For an item to qualify as a gift, it has to be transferred from the “Giftor” to the “Gifted” without compensation.  Regardless of the eventual reciprocation between them, the intention(s) of giving a gift is either the initiation or the reinforcement of an emotional, non-materialistic, bond. In other words, the relationship between the gifted & giftor is the medium at which gifts are justified, and a gift should decorate the gradual progress of the relationship’s virtue.

But if the purpose of a certain “giving” is improving one’s own public image OR staging a short lived materialistic transaction, then one should consider exaggerating the physical aspects of that “gift” rather than its sentiment. Part III of this series titled “The Impressive Gold Digger” will elaborate further on such types of givings.

Part I: Set The Gift’s Framework

The best approach towards gift giving is to structure the gift according to the gifted’s “emotional triggers”. Once the triggers are identified, you may set the following three criteria as the Gift’s principal framework:

1. The Message – [The Concept; Weighs 40%]

Every gift should carry a message about the gifted’s values and aspirations. Exclusive? expensive? personal? professional? funny?. You should choose a gift that contributes to the gifted’s aspirations [example: If “professional” is a characteristic that she would like to be recognized for, then the gift should project that: a fancy pen maybe?]. Avoid gifts that could carry a message about the person’s insecurities [example: if it’s a short person, horse back-riding classes as a first “gift” could be misunderstood. lol].

2. The Delivery [Weighs 35%]

The gift delivery magnifies the impact of message. It’s the stage at which your gift demands attention in order to convey it’s message.

The three sub-criteria of a gift’s delivery are:

• Packaging: This refers to the physical appearance of the gift
• Ceremony: This refers to the process of transferring the gift
• Commissioning:This refers to the interaction of the gifted’s first encounter with the gift

3. The Timing [Weighs 25%]

The timing of the gift should mark a year, a month, an hour, a season, a solar/lunar moment, or a particular setting. Ideally, the gift’s message & delivery should match the gift’s timing.

The two sub-criteria of timing are:

• The Memorability: This refers to the elements that become chronologic “triggers” to  the gifted’s memory, such as unique surroundings or sounds during the ceremony. For Example, a well narrated toast  may increase the memorability of the gift.
• The Synchronicity: This refers to the gift’s compatibility with the occasion. People are generally influenced by trends, media, and occasion’s identity. In other words, a valentine’s gift in 1924 is very different from a valentine’s gift in 2012.

In Part II of this series, we’ll expose each of the criteria’s targets according to the relationship type.

Stay Tuned…