Line BreakAuthor: Steven Aitchison (382 Articles)
The owner of this blog. Proud father, doting husband, blogger, hire me as freelance writer, and addiction worker
I have been into personal development for over 15 years and sometimes there are moments that just hit you square in the face and scream ‘Pay attention to me’. No doubt you have gone through life and you get these moments, they’re called ‘A-ha moments’, when you just get it, whatever you’ve been trying to figure out.
There have been quite a few of these moments in my life but none more profound than than the one I’m about to share with you now.
The Key To Success Is Making
Others A Success
Now, you’d think that would be well known and everybody would say ‘Duh, I knew that already!’ but so few people know of this key or really grasp it’s importance.
In any field you happen to be in, if you go out of your way to help people better themselves you will become known as the person to go to.
Be the person to go to
At work I am known as the ‘Computer Man’, no matter what the problem is; Word documents, excel spreadsheets, trying to find a lost image file, undoing things etc. That’s because I love the computers and even though I don’t know most of the things on the computer I use the little tab that says ‘help’ and figure it out within a few minutes. Why do most people ignore this little ‘help’ button; probably because in every workplace there is always someone like me.
If you make yourself the person to go to at work you can make yourself the person to go to outside work and start a business or a part time venture whereby you become the person to go to in a small niche. You do this by giving away free information, give great advice and generally being a nice person. When you become quite well known for the person to go to, then that’s when your business really starts.
My friend, Dragos Roua, has become the guy to go to about blogging, within his circle of friends. And due to this he is now starting to do blogging seminars, why? because he’s helped people for free in the past, built up his knowledge while showing others what to do and generally being a nice guy. Now he has another income stream, all because he become the person to go to.
Helping others
When you help others become a success you undoubtedly will become a success yourself, however, you still need the business savvy and the business guts to put yourself out there.
Never call yourself an expert, let others call you the expert, but put it out there that you know what you’re talking about and help others achieve what they want to achieve.
I realised this a while ago but am only now beginning to put into motion the second stage of this and that is having the business guts to get out there.
What’s your story?
Have you realised this key already, if so what’s your story and how did it help yourself and others?
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Thanks so much for this post, Steven. I used to hold back offering myself and my skills generously to others. I realized this wasn’t working, and now am so happy to help others with no concern at all about what I might get in return. Shifting my orientation to openness has brought beautiful experiences and opportunities to my life. I highly recommend doing what you suggest.
Hi Gail, it really is a revelation to realise that you don’t have to give to receive, just keep giving and you will always be okay. Thanks for taking the time to read this and write a comment.
Hey Steven.
Some people don’t see the value in this message, and see it like a circular concept that doesn’t really make sense, but that is missing the point. Becoming that go-to guy, or providing the impetus someone else could benefit from for their own desires, is worth much more than providing something that doesn’t match one’s main desires.
It is providing that help that others need when they need it most, so that they don’t get stuck at a place that would cause them to have to abandon ship. It is the difference between them getting to their goal or not, and then they can help you get to yours. This is not as common of a practice as we might think.
Cool material.
Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..Timeless Information Video #2
Armen, sadly is not a common practice, like you say. It seems to be the new marketing mantra just now, so it looks like marketers are getting it.
Loved the video by the way
This is a good reminder Steven. To be the person people go to, we need to constantly polished our skills and learn new skills, so we can meet their expectations. When the time is right, making money out of helping others would be understandable and can benefit both parties.
Karlil´s last blog ..5 Simple Tips To Increase Everyday Laughter
You hit the nail on the head there Nik, ‘when the time is right’, you’ve got to get the timing right otherwise people will think you were in it for the sale all along.
The world can be shady sometimes. When you take the time to genuinely help another person, you will most likely stand out compared to others and they will remember you. This helps build a successful business through recommendations, knowledge, relationships, etc.
Additionally, money is valued in terms of social value. If you spend your life helping yourself, there’s a high chance you may not earn a lot of money. If you spend time “influencing” people in general, you will be a lot more closer to money. It’s like comparing the average income of artists to the average income of politicians.
Tristan Lee´s last blog ..Saying Hello to a Stranger: My Awkward One Second Experience
Tristan, I had to read the last sentence over a few times before I got what you meant
I totally agree with you, become an influencer, an ethical one, and you will prosper.
Love the quote “The Key To Success Is Making Others A Success”.
So true. Thanks for sharing. Love the picture in the post.
Thanks Harry, I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.
Steven,
I love this post. I first realized I wanted to help people about 3 years ago. I developed a site called NuHabits which was centered around connecting people with common habits they want to change. Unfortunately, since I am not a programmer – nor do I have unlimited funds – I could not defend the site against the host of spammers out there that were setting up accounts and annoying the members. So, although the site is still up, I’ve had to discontinue automatic account activitations which has essentially crippled the site. So I decided it was time to move on.
Recently, my wife and I decided to start writing a relationships blog with a personal development spin (LoveBlug) . We’re in a happy and committed relationship and are into taking introspective looks at ourselves and our relationship, so why not share how we try to do that with others.
Derek – LoveBlug´s last blog ..Resentments 101
Hi Derek, you have a great idea with the NuHabits site, pity about the spammers, however other people have managed to get around this problem. It might be worth doing some research. Also the LoveBug site could be big if you stick at it. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I love this. Not only does it feel good inside to help others, you reap amazing benefits in multiple areas of your own life.
