Last night I joined a good friend and co-worker of mine to celebrate his 20 years of Naval Service. One of the many things I learned from him, and was so amazed at, was his servant leadership. He led by giving. Whether it was his time, his effort, his ideas, his money, or his decision making, it was all about putting other’s interests before his own. As he transitions to the civilian world I know this idea of giving before receiving will continue to bring him success in all of his future endeavors. I only hope that I can follow in his footsteps and lead through serving others like he has.
What if more business professionals changed their mindset from one of focusing on maximizing what they receive, to one of maximizing what they give? Most corporate financial gurus will argue that this form of thinking cannot be profitable, but I beg to differ. I actually think it may open up a lot of opportunities and offer a new way of looking at how to run a business, and truthfully how to run all facets of your life.
If you have not read ‘The Go-Giver’ by Bob Burg and John David Mann, I highly recommend the book. It will open up your mind to an influential concept that many seem to lose sight of: “Give and you shall receive”.
Through the story of Joe, a determined salesman, the authors offer The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, which in turn help Joe open up to the power of giving and eventually find success. “Being a giving person is how you achieve success in the first place” says Arianna Huffington in the Forward of the book.
I offer the five laws with a call to action: apply them to your life and your business and see how it will bring stratospheric success. Don’t just talk about them. Actually put them into action!
The Law of Value
Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The Law of Compensation
Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
The Law of Influence
Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.
The Law of Authenticity
The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
The Law of Receptivity
The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.
Many of my personal and business goals encompass the laws above, as I hope to serve as many people as I can throughout my life. I truly believe that if you put the interests of others before yours, amazing things will happen.
How can you implement these laws within your own business and in your personal life?
Written by Stuart Grazier