Leaders carry a responsibility that stretches beyond titles, success or influence. True leadership is about giving back. At the end of the day, the secret to living is giving.
I learned this lesson not from a classroom or a textbook, but from lived experience. It happened the very moment I stepped off a plane at JFK airport as a 16-year-old kid from the Dominican Republic.
I had come to America in search of a better life. Back home, the island air was always 80 degrees, warm, humid, familiar. But that December day in New York, I was wearing nothing but a T-shirt and jeans. I’ll never forget the shock when the cold air hit me. To me, it felt like I had stepped straight into the freezer of the refrigerator in our small home in Santo Domingo. I remember shivering, confused by how an entire country could be so cold.
But what stands out most from that day wasn’t the cold, it was the warmth of the people. Strangers looked out for me, making sure I had something to wear. My cousin Maribel and her husband Randy stepped in, making sure I had not only clothes but the basic necessities to survive and start fresh. Their generosity became a lifeline during those vulnerable early days when I was trying to adjust to a new country, a new culture, and a new way of life.
That kindness planted a seed in me. It taught me something profound: when you are at your lowest, the smallest act of generosity can feel like a miracle. And because of that, I have always felt a deep responsibility to pass it forward.
Over the years, through our businesses, my family and I have made it our mission to give back to the youth and the communities we serve. Why? Because I know what it feels like to stand in the cold with nothing but a thin T-shirt and a hope that someone will care. Every time I’ve extended a hand to a young person or supported a community cause, I am really paying forward the love and generosity shown to me when I was most vulnerable.
But giving is not just about grand gestures. It’s about being intentional in everyday life. It’s the smile you offer someone who’s having a tough day. It’s the time you take to mentor a young person who needs guidance. It’s the willingness to listen when someone feels unseen. These seemingly small actions may not look like much in the moment, but they can create a ripple that lasts for years.
I’ve seen this ripple effect firsthand. Sometimes it’s a young employee who started working with us, gained confidence, and later built a career of their own. Sometimes it’s a student we’ve supported who came back years later to say that the encouragement they received made them believe in themselves. Those moments remind me that generosity is not wasted, it always finds its way back into the world.
When I reflect on my journey, I realize the people who helped me all those years ago didn’t know who I would become. They didn’t help me because of what I could do for them. They helped me simply because it was the right thing to do. And that is what true leadership looks like.
Every one of us has the ability to make an impact. You don’t need a title to lead. You don’t need wealth to give. What you need is intention. You need the awareness that your actions, big or small, can shape another person’s story.
That is the power every single one of us carries. You never know who you can impact by showing kindness when someone feels like there’s no hope. You never know what doors can open for another person simply because you chose to give.
And that’s the heartbeat of true leadership. That is the legacy worth building.
The secret to living really is giving. And my hope is that together, we can keep passing it forward, one act of kindness at a time.
This is a contributed opinion column. Juan Martinez is the founder of Don Juan Mex Grill, a fast casual Latin inspired restaurant with five locations around the Lehigh Valley PA area. juan@donjuanmexgrill.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/05/talking-business-with-juan-martinez-the-secret-to-living-is-giving/
