Selfish Behavior is Limiting Your Potential for Greatness. [an edgy conversation]

Selfish behavior will steal every dream you have for yourself.

You’ll make bad decisions, hurt good people, and destroy any chance you have of making a lasting difference in the world around you.

Its affecting your business too. If you’re struggling to land deals and grow revenue right now, you might need to look at your selfish behavior.

My grandfather passed away a few days ago at 92 years old. My mother was holding his hand as he breathed his last breath. He had actively survived the passing of his spouse by two more years. Taking daily walks and even learning how to use the computer. Pretty amazing stuff for a guy six decades older than me who had already lived a full life.

My Uncle Alan (my mom’s little bro), wasn’t able to be there with his father when he passed. Earlier in the day, the doctors let those gathered know that gramps was losing his battle. The close family members prepared to spend their final moments.

Alan owns a busy 200 acre dairy farm about 30 miles away. If you have ever worked on a farm, you know that it’s the one job in the world that waits on no one. You can’t do things when you want; you do them on a schedule. Lives and your livelihood depends on you being disciplined.

And so while the others waited, Alan had to go. He gently kissed his father good-bye, said his final words, and left — knowing that that moment was most likely the last time he would see someone he loved so very dearly.

He let go of what he wanted. It wasn’t about him getting what he wanted. It wasn’t about fairness.

It was about Alan being selfless in spite of the grief, pain, and personal hurt. And that, quite simply, is what greatness is all about.

So, “it’s just cows” you say. “Aren’t you making too big of a deal about it?”

Maybe.  But’s here’s what I know:

We’ve become selfish.

It’s our goals, our future, and our reputation. We only help if we think there’s something in it for us. We only care if we are shamed into it. We only do “me” things.

And it’s destroying us from the inside out. Let’s get edgy about this, fast:

Selfish behavior is the single biggest problem with the craft of selling.

It’s not process or plans or people, it’s our selfish intentions.

Is it any wonder buyers can’t stand to be around us?

Maybe the formula is:

• Giving instead of leveraging…
• Helping instead of maneuvering…
• Caring instead of manipulating…
• Investing instead of qualifying….

Maybe we’re just too selfish “doing our thing” to be the outrageously successful person we really could be.

Maybe we change all that starting today.