“A generous person will prosper. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” ~ Proverbs 11:25
That verse has taken on a whole new meaning since moving from South Florida to the quiet woods of North Florida. I thought I knew what generosity looked like.
I grew up hearing about it, reading about it, and believing in it. But living here has shown me a kind of generosity that’s active, humble, and woven into daily life.
And it’s been teaching me something beautiful about entrepreneurs helping each other, too.
When we moved earlier this year, I expected peaceful mornings and quiet space, but I also expected to feel a little lonely.
We didn’t know anyone, and the houses are so far apart that I wasn’t sure how we’d even connect with anyone in our community.
Instead, God surprised us with neighbors who’d redefine what generosity and genuine community look like.
Every time we visit Chris and Becky, we walk away with something from their land: eggs, tomatoes, plants, even ground venison. Chris talks growing vegetables with Rudy every time they see each other and lets him borrow his tractor forks from time to time whenever Rudy has something heavy to pick up or move.
My neighbor Dorothy (we call her D for short) is always thinking of what others might need. Whenever she finds something, she thinks I might like, she brings it over; A bread knife she didn’t need, a bible study book she had an extra copy of, and Thanksgiving paper plates she scooped up on sale.
One afternoon, she spent a whole hour teaching me how to make sourdough bread.
She gave me some of her starter, let me borrow her Dutch oven and banneton bowl, and encouraged me to keep going until I bought my own. Her generosity has been steady and heartfelt.
Then there’s the Kelley family of JATM Land Management & Services. They’re fairly new to the neighborhood, as well, but they’ve already become some of the best neighbors anyone could ask for.
One day, three neighborhood goats ran away from home and ended up in our yard. I had no idea who they belonged to, so I called their teenage daughter, Morgan. She knew immediately.
She came over, wrangled all three goats without hesitation, and she and her brother Thomas loaded them into their truck and took them back home.
If you’re in North Florida and need your land cleared, the Kelley family is worth calling. They show up with heart in everything they do.
And then there’s Marianne. When I met her, she was driving by in her 4 x 4 and stopped to say hello to the new neighbors. A few days later, she returned with a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift, then gave up an entire Saturday to teach another neighbor and me how to can.
Who spends their whole day serving strangers? Generous people do.
We’ve been given wooden crates for our market stand, advice on local things, and help we never asked for. Warmth seems to flow here.
It’s been a reminder that generosity is more than a nice idea. It’s a way of living.
And it made me think about business.
What if we treated entrepreneurship like a neighborhood?
Not a competition.
Not a lead list.
Just people helping people because it’s the right thing to do.
Here are five ways entrepreneurs helping each other can become part of our regular rhythm.
Share Knowledge Freely
Just like my neighbors share their harvest, we can share our skills. A tip for simplifying content creation, a tool that saves time, or a trick that makes workflow easier.
Passing along what we know doesn’t take anything away from us. It helps everyone.
Encourage Someone Just Because
We all have days when the to-do list feels too long, the motivation feels too short, and we are just overwhelmed.
A simple “You’re doing great” message can brighten someone’s whole week.
Encouragement doesn’t cost a thing, but it’s often the most generous gift we can offer.
Share Opportunities Instead of Guarding Them
Just like neighbors share tomatoes and eggs, we can share opportunities.
Sometimes you hear about a collaboration or a client that’s a better fit for someone else.
Sometimes your plate’s full and passing along a referral blesses both sides.
Angela Ohme of Much Ado VA did this for me recently when she sent a client my way because she had too much on her plate. It was generous, thoughtful, and rooted in kindness.
Sharing opportunities creates a ripple effect. It’s one of the clearest examples of entrepreneurs helping each other in action.
Give Your Time in Small, Meaningful Ways
Time is one of the most precious things we can offer, and small amounts go a long way.
During a discovery call, Jeannette Jordan of Creations of the Heart Art took time out of her day to walk me through how to use Alignable (A business networking platform).
She didn’t have to. She wasn’t trying to sell me anything. She just wanted to help.
Her generosity made such an impression on me, reminding me of how powerful a few minutes of guidance can be.
Celebrate Other Entrepreneurs Publicly
Celebration is a form of generosity, too.
Sharing someone’s post, writing a thoughtful testimonial, highlighting their work, or introducing them to your audience can elevate their visibility in ways they may never be able to achieve on their own.
When one person’s light shines brighter, it honestly brightens the whole community.
Living in our community has reminded me that generosity doesn’t need to be grand to be meaningful.
Whether you’re in the woods of North Florida or online with a community of faith-driven entrepreneurs, helping each other creates something beautiful.
As The Grateful VA, I want to build my business with that same heart. A heart of service. A heart of support. A heart that remembers we’re better when we grow together.
