Companiesandme

What would the world be like if we all made an effort to create joy for others on a daily basis? One of the things I like best about my job is that our company has an actual mission around this idea. Our mission statement is literally "To create opportunities to celebrate the joy of life." Through our philanthropy program, Joie de Vivre Gives, we create ways to give back to San Francisco that I've found personally transformative. One event in particular comes to mind as an example of how little things can create joy for others and boomerang it back to us.

Last December, we held an event called "A Good Day" that was inspiring in terms of how to practice generosity – and the power of setting this virtuous cycle in motion. The event brought 65 homeless community members and 75 volunteers, many of them Joie de Vivre employees, to the Good Hotel in San Francisco for a day of pampering: manicures, makeup, haircuts, massages, new clothes, a gourmet dinner, and dancing. The goal was to give our guests a good day by treating them to the little things that make a person feel cared for.

Throughout the day, I witnessed many moments of real connection between people whose lives couldn't have been more different from the outside. I saw a front office manager from one of our hotels helping a woman select a new outfit, and a reservationist from another putting on a woman's makeup with great care. Later, as we all danced together to "Brown Eyed Girl," you couldn't tell who was homeless and who was a volunteer. Our CEO often talks about the power of generosity – for example, people who are unemployed and volunteer their time tend to find a job faster. Sometimes the small things gain momentum and become something big. 

How do you create joy for others – and how does giving it bring joy into your own life?