Are You Giving What’s Needed or Just What’s Easy?

A few months ago, I was leaving a sporting event in New York City, and as the crowd exited the arena, a team of people was handing out sample-size bags of potato chips.

Just a few steps outside, I noticed a man sitting on the sidewalk with a cup and a sign asking for money. He wasn’t getting much in the way of money. Instead, he was accumulating a mountain of those little potato chip bags. Easily, he had around 120 bags surrounding him.

That image has stuck with me. He was clearly asking for one thing—money—but all he received was a pile of potato chips.

Ever felt like that man on the sidewalk? You ask for one thing, but instead, you receive a bunch of things that don’t really help?

This experience has become a powerful reminder for me. Whenever I’m tempted to offer advice or help, I remember the man and his mountain of chips. He wasn’t asking for snacks; he was asking for something else entirely.

It’s easy to give advice, throw out suggestions, or offer solutions that we think are helpful. But is that what the other person truly needs?

Instead of jumping in with what’s easy to give, I strive to listen carefully to what people are actually asking for. It’s about giving what’s needed, not just what’s convenient. Whether in business or personal relationships, true support comes from understanding and meeting people where they are—giving them the tools, guidance, or help they really need.