Beware False Profits
It’s a generally accepted notion that we go into business or into a profession to make a lot of money. But in fact most very financially successful professionals and entrepreneurs will tell you, looking back over a lifetime, that it’s not about the money. Somehow, that came as a byproduct.
Almost all highly successful entrepreneurs and professionals have a simple formula: have fun doing something at which you’re very good, and pay somebody else to look after the nickels and the dimes. Nearly every high performer I’ve ever met (and as a lawyer, I met tons of them) had this in common: they loved what they did, and the money took care of itself.
This isn’t to say that they did not follow the money. They did, but rarely was it their focus. They paid good staff and good advisors to look after the nuts and bolts, while they focused on their game. (Of course, as Leonard Cohen learned, you need to keep an eye on those keeping an eye on your money!)
Highly successful people know how to create and maintain both loyalty and enthusiasm on the part of clients, customers, and fans. These things flow directly from a laser focus on their Giftings or other deliverables. Rarely does client loyalty and enthusiasm flow from parsing spreadsheets.
Now, to be sure, if you major Gifting is parsing spreadsheets, that’s what you should do, for yourself and for others. If paying attention to the pennies gets you really excited, then by all means count pennies for your clients. Help them get and stay rich and they will reward you for it, and you’ll have lots of your own pennies to count, too.
But for most of us, staring at the dashboard all the time means we’re just going to crash into the moose who was standing in middle of the road. Better to enjoy the road ahead and let the miles slip by safely and happily. Focusing on our Giftings provides not only the most enjoyment, but also the greatest safety and the greatest return.
Beware false profits!