I think there are constantly opportunities for paying it forward to happen. I also think that they do happen and folks don't often realize it or take time to acknowledge it. The more people 'get' the fact that if they share knowledge, information, expertise, and experiences with others - those people they take the time to share with - will pay it forward at some point, and perhaps make a point of doing so because it was done for them.
Another person who has had a tremendous impact on me is
Andy Baker. He is constantly providing opportunities to share, give, advise, help, assist, teach, train, or lighten up a situation with wisdom and humor with everyone he meets and works with. He has probably provided countless opportunities for others to learn how to pay it forward from him.
There are many others who have shared their expertise and experiences with me - teaching me, mentoring me, helping me. By doing that, they help strengthen the team that I'm a part of, the area that I live in and mentor in, the competitions that I volunteer at, the initiatives that I decide to work on. And I pay it forward by sharing the knowledge and experience that I gain from them. It's amazing, really. And why is it so important? It helps to change the culture that we live and work in.
Jane