Do you want to know how to be successful? Are you a giver or a taker? Did you know that succeeding is giving a little more than you take?
How many of us know someone who always is a taker instead of a giver? We even recognize this same tendency in ourselves, if not all the time, at least some of the time.
“Success is feeling satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.” – Christopher Reeve.
How to Be Successful: Giving a Little More Than You Take
Trying to learn how to be successful often results in strange outcomes. Furthermore, a curious thing happens when you are so focused on your wants and needs: You often begin to act selfishly, thoughtlessly, and repeatedly.
This may help achieve your goals, but does it do you any good overall? Do you experience any true and lasting satisfaction? What about your actions? Are they what you consider success?
- Or is there something else going on here that you can learn a valuable lesson from?
Far from being a harsh critique of the behavior we all engage in on occasion, this is more of a reminder. Everyone can profit by giving to others just a bit more than they take.
How to Give More Than You Take
It isn’t all that hard to do. It just requires a willingness and a commitment to do so. Then, of course, you must follow through on the intention and give a little more than you take.
You can start with something simple:
- Take less of a portion of food on your plate.
- Give a little more to someone else at the table.
- Or, instead of scooping up the last of the mashed potatoes on the buffet table, leave some for the next person.
- How about not snapping up all the sale items when others are also trying to purchase one?
- Do you need 10 new video games, or can you make do with a few less?
How to Be Successful: Get a Little More Involved
Once you get in the habit of giving a little more than you take, apply this behavior to more complex situations.
Office interactions can sometimes become complicated – especially among those competing for a promotion or plum assignment. Other times, it may be tempting to avoid offering help to a struggling co-worker when you could easily give tips.
- Take the high road and give advice based on your experience or expertise.
- Far from being a threat, it is likely that your co-workers will reciprocate when they can.
Return on Investment
As for what you get in return, that’s often immeasurable. How can you measure your satisfaction when you give more than you take? It feels good, like a warm and comfortable glow.
Whatever might have bothered you before seems less bothersome and more of an inconvenience.
Besides, seeing the smile of thanks on the recipient of your giving is worth whatever sacrifice you make.
How to be Successful Is…
This is a good definition of success: feeling satisfaction in giving a little more than you take.
The best part is that once others see you do this, they’ll likely emulate your behavior. It’s a small example of paying it forward.
Everyone wins.
