“All right. I'm going to share my Trade Secret with you now.”
The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John Davide Mann is written in the form of a parable. It lays out a story of a man named Joe and how he learns the “Trade Secret” of a very successful businessman, consultant, and keynote speaker known as Pindar. Joe originally sets out to leverage Pindar’s clout to land a large account. He instead learns a valuable lesson about being a go-giver and The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success. Although the story is fictional, it reflects experiences the authors themselves have had or have witnessed. The Laws are drawn from various mentors, businesses, philosophies, etc. that Burg and Mann have observed over time. Here are The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success as outlined in the book:
- 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.
The Big Idea
Give, Give, Give And Then Be Open To Receive...
"So the secret to success...to gaining it, to having it, is to give, give, give. The secret to getting is giving. And the secret to giving is making yourself open to receiving."
“Give, give, give” is not all about giving money, giving things for free, or giving to charity. Although, those are ways to give, giving goes beyond that. Give value. Share your talents. Give incredible experiences. During his first meeting with Pindar, and learning that the secret to success is giving, Joe asked a question I’m sure many of us would ponder: “Wouldn’t an awful lot of people take advantage of you?” Pindar goes on to explain that “Most of us have grown up seeing the world as a place of limitation rather than as a place of inexhaustible treasures. A world of competition rather than one of co-creation”. If you expect limitations and for people to take advantage of you – that’s what you will get. We get what we focus on and expect. So instead of worrying about being taken advantage of and falling into the mindset of lack and scarcity, be open to giving and expecting abundance.
Insight #1
Be Authentic
"People, remember this: no matter what your training, no matter what your skills, no matter what area you're in, you are your most important commodity."
What do you have to give? How do you give when you are just starting out? The greatest gift you can give is you – authentically. The Law of Authenticity is the fourth law of the five. I am a big believer in being authentic. Yes, I believe it is important to learn the skills of your trade, however, what sets you apart from all the rest is your uniqueness. So be true to yourself and what you believe. Celebrate your perfect imperfections because those are the very things that will draw people to you. Also remember, people do business with people, not businesses.
Insight #2
Be Open To Receive
"Receiving is the natural result of giving"
When we refuse a gift from someone, we are refusing their right to give. Receiving is a natural result of giving. There is nothing wrong with receiving. It is our intentions and focus that can get us off track. We must learn to be open to receiving in order to perpetuate giving. When you focus on giving, serving, and providing value, you will be compensated. Your compensation will be determined by the number of people you serve and how well you serve them–The Law of Compensation. So, let’s change our mindset about receiving and trust the process.
I always love to read books that will help me improve my business as well as my life. The principles outlined in The Go-Giver can easily be applied to both.
The book includes a discussion guide and Q&As with the authors. These help readers better understand and apply the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success.
Are you ready for stratospheric success? If so, grab a copy of The Go-Giver, read it, and follow Pindar’s Condition: “test each and every one of the Laws…not by thinking about it, not by talking about it, but by applying it in your life – right away, the same day you first learn it.”
