July will mark 5 years since I set out to build a business. I started with nothing. I had no training or history of success in sales or marketing. I ended up graduating college with a French degree for goodness sakes… and it took me 5 years to even get that!
Can you say hot mess?
Early in my business development I was taught the importance of personal development. If you are anything like I was, you may think that personal development is a bunch feel good, rub your ego, everything is beautiful type hoopla. If I’m honest, I thought as a Christian that I needed to get my personal development from the bible or faith-based studies. I don’t know where the notion came from, but I thought that personal development meant some kind of “new-age inner connection with one’s self” that was contradictory to my faith.
All of that type of thinking quickly went away as I started reading some pretty amazing books!
Some were written by outspoken people of faith. Many were written with little to no ‘mention’ of faith out (or so it seemed). What I began to realize was that building a strong successful business is all about building relationships. It’s really about placing the needs of others before our own success. No matter whom the book was written by or what their stand on religious matters was, there was no getting around this one simple fact. It just so happens that putting the needs of others first is a fundamental principle across most faiths.
Oh how I wish I had been given amazing books like You’re Made For a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth, 5 Levels of Leadership by John C Maxwell, Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuck, Compound Effect by Darren Hardy when I was younger. These books and so many others like it have shaped who I have become in the last 5 years.
Success really is about what we can do for others.
This is a big reason I love to blog. I love taking the lessons I have learned from life and turning it into a growth tool for others. I remember soon after starting my business I printed off large print strips of paper that said “It’s Not About Me” and I posted them all over my desk, computer, refrigerator- wherever I needed to ensure I stayed humble.
Here is the one point I really want to drive home to anyone who wants to become successful or simply leave this world knowing that they made a positive impact.
It’s NEVER about us. It’s always about what we can do for others. If you are anything like I was (and sometimes still am today) then you are going to finish reading this blog and it’s still not going to fully click with you. Here lies yet another reason why personal development must be a non-negotiable in your life. We all need a constant reminder of who we are and what our purpose is.
For my team: I want to appeal to you for just a moment. You know I believe that in order to build a strong business you have to hit success club, but it’s NEVER as important as just being a friend or lending a listening ear to someone who needs your support.
What we have to offer the world is within us.
Our coaching opportunity with Beachbody is a tremendous tool we each can use to reach and impact more people in more ways. Never forget who you are and your mission. We really are here to help others live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Take that seriously. Zig Zigler said it best when he said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
Go add value to the lives of others today in your actions, words and social media posts. 🙂
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