Today, we were fortunate to have Bob Burg, one of the authors of The Go-Giver on The Bigg Success Show. Here are the highlights of the conversation:

Mary-Lynn: So Bob, your character Joe learns the 5 laws of stratospheric success. What are they?

Bob: #1 – Law of Value. Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

Now that sounds counterproductive. How do you give more in value than you accept in payment and still prosper? We need to understand the difference between price and value. Price is a dollar figure; value is the relative worth to the end user.

For example – You hired an accountant to do your returns, and they charged you a fee of $500, but through their diligence, hard work, and knowledge, they were able to save you $2,000. They provided you $2,000 in value while charging you a $500 price. They made a profit, but you felt great about the transaction. That’s the kind of transaction that we want to have with our customers.

Mary-Lynn: Alright, #2.

Bob: #2 – Law of Compensation. Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.

Law #2 tell us that the greater the number of people we provide exceptional value to, the more money with which we’ll be rewarded. So Law #1 talks about the value; Law #2 talks about the reach.

Mary-Lynn: The word-of-mouth, right?

Bob: Exactly. And when you provide great value to people, you have all of these people who feel so good about you that you develop an army of, what I call, personal walking ambassadors.

George: What’s #3, Bob?

Bob: #3 – Law of Influence. Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first.

Now again, this sounds polyanna, at best, but it’s actually quite practical. Because all things being equal, people will do business with (and refer business to) people they know, like, and trust.

And as you guys know, there’s no faster, no more effective, no more powerful way to elicit those feelings toward you in others, than by finding ways to put the other’s person’s interests first. Always thinking – How can I add value to this person? How can I help this person in their life?

George: Boy, it seems like you see people do the opposite. They think – What can I get from this person, rather than what can I give them?

Bob: Well, and that’s why a lot of people are broke!

Mary-Lynn: Alright, Law #4.

Bob: #4 – Law of Authenticity. The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.

All the techniques and all the skills are all for naught, if you’re not authentic and if you don’t come across as authentic. However, when you are your true self, then what happens is it takes those skills, those techniques, and it multiplies them geometrically.

So please understand, skills are necessary, the knowledge is necessary, it’s all necessary, but without the authenticity, the power just isn’t there.

Mary-Lynn: Yeah, people are pretty smart. They can see a fake when one’s out there.

Bob: Exactly.

George: Bob, what’s the fifth law?

Bob: #5 – Law of Receptivity. The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

Pindar, the mentor, says to Joe, “Joe, I want you to breathe out and don’t breathe in.” So Joe tries. After eight seconds – he’s gasping … ten seconds – gasping … twelve seconds … he cannot do it any longer.

He finally starts coughing, He says, “Pindar, I have to breathe in. I can’t just breathe out.”

Pindar says, “Well, Joe, what if I told you it’s been scientifically proven that it’s healthier to breathe out than it is to breathe in?”

“That’s crazy! You have to do both.”

You must breathe out, which is giving, and you must breathe in, which is receiving.”

George: Bob, it seems like sometimes we give and give, but we run into those people who do nothing but take. What’s the advice for that?

Bob: You know, you’re right. There are some people who have really mastered the art of giving, but haven’t mastered the art of receiving, which is one thing we really show you how to do in the book. We’ve had some nice feedback on that.

Regarding your excellent question, I think we have to be careful, because being a go-giver should never be confused with being a martyr or being self-sacrificial. We need to make sure we’re associating with, and attracting, the type of people into our lives who are go-givers themselves, or can learn to be go-givers.

Mary-Lynn: Thanks, Bob for visiting with us!

Get the book to see all that Joe learns about being a go-giver. Just to show you that Bob believes what he says … you can get a free chapter of The Go-Giver by visiting his site.

Our bigg quote today is by Taisen Deshimaru:

So give unselfishly and receive abundantly.

Next time, we’ll discuss 5 success factors. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed.

Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. 

Related posts 

Rich Dad, Wise Son

Putting The Giving In Thanksgiving 

Some things are teachable; others have to be learned. Today, we’ll discuss things you have to learn on your own. Hopefully, you’ll do it while you’re still in college! If you’re already out, check this list to see how you’re doing!

