Pay It Forward with Purpose
Building a flywheel of success for life and career
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. — 2 Timothy 1:5
When I became a CTO, I asked my mentor how I could ever repay him. This was a man who had opened doors that shaped my entire career. He sent me to a client site in Belgium for six years, invited me to co-found a startup, and enabled me to consult with the Government of India on a prestigious project. Without him, I wouldn’t have stepped into half of those roles. His answer? “Pay it forward.”
That phrase echoes a pattern seen all through Scripture. Moses mentored Joshua. Elijah empowered Elisha. David prepared Solomon to build the temple. Jesus trained the disciples. Paul poured his heart into Timothy and Titus. God’s work is never about just one leader. He thinks in generations.
Like Moses to Joshua and Paul to Timothy, the baton was never meant to stop with us. When we see our success as a gift from God, we’re eager to share it. But when we believe we earned it all on our own, we tend to hold it back.
In the corporate world, paying it forward might look like coaching a junior colleague through their first escalation. Or helping someone chart a career path you’ve already walked. It could be as simple as a coffee conversation or as broad as writing down what you’ve learned for others to read.
My mentor’s legacy didn’t stop with me. And if I do my part, it won’t stop with those I mentor either.
When you pay it forward, the impact may be invisible to you. But it will echo far beyond you.
Reflection:
- Find one person you can intentionally invest in this quarter. Share your time and wisdom generously.
- Tell the stories they won’t find in training manuals: how you made decisions, handled failure, or navigated doubt.
- Pay it forward in a format that fits you, whether through a mentoring lunch, a short note, or a quick video.