“You have a right to your actions, but never to your actions’ fruits.” - Bhagavad Gita It’s a time of year where we focus on giving. We give gifts, we give back to our communities, and we give to charities. So what does it mean to give? And why is it important? Giving is not just a nice thing to do, it’s critical to your wellbeing. We are all connected- the more you give to others, the more you help yourself. For this Five Minute Friday, I revisited an amazing conversation I had with Russell Simons where he shared how the practice of giving has made him incredibly prosperous. Russell Simmons is an American entrepreneur, record producer, yogi, and author. He co-founded Def Jam Recordings and created the fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. He is also the founder of Rush Communications. Russell is one of the richest men in Hip Hop, but he didn’t get there by hoarding all of his wealth. He’s learned that the more he makes the world better, the more his own world is improved. He makes the point that good givers are great getters, but you have to give fully without the expectation that it will benefit you. Learn more about Russell Simmons background and why his practice of philanthropy is key to his success in Episode 723. In This Episode You Will Learn: How black entrepreneurs are inspired by their street experiences (1:30) How integration destroyed the fabric of black communities (3:00) Why Russell loves to empower new artists (4:00) Why Russell chooses to give back (5:00) How giving will help you receive (5:30)