The Go-Giver summary

We’ve been introduced to the idea that giving to others will put you on the path to success. But what about the nitty-gritty?

Well, there are five rules you need to follow to become a go-giver: the five laws of stratospheric success. We’ll discuss the first one in this blink.

How do you know if a business will be successful? You look at how many people it serves. This is the law of compensation, where the number of people who are touched by your enterprise determines how successful it can become. How exactly does this work? Let’s learn from an example of the law of compensation in action.

Nicole Martin was a former grade school teacher who developed a series of games that encouraged children to be curious and creative. After developing these games, Nicole’s life was transformed. She is now CEO of the Learning System For Children software company, which is worth as much as two hundred million dollars. The reason for her success? The almost unlimited number of children around the world whose lives could be touched by her games.

We’ve begun to see that thinking in terms of giving to others rather than gaining for yourself will bring you more success. “Is this really true?” you might be wondering. Yes, it really is!

The law of influence shows us just how profitable it is to put others first, by highlighting a relatively simple idea. Place someone’s interest above your own and you build a positive relationship with them. Later down the road, they’ll go out of their way to make sure your interests are also met.

Nobody likes it when they go into a store and get accosted by a salesperson going on and on about the statistical superiority of their product. It’s irritating, and their bold statements aren’t exactly believable, either. There is a better way to make sales, and it’s another go-giver principle.

The law of authenticity tells us that we should treat other people as human beings, not just potential customers. Take the example of realtor Debra Davenport. She struggled during her early days in the industry. It seemed that every time she had to make a sale, she couldn’t, no matter how much she waxed lyrical about the property.

We’ve heard a lot about giving, but not a lot about what to expect in return. You may still be a little unsure exactly where your own success will come from. Well, let’s put this fear to bed now!

Every time you give something, you can expect to get something in return. This is the fifth and final principle of go-giving – the law of receptivity. Theories and belief systems all around their world have their own version of this law, from karma, yin and yang, to every action having an equal and opposite reaction. Just as your heart must relax after it contracts, the natural movement from giving is receiving.