#1 – Learn how YOU learn.
Do you learn best by reading? Listening? Watching? Or some combination? You’ll save a lot of time, money, and frustration later if you learn this now.

#2 – Learn HOW to think.
Most students focus on WHAT to think. Get a well-rounded education so you can cut to the essence of any issue. You fully understand a topic when you can debate both sides of an argument equally well.

#3 – Learn self-discipline.
Know how to set goals and schedule yourself to achieve them. Stick to the schedule you’ve set so you can focus on your priorities and balance work with fun.

#4 – Learn how to build YOUR brand.
You are the CEO of most important organization – YOU, Inc. For what will you be famous? What makes you unique? How will you let the world know?

The choices you make are critical. It’s good to be a member of an organization; it’s better to be a leader in it. Choose internships and summer jobs wisely because they reflect on your brand, too.

#5 – Learn how to communicate effectively.
It’s true – you learn a LITTLE bit about this in college. But how you communicate reflects on your brand. For example, if your written work is full of typographical errors and grammatical mistakes, the reader may assume that you’re sloppy or apathetic. Also understand that HOW you say something is just as important as WHAT you say.

#6 – Learn how to build your network.
Take every opportunity to reach out to people with common interests. It’s amazing how few students get to know their professors. They are great mentors even after you’re done with college!

It’s important to cultivate relationships. Take an interest in them. For your network to work when you desperately need it, you’ll need established relationships.

There are no six steps to Kevin Bacon when it comes to networking. You need to get one step removed from the person you need to contact. If you know me, and I know somebody, you have a good chance with that somebody.

#7 – Learn how to find your initial vision.
Your vision consists of your passion, your values, your competencies, and the environment you face. Here are some great resources to help you:

• Find your passion by visualizing your future

• Find your purpose

• View our extensive list of core values

• Learn how to discover your strengths and weaknesses

• Understand the opportunities and threats in your chosen career

Your vision will probably change over time. However, developing the skills to discover it and work toward it are essential to your bigg success.

Did you dig this article? Then Digg it! Just click on the Share This button below!

Our bigg quote today comes from the great Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said,

Education is a life-long adventure to discover yourself and uncover your full potential.

As he moves on from the game he loves, superstar quarterback Brett Favre taught us a lesson on peak performance. We’ll discuss it in our next blog.

Brett’s moving on to the perfect job. One with two vacations a year … six months each!

Until next time, here’s to your bigg success! 

Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed.

Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. 

Related posts

3 Tips To Thrive In Your Career

Facing Off Against Faceless Competitors

Jungle Love – Living With Coopetition

How To Get Promoted To Senior Management

How Do You Learn To Be An Entrepreneur?

What Makes You Tick?

John Wooden’s Pyramid Of Success

Is Your Star Shining Bright?

Don’t Shy Away From Networking

(Image by gadgetdude,CC 2.0)

Some things are teachable; others have to be learned. Today, we’ll discuss things you have to learn on your own. Hopefully, you’ll do it while you’re still in college! If you’re already out, check this list to see how you’re doing!

#1 – Learn how YOU learn.
Do you learn best by reading? Listening? Watching? Or some combination? You’ll save a lot of time, money, and frustration later if you learn this now.

#2 – Learn HOW to think.
Most students focus on WHAT to think. Get a well-rounded education so you can cut to the essence of any issue. You fully understand a topic when you can debate both sides of an argument equally well.

#3 – Learn self-discipline.
Know how to set goals and schedule yourself to achieve them. Stick to the schedule you’ve set so you can focus on your priorities and balance work with fun.

#4 – Learn how to build YOUR brand.
You are the CEO of most important organization – YOU, Inc. For what will you be famous? What makes you unique? How will you let the world know?

The choices you make are critical. It’s good to be a member of an organization; it’s better to be a leader in it. Choose internships and summer jobs wisely because they reflect on your brand, too.

