Archive for July 2009
RANT: Selfishness Leads To Poverty
Selfishness leads to poverty.
But not necessarily in a financial sense. It is much deeper. I believe that selfishness leads to poverty of the spirit and soul.
Are we not all born with a drive toward selfishness?
It is proven to me every time I am standing in a line at Wal-Mart for thirty minutes. I want to cut in line to avoid waiting. Let's say that I did cut in line. I would have the immediate gratification of getting out of the line and not having to wait anymore, but there would be a moment later that evening when I would have to wrestle with the fact that I was out-of-line – literally and figuratively.
It is proven to me when my wife is suffering from morning sickness which has turned into all-day sickness. The magic fairy that somehow transformed dirty clothes and dishes into clean clothes and dishes has ceased to exist. The magic fairy that managed the household – mail, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, library trips, activities with the daughter, shipping IWBNIN resources, managing the financial affairs … It all stopped. Now I realize that it was my bride all along. Now I have to clean, wash, shop, etc. Poor me.
You know what drives the pity party, right? Selfishness. You know what selfishness leads to? Poverty of the spirit.
No one wants to hang out with a selfish person. No one wants to hear the pity party.
If you want to lose friends and ruin relationships, be selfish.
Everyone wrestles with it. If you do not believe me, watch your children when they are little. "MINE!", is one of the most uttered words.
My friend, Jake Beaty, once asked another friend, Jamie Salmon, this question: "Why do you give?"
Jamie's answer rocked Jake's world. When I heard it, it rocked my world.
Jamie said, "I give to keep from being selfish."
Well said, Jamie. Well said.
The Go-Giver
Recently, Casey Graham (Founder of The Change Group) sent a book to me and told me that it had a major impact on his life.
It is a book called "The Go-Giver". It is authored by John David Mann.
It took me a couple of months to sit down and read it, but I wish I would have read it sooner.
Seriously, it is a fictional story the relays POWERFUL business (and personal) concepts related to giving. It could even be called a framework for how one can have an amazing life.
I LOVED this book. Here are some of the reasons why:
- It focuses on giving. I love giving. My wife loves giving. I believe that everyone loves to give.
- It is highly focused on a few principles. This book does not attempt to share too much. I read this book one chapter at a time over a period of several days.
- It has caused me to reflect on how this applies to my crusade. And I am making changes as a result of this book.
- It was short and to the point. For some reason, I have difficulty developing the willpower to pick up a four-inch-thick book.
- I have seen it at work in my friend's life. Casey (you should follow him on Twitter) has been applying this stuff as well. He is FIRED UP about it! So am I!
Have you read this book?