WII.fm - What's In It for me?

I raised this catchy abbreviation in my previous writing. Personally, this 5-letter question (pronounced as W-double-I-F-M) has helped me in various situations, both in and out of Rotaract. When do we use this question and how do we (really) use it?

Have you come across instances when you are required to make a decision of either ‘do it’ or ‘not do it’? Have you also faced such dilemma as ‘to be’ or ‘not to be’? We can’t escape from such life changing nor threatening circumstance, can we? In Rotaract, I remembered facing my first such circumstance when invited (or shall I say coaxed) to attend my first club meeting. Don’t we all experience this?

Well, WIIFM if I go to this club meeting? For myself, for this girl, for this guy, for my mom, for my dad, for my brother, for my sister, for my colleague, for my boss, for my uncle, for my aunty, for my ex-school mate, or was it for world peace?

We are born as self-centered human beings. Although through the complex development of society created values, many of us were taught (and told) to think, feel and act towards a more socially accepted and civilized path. In a shorter sentence, we have been told to consider ‘Others’ in our lives.

The compelling urge for me to share this WIIFM today in this blog is none other than the increasing lack of understanding and use of this question in many of the Rotaract actions and projects that we do. I am not promoting the (negative) thought of selfishness here. What I am about to deliberate here is the need for any Rotaractor to truly answer this WIIFM question before embarking on the next step, project or accepting a role in the club leadership.

If I accept the nomination as a President of this club, WIIFM? The President asked me to chair or lead this project, WIIFM? Should I be in the committee, WIIFM? They say the DRC and DRA is very fun and beneficial, WIIFM? Attending club meetings, WIIFM? Participating in District events, WIIFM?

No matter what your answer may be; let it be true, convicted and self assured.

We first have to answer to ourselves, before we answer to others.
We first need to live by the reason of our deed, before we call upon others to do it with us.
We first got to grow our conviction, before we convince others.
We first must confirm our real motive, before we examine or judge others’.
We first should help ourselves, before we can think of helping others.

We can only share when we understand why we are sharing. WIIFM to share?

* This is my contribution to coincide with the up-coming Rotary theme – “Rotary Shares”