Have you ever desired to be a bigger giver of your time and money? This may be the ticket to helping you do just that.

I recently read a book call The Generosity Factor, written by Ken Blanchard and S.Truett Cathy. Now, I'm a slow reader, but this book only took me about six hours to get through. In other words, I highly recommend this book, so don't let time prevent you from picking it up.

Ok, here's my summary and thoughts on The Generosity Factor.

Blanchard tells a fictional story about a wealthy young New York investment broker who feels insignificant but doesn't know why. The broker has a limousine driver who he treats very poorly. The driver is financially poor, but feels very blessed. He smiles the majority of the time, even if there is not a lot to smile about and "...wonders how anyone could live life any other way."

One day, the young broker reads a newspaper column about a successful executive in Denver, CO. The executive attributed all of his success to what he calls The Generosity Factor. In the broker's curiosity and hunger for more success he contacts the executive in order to learn the secret to this "generosity factor." The executive invites him out to Colorado to hang out with him for a couple of days. He promised to show him the secret if he is willing to visit him.

The broker observes many different aspects of the executive's life that tend to appear opposite of the life he had been living.

To make a long story short, the story ends with the broker going back to New York City not fully aware of what he just learned until he talks with the journalist of the newspaper column. After talking with her, the secret to the generosity factor is revealed and his life is changed forever.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

• "Gifts are meant to be given to others."

• "Some people think of generosity as an event. They get behind some causes and participate in an annual fund drive. When their splash is over, it's back to business as usual. But generosity is an attitude. It has to be cultivated daily."

• "To understand moderation, you have to understand extremism. Extremists care about only on thing. Making money is one example. Giving everything away is another. Neither pursuit yields any meaningful results. Extremists who only want to make money benefit only themselves. Extremists who want to give it all away can't generate anything new to give in the future. Extremists caught up in either trap have no time for spouses, families, friends, or relaxation. Moderation means you balance it all in order to benefit all."

• "Held values are what people say. Operational values are what people do."

• Broker: "So you give in order to get?" Executive: "No, I get in order to give."

• "The real bottom line: People who need help."

• "Because much has been given to me, much is required of me. That's my responsibility and I accept it with gratitude."

Now, go read the book in order to find the secret to the generosity factor!