Are You a Valuable Person?

”Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.” – Thomas Edison

Every day, I see people in business try to do it, and they fail. They look the part, and say the right words, but they disappoint. We have watched our fills of the images of success, professionalism and astuteness on television and in magazines. We know what it should look like; however, the substance of these attributes are hard-earned and, thankfully, not easily fabricated. Like the iceberg, the mass of a person’s value is beneath the surface. What is seen is an indicator at best. What the con artist hopes to do is use the appearance of value without delivering the substance.

You cannot give what you do not possess. Your value and service to others must come from something that buttresses and convicts your behaviors. We live in a world where the frauds will not make it. People may get fooled once in a while, but they are not fooled often. You must not only appear the part, but more importantly, you must be that person. If you are asking, “How do I sell more?” or “How do I get more business?” you are missing the question that your customer values. They are asking, “Are you the real thing?” and “Do you deliver what you promise?”

How about being a student of authenticity and stop chasing the gimmick? Here is what is required:

1. Mindset: Like anything else in your life, you are what you have been becoming. Is excellence important to you? Then you will notice it and consume it voraciously. If getting by and having an easy life is what you want, it will show up in how you use your time and energy. Think about what it would take if you wanted to read instead of watching TV. It may be an immense amount of inertia until you decide it is important.
   
   
2. Structures: Make it easy for yourself to behave the way you want. How you set up forms will drive the function thereafter. If you have junk food easily accessible, it will be easily consumed. If you believe responsiveness to your customer is highly important, then you will show the care you have by thinking through the system for responding quickly. Look at what firefighters do. They structure their next steps for the impending emergency. They are ready. What does your structure look like for what you know is coming?
   
   
3. Influence: Who you let influence you will shape you. Are you around winners? If not, it is unlikely you will become one. In this case, you are getting reinforcement to pursue mediocrity. How much information comes through your sight and hearing telling you to pursue excellence? Let your mind, eyes and ears be influenced by information which pushes you to grow and constantly become your best.
   
   
4. Practice: Do you just show up to meetings or do you lead them because you know where you want it to head? Don’t do business by accident. That is the difference between an amateur and a pro. The former is depending on luck and likeability. The latter enjoys leverage and likeability. Do you see your trade, your business or your life as an artform? Are you committed to perfecting it? If not, get yourself into something you can be passionate about. You will never be your best, otherwise.

I am glad about the game of life. It can beat you down, but it is fair. You will reap what you sow. People are not easily fooled, and they can recognize value. For those seeking to become valuable to others, they will reap the reward.