Parashat Terumah

This is a past Snapchatorah where Hillel Fuld takes the Torah portion, learns some lessons and apply them to entrepreneurship and startups.

This weeks Torah portion is called Terumah which means Donation and it is about the Jews giving donations in order to build the tabernacle which was sort of like a mobile Temple.

The portion goes into great detail about the construction of this tabernacle including what materials to use what dimensions and so much more. As always I like to focus on just one word, at the beginning of the portion when it says G-d spoke to Moses and said tell the Jews not to give a donation but strangely it said to take a donation.

Giving Selflessly is the epitome of receiving

The answer is everything when you give, more often then not you end up actually getting. In this case Moses was saying to the Jews yes you are giving but actually, you are taking donations, because you are going to be getting so much more. You are going to end up getting blessing and prosperity and much much more.

If you have not yet read Tim Ferriss book Tool of Titans, you must. But I want to focus on one specific chapter called the Canvas Strategy. Tim Ferriss explains what I always believed. The best way to do business is to create a canvas for other people to create masterpieces on, to pave the road for others to succeed, to facilitate success. If you pave the path for others to walk down you end up walking down that path as well, the path to success, but you need to do it without yourself in the equation.

Tim Ferriss says imagine if for every person you meet all that concerned you was how you can help that person what kind of profound effect that would have on you, on them and society. He explains that in the process of helping others you’d establish relationships you’d learn a lot you’d make yourself indispensable and yes you’d have a bank of favors to call upon. Love in Hebrew is אהבה the root of that word is אהב which means give, how do you know you love someone when all you want to do is give them

Make yourself indispensable to others

The lesson for Entrepreneurs, play the long game, take yourself out of the equation, build a brand by helping others providing real value. Get out of sales mode and put yourself in giving mode, or as Gary likes to say Jab Jab Jab – Right Hook. Make sure for everything you take you are giving 5x. You as an entrepreneur or as a company don’t want to be thought of as taker but rather as a giver who is indispensable to others. Go to the extremes with your giving let others take credit for your work. Don’t pursue respect because when you don’t look for it, it will find you in spades.

G-d says to Moses yes tell the Jews that we are collecting donations and they should take donations yes in the short term they are giving but really they are on the receiving end, so the bottom line lesson for you take yourself out of the equation, put yourself in giving mode make yourself indispensable and read Tools of Titans.