Are You Afraid of Giving Too Much Away? A Beach Story With a Bigger Lesson

How do you like to spend your weekends?

This past weekend, I took my two kids to the beach. The sun was shining, the sky was the perfect shade of blue, and the world felt like it had slowed down just enough for us to enjoy it.

As I sat on the sand, watching my children play with a new friend they had just made, I noticed something interesting. Beside me sat a pile of sand toys and an untouched bucket—ours.

Their new friend had invited them to play with their toys, so ours sat there unused.

Not long after, another mother settled down near us with her daughter. Within minutes, I heard the little girl complaining that she didn’t have a bucket to play with. Feeling generous, I picked up our untouched bucket and offered it to her.

“Excuse me, would you like to borrow this one?” I asked.

The mother smiled politely.
But the little girl? She lit up. She ran back and forth to the water, filling and emptying that bucket over and over, completely lost in the joy of play.

I leaned back, feeling that warm satisfaction that follows doing something kind.

A little while later, I took my kids for a quick swim. We were gone maybe 15 minutes. But when we came back… the mother and daughter were gone.

And so was the bucket.

At first, I assumed they must still be nearby. I scanned the shoreline. Nothing. That’s when I realised—they had taken the bucket with them.

I was surprised. I had offered it freely, yes—but to borrow, not to keep.

And in that moment, something clicked.

This is the exact fear so many women in business carry:

“What if I give too much away for free?”
“What if people take my value and never become clients?”
“What if my generosity ends up costing me?”

It’s a real fear.
Because giving your knowledge, time, or expertise can sometimes feel like handing over something valuable… and watching it walk away.

But here’s the truth I keep coming back to:

Focus on the value you’re providing—not on the outcome you can’t control.

That feeling I had when the little girl’s face lit up?
That was priceless.

Maybe she needed that bucket more than we did that day.
Maybe she’ll remember how it felt when a stranger offered her something she needed.
Maybe she’ll carry that moment with her in ways I’ll never know.

And the same is true for your content, your talks, your expertise.

You won’t always know who’s quietly being changed by what you share.
You won’t always see the return immediately.
You won’t always get the bucket back.

But your generosity builds trust.
It builds connection.
And it builds a reputation people remember.

So the next time you fear giving too much, ask yourself:

What if the value you share is exactly what someone needs in that moment?

Keep showing up.
Keep serving.
The right people will remember—and the right clients will always find their way to you.

I’m cheering you on,
Casey xx