Pay it Forward

"Uh, thanks! That's awfully kind of you. I'll pay it back, first chance."
"[No,] Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."
-from the book Between Planets by Robert A. Heinlein

If you saw the movie, Pay It Forward, in 2000, then you already know the concept behind the phrase. For those who didn’t see it, Ben Franklin, explains it as follows…

I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.

The idea can be applied to any favor (not just monetary loans). For examples and inspiration check out the Pay It Forward Foundation.

Bottom Line

I was reminded of “Pay It Forward” today by an odd coincidence. The weather is wonderful so I decided to go out for a walk instead of eating lunch. As I was walking out the building I saw someone trying to come in with two pizza boxes so I opened the door for him. When I returned twenty minutes later and passed by our company kitchenette, I saw the same two pizza boxes sitting on the lunch table in an empty room. I walked over and saw a sign attached to a pizza box, “Help yourself.” The pizzas were completely untouched after 20 minutes, not a slice missing.