This time of year, we hear and see much about giving.  Television and radio broadcasts feature individuals and organizations that are giving to help the less fortunate.  The Internet is full of emails, podcasts, tweets, and hundreds of thousands of written, audio and/or video stories featuring individuals and organizations that are giving in order to help and support others.  Tens of thousands of charities are actively, even aggressively seeking funding and volunteers for their mission of giving to and serving others.  This is as it should be... all year, every year, all year long!

There is no greater success than serving and giving to others.  There is no greater success strategy than a continuous laser-like focus on serving others as opposed to serving self.  Even though I have traveled and networked extensively throughout my life and career, I have never met, nor have I heard or read about a “failure” who gave his or her life to serving, helping, assisting, supporting, teaching, mentoring... yes loving and giving to others.  Never... not once!

We have all read and heard the familiar phrase. “There are no guarantees in life.”  Even though I strongly believe in the very important philosophy behind this statement, I must respectfully disagree that there are literally no guarantees in life.  If someone were to say to me, “There is no guaranteed success in life,” I would respectfully disagree.  There is guaranteed success in life!  Serve, help, assist, support, teach, mentor... yes love and give to others... 365 days a year... every year for the rest of your life!  The result, without question will be Success... Guaranteed!!

Many people might ask the very natural and appropriate question, “What’s in it for me?”  Well... how about this for just a start... life-long personal and professional happiness, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and exhilaration.  Many people might ask another very natural and appropriate question, “What about money and material success?”  My answer would be that Zig Ziglar was and is absolutely correct when is says, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Talk about a spectacular return on investment!  Life-long personal and professional happiness, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and exhilaration... how could it be any better than that?

Consider this guaranteed reality and suggestion.  “All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors. --Khalil Gibran

You are invited to join me in making 2010 the best year of your life... and the best year of my life... in terms of what really counts.  That would be giving!

Copyright © 2009 by Dan Nielsen