Carnegie's Legacy of Philanthropy for Personal Growth

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The age-old question sparks both popular and unique answers from children. A police officer. A professional basketball player. Even royalty, perhaps. If we dig deeper into those answers, we can uncover a single truth they share.

We all dreamed of what we would grow up to be as kids. Of course, our answer to that classic question changes as we get older and wiser.

What does everyone genuinely want to be when they grow up? Happy.

If you aren’t on your best-life journey, stop what you are doing and read this. Rediscover your path to success using famed steel tycoon and humanitarian Andrew Carnegie’s guiding principles of philanthropy.

Will it make you rich? Yes, but not necessarily wealthy.

Educators know it as “filling your bucket.” It’s the idea that everyone carries around a bucket needing filling.

Want to know how to get it full? You actually give to get. The more you give away, the more you get back. Give out compliments and kind words. Give respect and a positive attitude. Get the same and so much more in return.

Personal development is about reaching fulfillment–Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization-type goals. Reach enlightenment and contentment by doing charitable deeds. Look outwards, and internal things have a way of automatically aligning.

The secret is that you can’t do good deeds for the sole purpose of being fulfilled. That’s a self-absorbed goal that won’t work out for you.

Carnegie outlined some key points to remember when finding the causes that mean the most to you.

Carnegie believed that everyone should use their fortune to promote the general good of the world. Those with wealth have a responsibility to use it to lift others up.

He did not believe in hanging on to money to give to his heirs when he died. After all, if they hadn’t worked for it, they couldn’t really appreciate it. They’d end up entitled and lazy.

Neither did he believe in giving randomly. He didn’t want to help those who didn’t bother to help themselves. To him, that would reward bad habits and discourage good ones.

Give creatively. Let your values, experiences, and interests drive your decisions.

As a young man, Carnegie spent time in the library of a prosperous local businessman. His time there was special. The knowledge and self-improvement he gained were pivotal. He likely leaned on this experience when he funded the construction of some 2,811 public libraries nationwide.

Does that mean you should build libraries? Not unless it’s meaningful to you.

Andrew Carnegie wanted to ensure he did the most good with his money. He approached giving the way he did investing. What would generate the most generous return on investment?

If you’re looking to donate to an established organization, how good is that organization? Are they a sound business? How will you measure the success of your contribution?

Carnegie compounded the return on his library donations by encouraging participation and ownership. Carnegie only paid for the actual buildings. And only after seeing legit business plans for acquiring staff members and books.

He believed that if a person truly wanted to achieve something, they must put in the effort, or else it wouldn’t mean as much to them. As a result, those cities that chose to accept his generous offer of building a library had to put in the effort and funding to stock and maintain it.

Giving should make you feel good–like one of the best things you’ve ever done. You shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to give or do it out of guilt.

Give with a grateful heart. Your hard work has made you successful, so you pay it forward and help others.

Carnegie wrote about a few unique things he did that helped him grow personally and succeed. You don’t have to wait to discover these on your own. You get to learn directly from the man, the myth, the legend.

Here are Carnegie’s keys to success, personal growth, and philanthropic endeavors:

Andrew Carnegie wrote, “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.” His success in riches is unmatched by today’s renowned innovators and business leaders.

However, his willingness to give away his fortunes to improve society made him the legend he is today. He knew his money was no good to him if he didn’t use it to better the world he lived in. We can use his legacy of philanthropy to grow personally and achieve true happiness in life.