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This week I had the pleasure to hear Steve Farber, author of GREATER THAN YOURSELF: The Ultimate Lesson of True Leadeship, as he provided one of the keynotes at the 3rd annual Leadership Challenge Conference held in San Diego. According to Steve, the only way for knowledge to truly lead to power in a person’s life is for that person to give it away. The reason this principle works is seemingly simple: “Everyone will want to work with you. And because of that you’ll be able to accomplish anything you set out to do.”
This book, like his others, is a business parable. The story is compelling and keeps you reading to the very end. His story gives character and life to a principle of truth that has existed for centuries: the more you lift others the higher you will go. This concept comes to life through the greater than yourself (GTY) framework outlined throughout the book . The following elements combine to create the GTY framework:
- Expand yourself: “You expand yourself in order to give yourself to others.” Choose to be connected with others. Take a personal inventory of the things you do well, experiences and life-lessons that you can share and give away your connections.
- Give yourself: “Act instead of just watching others act or hearing about it in the news.” Invest in relationships with other people and be clear on your intentions to make a difference in the lives of others.
- Replicate yourself: “Pay it forward, and demand that those you teach pay it forward, as well.” Share your successes and failures with others so they can learn from your experience.
Who will be your GTY project? Who will you choose to expand into, give of your time and energy to and pay it forward without expecting any reciprocation? Lead by giving away your knowledge. Lead by connecting those around you to others with similar interests, knowledge and goals. Be active, seek out ways to share and give away what makes you successful.
BE GREATER THAN YOURSELF!
