What He Says: Often in our culture we believe that we need to be ruthless "takers" to succeed, and that the most powerful people in business are jerks.
This book debunks that as a myth, and says that in fact the most successful people in business are givers by nature. But ... it turns out that the least successful are also givers.
So, what gives? In order to be a successful giver (and businessperson), you have to be strategic in how you give. Don't just do it willy-nilly.
What This Means For You: I have met many small business owners who think they have to work on their "jerk muscles," which tells me that they are feeling taken advantage of. Typically, these entrepreneurs are classic "giver" personalities who just need some support in creating boundaries to turn their giving nature into an asset instead of a liability.
As with all strengths, giving is a huge asset that has the potential to cast an equally huge shadow liability. To optimize your potential for success, don't stop giving, but set firm boundaries, especially when you're interacting with takers.
Virginia Ginsburg is founder and chief consultant at Swell Strategies. She is passionate about supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs in starting and running successful enterprises. An avid reader, in this blog she reviews books and articles and relates specific learning points back to entrepreneurial businesses.
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