Creating Value

The Law Of Authenticity

The fourth Law of Stratospheric Success for the book The Go-Giver is The Law of Authenticity.

“The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.”
The Go-Giver

Often in the world we see other people that we would like to be, people we envy or look up to. Often people use social media to present a better version of themselves, a more collated life. This has a lot to do with self esteem and comparing our lives with the lives that others present on social media that seem so much better than our lives because people only share the best bits.

The irony is that when we are more authentically ourselves we are the more likely to be successful. This is because when we live and act authentically we focus on what brings us joy and what we are naturally good at. When we are joyful and doing what we are naturally good at we thrive and achieve great things. People will also trust us more because we are being ourselves all the time. Trust is a big element of success, because we cannot be successful alone. And your authentic You is a gift to the world that you should not hide your awesomeness.

The Law Of Value

Achieving Goals, Happiness, Leadership, Success

The first Law of Stratospheric Success for the book The Go-Giver is The Law of Value

“Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.”
The Go-Giver

When we go to work we often think in terms of being paid for our time and effort. We go to work and do what we are asked to do and do so for a set period of time and then come home again. Then we get paid. If we only work for the money and long for the weekend then it can be hard to create any value or get any fulfilment.

When we focus on adding value through human connections rather than transactions we find our work more fulfilling. Also, the more value we give the more work we get. People like being treated like people, rather than a way for us to make money. Go above and beyond and you will feel good and good things will come your way.

It Might Just Work

Achieving Goals, Happiness, Leadership, Success, The Pathway To Fulfilment

Often we are just as scared that something we do will work as we are that it might fail. If it works we may need to do more of it and try more new things. It is scary to write your own script and not follow the rules set by those that have come before us.

Real value, however, is created when we go off script and do the right thing. Not because the rules said to do it, but because it made a difference. Do you want your gravestone to read he/she followed the rules or do you want it to say he/she made a difference?

If you aim to create value and make a difference, the method you end up using will come to you. You will find a way. It may be the route less travelled, but you will make a difference.

The Pathway To Fulfilment

As I have begun the process of becoming more self aware I have realised that I have often tried to be seen as a Mr Fix It, by trying to be the one with the right answers. My realisation was that this desire to be seen this way was my Ego looking for praise.

As I looked deeper into this is I saw that the underlying motivation was to help others live well, and it was the application of the Ego that was morphing this motivation. A better method of helping others to live well is to try to create value in every interaction I have with others. Sometimes this is not trying to fix anything it is just being with someone in their hurting.

Often we try to fix a situation for someone, but all they really need is someone to listen.

Being Perfect VS Creating Value

Happiness, The Pathway To Fulfilment

When we avoid putting our work out into the world or suggesting an idea we have, we will often use the excuse that it is not ready or that it is not perfect. This is a form of hiding, hiding from feedback and hiding from potential failure. When we do this the world misses out.

When we say something provides value, we mean that it has benefited a person or people, because it has entered their lives. Things that create value are never perfect, they are invariably led by human interactions, either with a thing created by a person or with a person themselves. The value comes from human connection, empathy and respect. The interaction makes someone’s life better.

To me something that creates value is ‘hand made,’ a person has created it for another person. When you speak to a company and a Customer Service Advisor goes above and beyond, when they ask about your day and mean it, this adds value. When you walk down the street and you says good morning to someone, this adds value.

This type of interaction is invaluable to the quality of life it give others. People sometimes don’t say hello to strangers or have a chat with someone because they don’t feel confident in knowing what to say. Knowing what to say is another form of perfect. You can start with “Good morning. How is your day today?” and see where the conversation goes. Most good conversations are unplanned, but both parties are fully engaged.

So, do you want to hide behind being perfect or do you want to make other people’s lives better by creating value? If you want to create value, then engage with others and see what happens. It will never be perfect, but you will potentially make someone’s day, week or year.