Former Campbell Soup CEO, current Avon Chairman and leadership authority, Doug Conant recently tweeted this famously-profound quote from the classic, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill:
“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”
This immediately brought to mind one of my all-time-favorite (and, unfortunately, often-misquoted) sayings by the legendary, late Zig Ziglar:
“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
What do those two powerful sayings have in common?
That to the degree we can take our focus off of ourselves and place it onto the other person, that’s the degree to which we ourselves will become successful.
Law #3 from The Go-Giver, The Law of Influence states:
“Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other peoples’ interests first.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean that we should be anyone’s doormat or in any way self-sacrificial. It simply means that when we move from an I or “me-focus” to an “other-focus, we naturally bring more value to — and hold more value to — that person. As Sam, one of the mentors in the story advised the protegee, Joe:
“Make your win about the other person’s win.”
How do you feel that person would then feel about you? Would they be more likely to buy from you? To want to do business with you? To make you a part of their life? Would they be more interested in your success? Would they be more excited about referring/introducing you to those they care about so that you could make your win about their wins, as well?
I believe that — as the first part of Mr. Hill’s quote opined — “it is literally true.”
What do you think? And, how do YOU make your wins about their wins?
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Bob,
Hello.
I’ve used your book, Endless Referrals and applied it to my job hunt, since today a job search is “your business” and no longer “your job” anymore. And in doing so, found it rewarding and helpful to my own job hunt, to help others find work too. I’m always looking to send a recruiter a qualified job candidate, whether that be a friend or acquaintance, allowing me to help the recruiter and the job candidate (and I’m looking to see who needs a new or better job!). Not only do I make it about “the other person’s win,” but I’m networking, which is always a good thing.
Thank you –
Ben
Ben: Thank you for your kind words and awesome thoughts and perspective. I’m rooting for you to land the job you want, my friend!
You definitely are a leader the information you share has been around for a very long time. I have read many of the books you have shared, l always learn something new from the same book that l have read countless times. For an example Napoleon Hill, master piece “Think and Grow Rich” that has been my bible, it is right beside my bed, each night l just open it to some random page, and read it over until it made more sense then ever. Yes some call brain washing l call it programming my mind to bevel in what l just read. Affirmation at a different level, the results speak for them selves… Thank you for sharing a great post Bob…
Joseph: Thank you. I love everything you said. Indeed, the classics such as TAGR have that kind of information that you can open it to pretty much anywhere and see the exact lesson you need to have re-affirmed. I love doing that myself with many of the classics in my personal library. Thanks again!
Regardless of how it is worded – this concept works – literally and consistently.
I appreciate that you have the ‘put other people’s interests first” as the basis for your blog posts – always beneficial, always relevant.
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that you are as highly regarded and successful as you are.
Thanks again my friend for your sage perspective(s).
Bill: Wow, thank you, my friend. Very kind of you to say!
Thanks for the post Bob. Reminds me of how top networkers explain their success in one word. “CONTRIBUTION”.
Love your books!
David Albanez, Author| The White Envelope Report
David: Thank you for your kind words. Very appreciated!
I am using this regularly in my marketing and sales efforts. It is especially important to remember this when things are a little tight in your business or you are downright hurting.
Am I creating enough value for the other person? Am I solving a problem? Am I focused on what they need? Am I communicating that value well?
Get you back on track when all you are thinking about is getting money from clients to pay the bills.
Thanks again.
Doug: Right on! And I know that with the success you are having in your business…your focus is truly on the customer!
Great insights Bob.
When we help people without the concern for what we’ll receive in return, we’ll be rewarded. We attract what you give.
Thanks for this valuable advice.
Glenn: Thank you for your comment and kind words!