Golden Rule #4
Add value to people’s lives and you will reap many rewards.
So many people and companies claim that this is their purpose - to add value to someone else’s life. But a careful (or not so careful) analysis often finds them wanting. Though they make this statement perhaps in their mission statement or values in the case of companies, their behaviour and standards reflect the reality - their focus is on their profits.
Little do they realize that focusing on the value they provide would in fact garner them even greater profits, especially in a world where customers have become so accustomed to the other side. Remembering that their purpose is to provide value would force them to evaluate each action and decision to see whether it adds additional value or at least does not reduce the value currently being provided. Of course, the argument could be that the profits are adding value to the lives of the stockholders, but then greater profits would add greater value so perhaps focusing on the value to customers would eventually increase the value provided to those stockholders.
In the case of individuals, so many people don’t really know what they are about. And suggesting that one focus on adding value to someone else’s life would meet with much consternation from those people that feel they don’t yet have enough value in their own life.
A story was written recently in the Jamaica Gleaner (I can’t remember which day and couldn’t find it online), about a man who has taken this rule as a way of life. He routinely provides to people in his community, money to kids for school, food to those that are hungry. He does this simply to help them improve their lives and he reaps it all back. His business continues to run and support him, and he can see the positive results of his works. Could he have more money by not giving stuff away? Perhaps but his life is full and he is rewarded everyday.
