Thursday, April 9, 1998

Giving and taking

Whatever you seek to acquire, the most reliable way to get it is by giving, rather than by taking. To obtain wealth, give value. To be happy, make other people happy. To truly learn, teach others. To be loved, give love. To be respected, act with respect toward others.

When you attempt to take what you want, you’ll be met with suspicion, barbed wire and guard dogs. By contrast, when you give of yourself, you encounter little or no resistance.

Sincerely seek to give, to provide value, to make a difference, and people will line up to support you. Every person alive, no matter how sincerely selfless and altruistic they may be, is concerned in some way with their own self interest -- if they weren’t they would stop breathing and die. You can be sure that anyone with whom you come in contact is influenced to some degree by their own self interest. However, you cannot be sure that they are the least bit interested in you.

That being the case, you’re considerably more likely to achieve your own success when you champion the self interest of others. It’s as close as you can get to a sure thing.

— Ralph Marston

Are you sure?       Giving challenge

Copyright ©1998 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.