#5 – Learn how to communicate effectively.
It’s true – you learn a LITTLE bit about this in college. But how you communicate reflects on your brand. For example, if your written work is full of typographical errors and grammatical mistakes, the reader may assume that you’re sloppy or apathetic. Also understand that HOW you say something is just as important as WHAT you say.

#6 – Learn how to build your network.
Take every opportunity to reach out to people with common interests. It’s amazing how few students get to know their professors. They are great mentors even after you’re done with college!

It’s important to cultivate relationships. Take an interest in them. For your network to work when you desperately need it, you’ll need established relationships.

There are no six steps to Kevin Bacon when it comes to networking. You need to get one step removed from the person you need to contact. If you know me, and I know somebody, you have a good chance with that somebody.

#7 – Learn how to find your initial vision.
Your vision consists of your passion, your values, your competencies, and the environment you face. Here are some great resources to help you:

• Find your passion by visualizing your future

• Find your purpose

• View our extensive list of core values

• Learn how to discover your strengths and weaknesses

• Understand the opportunities and threats in your chosen career

Your vision will probably change over time. However, developing the skills to discover it and work toward it are essential to your bigg success.

Did you dig this article? Then Digg it! Just click on the Share This button below!

Our bigg quote today comes from the great Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said,

Education is a life-long adventure to discover yourself and uncover your full potential.

As he moves on from the game he loves, superstar quarterback Brett Favre taught us a lesson on peak performance. We’ll discuss it in our next blog.

Brett’s moving on to the perfect job. One with two vacations a year … six months each!

Until next time, here’s to your bigg success! 

Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed.

Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. 

Related posts

3 Tips To Thrive In Your Career

Facing Off Against Faceless Competitors

Jungle Love – Living With Coopetition

How To Get Promoted To Senior Management

How Do You Learn To Be An Entrepreneur?

What Makes You Tick?

John Wooden’s Pyramid Of Success

Is Your Star Shining Bright?

Don’t Shy Away From Networking

(Image by gadgetdude,CC 2.0)

Yesterday, we began this discussion of SWOT analysis. Today we want to continue it by talking about the last half of SWOT: Opportunities and Threats.

So far, everything we’ve discussed has been internal – focused just on you. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. Now we’re ready to bring in the external forces.

Take a tip from entrepreneurs when you’re trying to find your opportunity. Entrepreneurs know:

Where there’s change, there’s likely to be growth.
And where there’s growth, there’s opportunity.

So look for change to find your opportunity. For instance, the baby boom has been changing markets in the United States for years. Now they’re starting to retire. This is creating huge opportunities in health care, travel, and home services, among others.

In fact, many of the hottest careers in the coming years are centered on the needs of the baby boomers as they retire. Many new businesses will succeed bigg by serving them as well.

This is just one example of changes that occur that create opportunities. But opportunities are only half the picture. You also need to consider the threats.

Ask yourself, “What could happen that would significantly affect you if you choose this career?” Because here’s a little tip about change:

Change creates opportunities in new fields while destroying existing ones.

Let’s look at a famous example from early last century. If your chosen career involved nearly anything to do with carriages, you were in trouble with the advent of the automobile. Technological change is probably the main driver of changes like this. However, changes in industries also occur due to things like consolidation, outsourcing, and more.

Mary-Lynn shared her career experience. She loves radio, but with the internet and consolidation in the industry, it’s harder to find good opportunities than it used to be. Change is creating destruction.

At the same time, the internet and new media are presenting opportunities for people with skills like hers – opportunities to build your own content and brand. Change is creating growth.

Mary-Lynn found her path to peace of mind. She started with finding her passion. Then, with her core values in mind, she did a SWOT analysis, which prompted her to change careers, while still using all of her talents and experience.

Putting it all together
When you’re done with your SWOT analysis, you should have a number of possible fits. Don’t make the mistake of only looking at compensation. That’s part of the picture, but certainly not the only thing.

We have a friend who accepted a job because it paid so much. She told us that she knew it didn’t fit her passion; it was in an industry that she wasn’t particularly excited about. But it was so much money! Soon, she found she hated her job. She was unhappy all the time – even at home. Money isn’t everything!

