He that does good for good’s sake seeks neither praise nor reward, though sure of both at last.

Good done for its own sake has a different quality from good done for a return. The moment the gesture is aimed at praise, it becomes a transaction and the other person can usually feel it. Acting without any expectation frees you from the disappointment that follows an unacknowledged kindness. Recognition often arrives eventually, but late, indirectly, and from somebody other than the person you helped.

Do one useful thing this week that nobody will attribute to you. Fix the thing, send the introduction, cover the gap, and then say nothing about it. Watch whether the urge to mention it comes, and let it pass.