“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
I recently read a book called The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. This book made a huge impact on how I approach the world and the people around me. My whole life has been centered around doing things on my own, being a strong and independent woman, not relying on others to get ahead. It was not only a lonely path but I quickly discovered that it doesn’t matter how amazing I am, it still will never be “enough” to reach the level of success I thought I should reach.
The first chapter of the book started talking about a man who had a similar mindset. He would do whatever it took to reach his deadlines. Joe is his name, and he strikes me as the kind of person who has to work hard for everything he gets in life. Nothing is handed to him and nothing is easy. He’s an ambitious go-getter. Like me!
I don’t want to give away the entire book – it’s short, sweet, and an incredibly easy read – but the cliff notes that I do want to share are essentially that the world treats you more or less how you expect to be treated. This concept doesn’t seem like rocket science but it isn’t a simple idea either. How do you expect to be treated? Do you expect to be respected for your clout and resume or be recognized for how you treat others? Do you expect to be belittled or empowered? This question stumped me.
The “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success” are logical and simple but they are not easy. The law of value, meaning that “your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment,” made me realize that when we under promise and over deliver, the perception is that we offer more value. The law of compensation tracked along the same line that our income is determined by how many people we serve and how well we serve them. These first two concepts made sense to me. Basic math and simple ideas.
The law of influence, “determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first,” hit me hard! I’ve spent years developing a network of people but never thought of them as an “army of personal walking ambassadors” who are personally invested in seeing me succeed. The part about this law that challenged me was the requirement to stop keeping score. How am I supposed to know who to help next if I don’t know what the scorecard says and who I owe favors to? As soon as I stopped keeping track of what others have done for me and what I’ve sacrificed for them, I immediately noticed that I was happier and more engaged in the present moment.
The last two laws, the law of authenticity and the law of receptivity, rocked my world in such a positive way that I forgot that I was trying to be an independent and, frankly, a selfish person on the path to success! Authenticity is about being real and about recognizing that you are a valuable gift to those around you. The law of receptivity was a big deal for me because I had never really allowed myself to ask for help or accept the generosity of others. I always thought I had to do it myself which is most certainly not the case! I have always been good at giving and helping others but according to this little book, the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.
It’s always interesting to finish a book that has so much incredible content because as you close the back cover, you are faced with a crossroad of actually doing something with the content or moving on without applying it. I chose to meditate on these principles which has, in turn, shaped “Hey, It’s Lauren” and my interactions with the rest of the world.
In a way that is authentic and valuable, I choose to lift up others to make the world a better place. It is my goal in life to straighten the crown of others when they need a little extra help without highlighting shortcomings for the world to see.
Order your copy here: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
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