Nea | Self Improvement Saga´s last blog ..Who Doesn’t Deserve Compassion?
So true Nea. It reminds me of a song we used to sing at school assembly ‘The Magic Penny’ talking about the more you give it away the more you get.
Hey, Steven
Fundamental piece here
You can’t really be successful only for yourself, this is a contradiction in terms. You’re part of something bigger, regardless of the fact that you accept it or not. The Sun goes round the Earth without needing your acceptance. But once you acknowledge the fact that you are part of a larger living organism, you start to become linked and needed. Providing advice is the key.
Another little secret is that you always provide this advice for free, even when you get paid for it. If you do it for money, it won’t work. Or it will work incredibly hard (this is why the misconception about “earning money is hard work” is so popular, by the way). If you do it for free, for making other people skillful, for being helpful, money will follow. Money is always a consequence, not a goal.
Thanks for the mention, by the way, you know I always appreciate it.
Dragos Roua´s last blog ..How to Overcome Frustration in 3 Easy Steps
Dragos, that’s a great point about giving away the information for free and an even better phrase ‘Money is a consequence, not a goal.’
That’s interesting that I’ve read this article today because just yesterday I was thinking about the same thing. Unfortunately a lot of people are too selfish and they set their own desires, likes or dislikes above other people’s interests. I do not say that you have to undervalue yourself but as you’ve said “The key to success is making other a success.”
The best thing for me was that I was soon promoted and that I got a substantial raise.
I learned this fundamental truth when I was working in customer support. When dealing with unsatisfied clients or clients who have the silliest questions you have two options: complain at them and think that you are better than they are (hat’s exactly what most people do) or put them first. I chose the second one and my days at work were great. I still had to deal with grumpy clients but when at the end of the day I got emails with thanks from them and saying that I had helped them a lot and that they would like to deal only with me in the future – it was nice, very nice
I try to follow this principle with everything I do in life (including blogging). It has been working so far
Anastasiya´s last blog ..Help Us Build a Brighter Future
I’ve always been a nice guy and always enjoyed helping others with different tasks, but never crossed my mind that I want to start a business one day. Just the satisfaction that I get from helping those in need is enough for me.
But I guess if you are really good at one thing and more and more people are asking for your advice it would be plain stupid not to charge them for your effort and start a small business. It’s the nice guys that do things for free that are run over nowadays, so it’s always better to avoid getting to that point, and start saying “No” from time to time because people will begin taking advantage of you.
Nicholas´s last blog ..Fruit information
Very nice post, I loved it and I will try to implement this approach!
Thank you!
Steven,
this is such a vital key for success. I’ve been the go-to-person in many areas myself. That’s why I started becoming a computer consultant when I was 21 and still am. I remember always putting people with their problems first. I especially remember a company during their time of crisis and breakdown (when they filed for bancrupcy). Everyone was leaving, but I sticked with them, although they couldn’t pay me at that time. Well, they got back in the game, and my company has been administering all their companies computers ever since. That was 15 years ago. And I am talking about companies with some hundred computers. So, I worked nearly 4 months for them without a penny, but they pay me very good money for over 15 years now. And we have a very friendly and close relationship ever since.
Now I at that time couldn’t expect that, but I trusted in them at was helpful. It made all the difference to them and ever then made all the difference to me.
Same principle helped me in most other areas of interest and business jsut as well.
Patrick @ unwrapyourmind.com´s last blog ..Would You Pay a Thief to Steal from You? Well, You Do!
I’m so glad I get to read blogs and websites for people who are in the same industry as me. Great blog!
The main points I can sum this up to : create value by helping others as much as you can
I made up this game with my clients in seminars and gatherings. It’s called the “Contribution Game” where people get to know people and help it other out. Doing it often makes people feel really good and a step further in achieving their goals.
Cheers!
Steve, this is a really important point to remember daily, thanks for sharing. I think it’s natural for personal growth to evolve into helping others grow themselves. When you are committed to personal growth and discover where that journey takes you, the natural extension is helping others find their path, because we are all in this together.
I guess you could say I realized this key slowly, when finishing up my undergraduate studies, when I had to start thinking about the “real world” and how I wanted to make a living.
Right now I’m reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuck, and he talks about how to survive in the future economy, everyone needs to make their own personal brand and be committed to helping others, by using their own talents and passions to drive that. It’s exciting that right now it’s so possible to start linking life and business success.
Melissa Karnaze´s last blog ..The Dark Side of Personal Development
Sorry I left off the n, Steven!
Melissa Karnaze´s last blog ..The Dark Side of Personal Development
Whoops, Vaynerchuk was spelled wrong as well. Next time I will do a better spell check.
Another thing I’d like to add. I agree that by helping others when they ask for assistance, you also take your own success to the next level. Personal growth in a vacuum can only get you so far, and it’s by communicating what you know to others that you also get a better grasp of it. Much in the way that blogging helps you have better command of what you already know.
Melissa Karnaze´s last blog ..The Dark Side of Personal Development
Hi Steven,
I really like your piece. I actually believe that when you help others find success, you’ll become successful also. I think I also heard that somewhere before. But this is a very good reminder to those who’ve forgotten it. Thanks for putting it into writing!
Nikka´s last blog ..Business Growth Starts With You