“It is not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game ever starts.” – Addison Walker
This past week I sent an e-mail to a friend. I thanked him for helping me over the years and being a significant factor in Becoming Minimalist’s success. He wrote back, “If I have helped you succeed, I am happy.” It was a short e-mail response, but it communicated an important truth: Our greatest successes in life are often found in helping others succeed. Our most lasting and fulfilling achievements are often earned by helping others fulfill theirs.
This is foreign thinking to a culture that often sees the world as one giant competition. In their mind, there is a set number of winners and losers. And if somebody else wins, that’s one less opportunity for me. But I have come to realize the mindset of competition is based on a faulty premise. It assumes there is a finite sized pie – that one more success in another’s life equals one less success in mine. But quite frankly, this thinking is incorrect.
There is wonderful freedom and grace in realizing the size of the pie is not finite – that in reality, the pie keeps growing. Another’s success does not mean I have less opportunity. In fact, another’s success can actually be my success if I had opportunity to enable, encourage, and promote them along the way!
Consider how helping another achieve success (however you/they decide to define it) results in significant benefits in a number of directions:
- The receiver has reached a far greater potential than they could have on their own.
- The world has been bettered and has been given a life-giving model to emulate.
- The giver is remembered fondly and is often publicly (and privately) thanked for their contribution.
- A stranger is likely to be the recipient of the original receiver “paying it forward.”
- And the cycle begins again.
Now, just to be clear, I am starting with an assumption that our greatest joys in life are rarely found in the relentless pursuit of selfish ambition – that selfish desires always leave us lacking and searching for more. Some may think that line of thinking is too unrealistic, far-fetched, or old-fashioned. They believe that in a dog-eat-dog-world if I’m not looking out for #1, nobody is. But that line of thinking is short-sighted.
Inherently, we know we have been designed to live for something greater than ourselves. Our contribution to this world has to be measured by something more meaningful than the size of our house or the neighborhood where it is located. And our lives are going to find lasting significance in how we choose to live them… and how we enable others to live theirs.
This article is a great reminder that true success comes from lifting others up. When we help others achieve their goals, we create a ripple effect of positivity and growth. Well said
Recognize the potential for anyone to do good. Elevating others self worth will encourage them to strive even more. Happiness for me is seeing one or more or all of them do better than me and know that in some small way I played a part in it.
By the grace of God i will keep hoping that one day God will perfect my doing in one way or the other.
To say the truth, am getting tired of hardship here and am looking forward to anyone who can help me by showing me the road to success my God is reward him/her abundantly.
Yes me too we all through ups and downs ….. mountains and valleys . Your valley is temporarily right now .
The Truth is you already are right now this very minute LOVED beyond measure Forgiven …… so go that if God is for me ! Who can be against me …… start believing I’m blessed I’m meant to be Blessing … more then you can imagine when ?
NOW this day ! Watch your week turn around success things will turn in your favor for Gods Glory . Get in a morning group business mind Bible study that all pray ???? before work ….. this will greatly increase and help you support and help you succeed….
Love ❤️ you in
Jesus Name
love you back random response, glory be to God. Loved beyond all measures, I needed to hear that. Thank you
I have lived a full life of hardships, hardships that made me stronger! I am about to turn 40 in Nov. of this year (2016) and I see myself a survivalist.. NOT a victim and I am stronger, more confident then ever.. Surprisingly so, as for some don’t make it to where I am and I want to use my experiences to help those who can go the direction I struggled so hard to avoid. Mental illness, addiction, depression with sucidal tendencies, rape, abuse, self abuse… It’s strange.. I’m actually happy to have these lessons in life and say I’m surviving. Though I don’t have the first clue on how to become a leader. I am a single mother who can’t afford to go to school, whether it is time or money that is hard to find but I know I need to do this, for others, for my children but also for me! Though I need this to stay strong because even a survivors have their struggles. though the motive isn’t FOR me, the motive is to help others who are victims and show them that they are not.. But survivors and instead of being weaker and a fragile shells of themselves, show them just how much stronger they can be from their experiences and hopefully spread the message.. But how can I do this? I’m a mother who works to support my children off of one income. I have to work to support my family and it’s just me.. So the time I do have I try spending with my children so additional education can not be easily fit into the overwhelming schedule I already have or if I could find the time by sacrificing my income, I would not have the funds to afford additional education. But this is what I was meant to do! I know it, I survived for a reason.. But how do I change my direction in life when I have children I’m now responsible for? There was a time I could live in poverty or go without food and shelter to peruse a dream, but that is no longer the case.. So please, if you have ANY advice, I really would love to know so I can start changing the world one person at a time and eventually save more individuals throughout centuries of time.. I know.. I’m getting ahead of myself but why not p, dream big or go home!! Oh, I definitely plan to read more from you and yet to know if answers are already there.. But I’ve been sitting on this for a while now and very excited to start now.. Not AFTER my children are grown.. I believe strongly and maybe because of my life, but I live in the now because we can’t guarantee tomorrow will come!
To see something were negativity Had been found more prevalint…not likely of someone to speak good into the negative agains how others tryng to shape the idea maybe doint
Hi Joshua,
I agree with you. The finest form of happiness is found when we help others achieve their goals and dreams. I believe that happiness is a creature that exist through giving not receiving. And the purest form of happiness can be achieved when we give to others without looking for return or benefits.
Do you know how I make my life easy? By making other people’s life easy.
How can helping others impact a career path?? Please answer this, i need it!
Helping others can significantly impact a career path in various ways:
1. *Networking*: Building relationships through helping others can lead to valuable connections, recommendations, and opportunities.
2. *Skill development*: Mentoring, teaching, or assisting others can enhance your own skills and expertise.
3. *Personal growth*: Helping others can increase confidence, empathy, and self-awareness, leading to personal and professional growth.
4. *Reputation*: Establishing yourself as a helpful and supportive professional can boost your reputation and credibility.
5. *Opportunities*: Helping others can lead to new projects, collaborations, or career opportunities.
6. *Leadership*: Demonstrating your ability to help others can position you for leadership roles.
7. *Job satisfaction*: Deriving meaning and purpose from helping others can increase job satisfaction and motivation.
8. *Transferable skills*: Developing skills like communication, problem-solving, and empathy can be applied across various roles and industries.
9. *Professional development*: Helping others can lead to recognition, awards, or promotions.
10. *Legacy*: Leaving a positive impact on others can create a lasting legacy in your career.
Remember, helping others is not only fulfilling but also beneficial for your career growth and advancement!