You know where you are now. You’ve visualized your dream life so you know where you want to be. All you have to do is choose the best path to get there!

The Bigg Goal-Setters Workbook will help you do just that!
It’s free when you sign up for our free weekly newsletter!

Our Bigg Quote today comes from Douglas Everett.

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some
who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”

The world needs more dreamers, but even more … the world needs more doers that make their dreams come true.

Next time, we’ll discuss freedom and security. Experts say that you can’t have both; you have to choose one or the other. We’ll ask the question … why can’t you have both?

Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

Related Links:

Your Personal SWOT Analysis (Part I)

Visualize The Life You Want

Live Your Dream With Purpose

Today and tomorrow, we’ll discuss your personal SWOT analysis. In case you’re not familiar with it, SWOT is an acronym for …

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats

SWOT analysis has been used for years by companies as part of their strategic planning process. More recently, individuals have seen the value for using it to plan their own lives, as well.

This blog is a follow-up to these prior posts:

Back To The Future: Visualizing The Life You Want (Part 2) 

We asked you, “If neither time nor money was an issue, how would you spend your time and your money? This is all about discovering your passion … your dream.

Live Your Dream With Purpose – Part I

We followed that series of shows up by talking about core values. What’s important to you?

So now we’re ready to go to the next level. Now we’re going to bring back the constraints – time and money. Back to reality!

Today, we’ll tackle the first two parts of SWOT analysis – strengths and weaknesses.

But first, a little tidbit …

Did you know that …
 … part of Albert Einstein’s brain was abnormally large?
… another part of his brain was unusually small?

Which part was larger than normal, you ask? That area used for math and spatial intelligence. You probably could have guessed that, right? Can you guess the part that was quite small? It was the area used for linguistics.

Most children start talking between the ages of one and two. Einstein, who is generally regarded as one of the smartest people ever, didn’t start talking until he was three!

He failed a language exam when he was 16. He was known to be a terrible lecturer. He was not a cunning linguist! So what’s the moral of the story?

Be thankful for your weaknesses because
they may be the source of your strengths!

How do you uncover your strengths? Answer this question:

What do you find easy to do that others find difficult?

If you find that question difficult to answer, you know that answering questions isn’t one of your strengths! Just kidding! Seriously, we often overlook those things that come easy to us. We take them for granted.

Ask your friends and family what they think your strengths are. Tell them you’re looking for an objective opinion to help you understand yourself better. You’ll find their answers quite interesting.

To discover your weaknesses, answer the question in reverse:

What do you find difficult that seems to come easily to others?

Once again, if you’re having difficulty answering this question, ask people you trust for their opinion. Assure them that you truly appreciate their counsel because you’re discovering how to improve yourself.

On the show, Mary-Lynn and George shared their strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths
Mary-Lynn said that “audio production” is something she’s always found easy to do.

George said he’s always been relatively comfortable with “money and finance.”

Weaknesses
Mary-Lynn acknowledged that “numbers” are not her bag. That’s why she pursued a career that tapped her creativity.

George confessed that “orderliness” is his biggest weakness. It’s nice to know that Ben Franklin confessed to the same shortcoming! He said it was the hardest of his thirteen virtues to get right! Read our recent article about that here.

Our Bigg Quote today comes from the author and poet Joyce C. Lock, who simply said:

“Build upon strengths, and weaknesses will gradually take care of themselves.”

Only the strong survive, but if you know your weaknesses, and utilize your strengths, you’ll not only survive … you’ll thrive!

___

___

Next time, we’ll continue on this thread – we’ll talk about the second half of SWOT –

 Opportunities and Threats.

We’ll also discuss how to put all the pieces, including your passion and purpose, together.

In the meantime, Mary-Lynn is off to balance her checkbook. And George is cleaning up his desk! Until next time, here’s to your bigg success!

Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. 

Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed.

Direct link to The Bigg Success Show audio file:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/biggsuccess/00041-010708.mp3

Related Links:

Visualize The Life You Want

Live Your Dream With Purpose

Ben Franklin's Thirteen Virtues

Ben Fraklin’s Thirteen Virtues Chart (pdf)