The Go-Giver:
A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea
| Authors: Bob Burg and John David Mann, 2007|
What's it all About?
Are you a go-getter? One that loves to drive results, making things happen all the time. However, as hard as you hustle that promotion has not come or your big break just never seems to give. A different approach may be the shift you need in your life to get to a better place. Have a read if this is something you are looking for, and no, a go-getter is not the opposite of a go-giver!
This parable was given to me by a colleague, Joe. He is in a similar place in life as myself, which is a darn good place I am grateful to say! We were discussing life and the universe, deep stuff around the concept that ‘it is better to give than it is to receive’. I have heard that since my Sunday school days, but never really understood it until the last few years. It is about providing value, and having a true belief that by giving, one can then be in a position to receive!
In this short read, Bob Burg and John David Mann, break this down into The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success:
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- 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
Favourite Quote
‘All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust.’
Biggest Takeaway
Before I read this, I had already decided that the way to grow my business was to add tremendous value to the universe. To use my knowledge, passion and energy to impact the most amount of people in the best possible way. I had been practicing the first three laws and the authenticity part has been a new way of life for me over the past few years and is liberating! So, this leaves me with the concept of receptivity. They way they explain it is like breathing – to take a breath in, you must breath out. If you are always adding value, then value must come back to you in another form. It really is a law of the universe, and I never looked at ‘receiving’ that way. Interesting! This quick read elevated my energy to give, because I can. Another one for the gratitude journal!
Reviewed by: Trevor Blondeel, September 2019