger into action.
And always remember this: “The person who can start to change the world is you.”
It seems that every charity in the world knocks on your door as year-end religious observances and festivities approach. It’s the season of giving and you’re overwhelmed by envelopes, emails, and phone calls. Although Studzinski stresses that readers needn’t have a religious mindset there’s a lot of religion-as-touchstone here. It’s simply a great time to read and put into practice the lessons of “A Talent for Giving.”
Giving, says Studzinski, doesn’t mean writing a check. That’s the argument that anchors this book and it should come as a great relief to business owners who are staring at a red line in a difficult year. Yes, even without writing a check you can still help the organizations you are close to. That may be a revolutionary way of thinking about giving. And it’s not just for CEOs: anyone of any age or position can use “A Talent for Giving” to do good.
Bonus: it may lead a young reader to find their best job through action and volunteering to make a difference.
How do you make your generosity mean something no matter what time of the year you give? Grab a copy of “A Talent for Giving” and get started.
