Mom always said, "It's all fun and games until someone has a detached retina!" Which, to answer many of your emails, is why there was no edition last week. I've been out of commission for several weeks due to a retina detachment. So here's my PSA for you: Because I noticed the early warning signs (an increase in weird floaters, a shadow in my peripheral vision, a flash of bright arcing lights) I received excellent medical care early and I'm on the road to a full recovery while rocking an eye patch and honing my pirate-speak. Arr. (See, I'm getting pretty good.) But I digress...

Wharton organizational psychologist Adam Grant summaries three workplace reciprocation styles in his book, Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success:

1. Takers: These employees place their own interests above all else and view the world through a competitive dog-eat-dingo, survivor of the fittest lens.

2. Matchers: When people do these employees a favor, "matchers" repay them in a capacity that is roughly equivalent: never more, never less. And when they help someone, they expect the same in return.

3. Givers: These are the rarest breed of employees, according to Grant. These employees consistently think of others and generously share their time, support, ideas, and mentorship. The key to their success is that they give in such a way that it never compromises their own work or depletes their own well. 

According to several studies, givers are more efficient engineers and higher-grossing salespeople. They tend to be happier, advance in their careers more quickly, and are seen as being more intelligent.

As we emerge from this challenging time, it seems to me that the world could certainly do with a heck of a lot more givers than takers. And just imagine how inspiring and how collaborative your workplace would be if as many people as possible adapted a more giving mindset.