One of the most considerable virtues that you can practice today is the virtue of paying people back, no matter how small it is.
Most people tend to ignore small favors extended to them, especially from strangers or common acquaintances. However, they fail to realize that these small things and encounters can lead to more significant opportunities.
Below is a written version of the podcast between Max Av and Peter that discusses the importance of the virtue of paying back. Check it out, and you will realize why practicing this virtue is essential and how it can benefit you.
Max: When I bought somebody a Chipotle, I’m like, “Yo, Venmo me.” I use it as a massive signal to me that if I give you money, you should give it back. If I give money to a person and they don’t give it back, this signals that the person has a little carelessness—things in the Bronx tale like that educated me relatively.
Peter: Or that’s the last time I’ll ever give that person anything.
Max: It’s worth losing 20 bucks to understand if someone can be trusted with money. So if you bought somebody food and you ask them to Venmo you, and you have to tell them to Venmo you more than once, the person is careless about you.
You are not a priority to them. They do not have that respect for you. So last time I bought somebody to Chipotle, I asked them to Venmo me. I asked them twice to Venmo me. They have never been Venmo me, but let me tell you what happened. So I understand the person is careless about me. He does not have this level.
He does not have a high level of respect for me, but guess what? His friend who overheard me said, I know this person. I’m going to pay you for him. This person overheard and paid me money for him. That’s how respectful. He knows the importance of paying people back.
Peter: Or maybe that person thought, I know who this person is. I know he makes a lot of money. That’s why he doesn’t want to pay you back.
Max: It makes like a healthy five-figure, maybe low six-figure salary. It’s not about money. It’s about respect and empathy towards another person. Can I get paid for the Chipola? I got you. We’re not even friends like that. We’re not even,
Peter: Or maybe he thought, “I don’t think I’ll ever go out to eat with you again so you can pay for me.” *laughs*
Max: Come on. It’s not about the money, “I asked you twice. Where’s your respect, bro”. Like, I don’t care about the money. It’s about Respect. It’s about paying people back. And so, the person who overheard paid for him because that person has empathy and respect. I can tell you his name, but afterward, the thing is like, come on. Trust me, and if you have to tell a person more than once they pay you back, they’re not talking.
The Virtue of Paying People Back Has its Rewards
As max has said, “it’s not about the money. It’s about the respect.” The biggest lesson we can get from the podcast is respecting begets respect.
Regardless of how little and insignificant it may seem, it would help if you always tried to pay back anyone that does you a favor. Who knows? It might open more enormous doors for you, which will lead you to more success in your endeavors.
