Empower Beggars to Advertise Your Business

When beggars beg you, find inspiration here.

Robert Greenleaf's Book Teacher as Servant: A Parable recommends reevaluating charity, because charity can oppress people, since it cultivates a dominant/subordinate relationship.

So when I can, I have applied this insight when encountering beggars. I avoid handouts, because I want to empower beggars, so I try to find some task they can do for me.

Once, my business needed a witness to sign a document, so I paid a beggar $3.00 to sign. We both won: I got a task done, and the beggar earned income. Instead of having her grovel, I elevated her status, so she could exchange something. A win-win situation!

Other times, when beggars have begged me, I have paid them $2.00 to distribute my business cards that advertise my book The Seduction of Anita Sarkeesian. See the back of the business card below:

When beggars beg you, adopt this idea.