He's giving to his Magesty's Secret Service.  He's giving 
when he risks his life to keep the world away from nuclear war, 
as he often does.  He's giving to the women he rescues.  And he 
always tips. 
 
     There has to be a balance between giving and taking.  You 
should give without being a victim to takers.  And you should 
take freely what is offered to you without feeling the 
obligation to return something directly to that person.
 
     The big problem for those wanting to live the "James Bond 
Lifestyle", is when you're in a friendship with a chronic taker 
and you are a natural giver.  One day it hits you that you have 
been used by this taker for a long time, even years.  When you 
realize this situation it time to stop giving so much and see 
where that takes the relationship.  What usually happens is the 
taker moves on and attaches himself to other givers and stops 
trying to take from you.  This is a great natural weeding out 
of this type of person in your life.  
 
    Living the "Bond Lifestyle" requires you being a natural 
giver, to evoke the law of circulation and to establish 
important business and personal relationships.  Also it's great 
fun to search for and find just the right gift, compliment, or 
experience for that individual person.
 
    Are you a giver or taker.  It's easy to answer this for 
yourself.  When you walk into a room and see someone there, do 
you think "There you are." As in, "I'm excited to see you."  
Or "Here I am." as in "Cater to me."?
 
    A study by researchers in this field have said 80% of all 
men are takers.  They will take from everyone all year long and 
then have one event, like take everyone out for dinner, and 
then they'll talk about it for the rest of the year while 
continuing their taking ways. 
 
     Wow! 80% of all men takers?  Ask yourself, "Am I in the 
rare 20%?  And if I'm not, do I want to move up into that group. 
 The operative word here is "up".  This is why rule # 13  of 
the JBLS is "Everyone I meet is better off for the experience."
 
     One thing is for sure.  Givers don't understand takers.  
And takers don't understand givers.  I had an exceptional taker 
friend who would always ask, "Why did you give that thing to 
him?"  And I would have to explain how the guy helped me or was 
a long time friend, or whatever reason."  But when I gave to 
him, he happily grabbed it with both hands.  And would even 
hint about something of mine that he wanted knowing that I 
would probably volunteer to give it to him.  His "thank you"s 
were always short and under his breath, so as not to infer an 
obligation to return the gift or favor.
 
     However, I never felt a victim to him because at that 
time he was a friend.  Later when he became too devious, 
untrustworthy, and secretly slanderous to include in either my 
film jobs or personal life, I stopped contacting him and he 
dropped out of my life. 
 
     The interesting thing is that these takers know what 
they're doing. They know that they're using you.  So when you 
get wise to them, they know right away that the jig is up and 
move out of your life.  
 
     Once a particular taker drops out of your experience don't 
feel that you were victimized by him.  You gave to him in the 
past because you wanted to.  Or as Rocky Balboa would say, 
"Friends do because they wanna do."
 
     However, if this taker suddenly shows up in your life now 
asking for something, politely refuse him, because it would take 
away from you giving that thing, time, or money to someone else 
that is more important to you, not to mention more worthy.
 
     In a love relationship, it has been said that, "The man 
should give 100% to the woman making her give back 200%."  This 
sounds nice and may be true.  But then comes the question, "Is 
my Bond girl a giver or taker? (A Bond girl is your wife or 
girlfriend.)  Does she really like me?  Love me?  Or is she 
just using me?" 
 
     To me, a man's relationship to his Bond girl is a different 
situation than that with his male friends.  A man often enjoys 
being the hero to the girl by fixing her problems and giving to 
her, so he enjoys it.  Or that she's such an extraordinary 
experience that she's worth all the giving, even all the hassle. 
 Or as Paul Newman said over the phone to his girlfriend in 
"The Color of Money", "My pool playing is good, but I've got no 
one to give me any grief.  Why don't you fly down here and give 
me some grief?" 
 
     Or as Rock Hudson said to Liz Taylor in "Giant" about her 
selfish and temperamental ways, "Us Texans like some vinegar in 
our greens.  Gives them flavor."  So if you've got a young Liz 
Taylor for a Bond girl, you might consider that her taking and 
you giving all the time, is worth it.  It's all up to you and 
your point of view.  And how much you value that particular 
Bond girl.
 
     Bottom line:  When Bond rescues the girl, he never asks 
for anything in return.  He just takes what they want to give, 
and enjoys it.