Guy Kawasaki is one of the best models of abundance I’ve encountered. Come to think of it—a common quality of the most successful people I know is their natural abundance. In the course of hosting FranklinCovey On Leadership and the iHeart radio program, Great Life Great Career, I’ve encountered some of the most influential minds of our time: authors and leaders like Seth Godin, Dan Pink, Doris Kearns Godwin, General Stanley McChrystal, Dr. Daniel Amen, Jillian Michaels, and dozens more. They all have something in common—an unbridled desire to help others. They generously share their insights, networks, expertise, and most valuably their time—likely their most precious asset beyond their families.
Guy was a superb model of this. His recent book, Wise Guy, was a wonderful gift of lessons learned over his lifetime—both personally and professionally. It’s really a compendium of life principles. Beyond taking a fatiguing level of notes, I was inspired from both reading the book and our interview that I need to always lean to the side of abundance versus scarcity.
Seems simple enough, but we all have scarce tendencies—perhaps unconsciously. We’re tempted to take and keep credit for ourselves. We find, hold, and strategically share information that helps our own brand and value. We progress agendas that advance our own self-interest, skills, and confidences. We often see competitors as threats, rather than motivators or even collaborators.
As the leader of our branding and thought leadership, I’m frequently asked why we feature outside experts. I always respond the same: Although we have extraordinary expertise at FranklinCovey, we’re honored to align our own brand with people of similar values. The synergy that comes from this is palpable to our clients and our own employees. We’re also mindful that we can always learn from other perspectives and experiences. The opportunity to share varied points of view with our clients is part of what makes us a valuable partner. It challenges our own thinking to ensure our future books and solutions are uber-relevant to the world.
Abundance will always pay off in the long run. When you’re tempted to think of scarcity in the moment, remind yourself that your brand and reputation are the collection of your own decisions.
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