The Go-Giver is a book co-authored by Bob Burg and John David Mann12. It tells the story of a young man named Joe who is struggling to achieve success in his career34152. Joe learns the “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success” from a famous consultant and several go-givers35. These laws emphasize value, compensation, influence, authenticity, and receptivity5. By embracing a giving mindset, Joe discovers that success isn’t just about taking, but more about providing value to others5.
This is my favorite business book. It's better to read the full story yourself (The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea (Go-Giver, Book 1: Burg, Bob, Mann, John David: 9781591848288: Amazon.com: Books) however, I'll try to summarize what I've gained from it below:
Value - Importantly, the value of what we do is independent of any passage of time requisite for it. We could produce artisan or expert quality work in half the time needed for someone to make their first appreciable and directly comparable novice piece.
Compensation - As we could give the production of our work to anyone willing to acquire it at an agreed upon price, choosing to give a single work to one person engenders the preclusion of others from this same work (lest they divide and so share it). Therefore, it is fair to ask for, to demand compensation for our contributory efforts
Influence - "the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : sway" (of Google search results) We could influence one another, so 'tis best to do this with the very best of our skills, knowledge, integrity, maturity and so on, doing "for others as we wish for others to do for us".
Authenticity - To be genuine, we must live in accord with the will of God; to be authentic, we must do this without denying our past, our yearnings, and neither our accomplishments nor our failings
Receptivity - We, people, have needs as may vary even from one moment to the next and therefore it is crucial to gauge whether someone actually needs our services, products, etc., if so and if so when and if not then not!
Additionally, a few things I yearn to share with you that have been personally helpful are these:
- The Pareto Principle - Essentially, most of the desired results of any venture have tended to come from those acts that are on the "straight and narrow", actions that we may be afraid of yet are the best opportunities. We can know which is which amongst extant options by logical reasoning and spiritual discernment: logical and critically helpful reasoning regarding intuitive faculties (which all people have inherently to some degree and extent):
1. clairsentience (communication by feelings and sensations)
2. claircognizance (recognition because of the gifting of God)
3. clairvoyance (perception of visions from God)
4. clairaudience (hearing sounds from God)
5. clairolfaction (smells from God) - Work Breaks - If doing mundane (and not-too-difficult) work, work for about twenty-five minutes and then have a five minute break before doing more (of the same or closely similar) work (company policies and procedures permitting)
- Study Breaks - One of my university professors, Dr. Vines, studied for 15 minutes at a time whilst writing notes and then took a break.