pay it forward works like this...
if someone does something good for you (gives you something, does some act of kindness) that person expects nothing in return just tells you pay it forward...the next time someone you come across needs some act of kindness you preform the act; when the recipient says what can i do in return you tell them, just pay it forward, you expect nothing in return; you pass on the acts of kindness. and don't look back.
i have noticed some people seem to say they are paying it forward and yet they complain when they do not receive kudo's they seem to think they should be getting. i kind of believe that you should not expect anything in return, give and move forward, don't spend your time looking back for a pat on the back. it is supposed to be going forward, not backward.