"To be genuinely successful we need to allow ourselves to receive."
- Bob Burg & John David Mann
Motivation Monday - Richard's Insight
This gem of a quote comes right at the end of Bob and John's second book on the subject of being a Go-Giver. Their first book was called The Go-Giver and the second, Go-Givers Sell More. So a quote about receiving in the context of giving at first glance may seem somewhat out of place...but it isn't!
The authors do talk about giving...A LOT in fact, as they unravel their 'Five Laws of Stratospheric Success:
The Law of Value
The Law of Compensation
The Law of Influence
The Law of Authenticity
The Law of Receptivity
In fact, the Law of Receptivity is also the law about receiving, so it is very much an integral part of their philosophy, that in order to give, we must also be able, willing and ready to receive.
Giving and receiving are not mutually exclusive...but in fact part of the same 'flow'. As one gives, so must another receive. In order to give, we must also receive, if we don't then we break the flow or chain if you prefer.
However, for many people, receiving seems to be selfish, or can hurt our pride, or can be seen as something that results from our success, not something that helps to determine it, as Bob and John explain so well in their books.
Without receiving, there is no giving...how can we bless others if we are not prepared to receive blessings ourselves?
The successful already know this and live their lives both generously but also receptively. Giving and receiving their way to the top if you like.
It seems like a difficult concept to grasp and yet as soon as we do it all makes sense doesn't it?
It's a bit like the idea of 'paying it forward' if you like...sowing seeds into the universe to help other people, which in turn gets returned to us as a rich harvest.
The trick is to have an air or generosity, appreciation or gratitude and humility both in our giving and in our receiving. However, if you are anything like me, then one side of this equation might be a whole lot easier than the other! Let it go then, the difficulty in accepting blessings, gifts of good things that come our way and instead accept them and appreciate them just as they are intended...as a part of the flow that we need to be even more giving ourselves.
I have struggled with this idea for some time, but now I get it and I open my arms to receive all the good things that are waiting for me. If I do, then I will have more good things that I can give away to other people too. Now, that must be worth getting over myself to comprehend mustn't it?
Make a commitment then, to receive just as freely as you give and watch what happens...start today đŸ™‚