With so many different attitudes which is the one that leads to career and business success, as well as most other honorable achievement? The one I believe to be the most important success- producing one is often not a part of the initial planning and goal-setting process. This oversight I consider to be the primary contributing factor in not seeing the desired result produced; be this a flourishing business, a rising career, a new invention or whatever. Most ambitious men or women when wanting to go beyond where they find themselves, career or business wise, are focussed on personal gain. With this what could be seen as a self-centered what’s in it for me attitude one’s inclined to giving little thought to how someone else would benefit. This oversight is a serious one – especially to the Christian striving to live according to God’s directives – where we’re asked to be conscious of the needs of others. However, it’s not confined to the Christian community as any secular common-sense business owner better run a business he/she wants to be successful with to the benefit – in addition to self -of his/her customers as well as employees. Where customer and employee benefits are given no thought they’ll soon see customer loss and unacceptable employee turn-over. Both of these spell disaster for any company in pursuit of growth and lasting profit. With the focus on, and an attitude of me first and bottom line to the exclusion of the above mentioned, corporate growth and longevity are about as likely to materialize as snow during July.
Most of us would likely agree with customer and employee benefits being vital to a lasting and growing business or career, but how can this be vital in the very beginning of one’s planning and goal setting? The answer: If benefit-for-others is not in us when we have little it won’t be there when we have much or more. Jesus said, “he/she who is not faithful in little won’t be faithful in much. Me first thinking does not diminish but tends to grow stronger as we get more. To get God’s blessings on one’s plans, and growth in business you better be one whose thoughts and focus are very much on how others can benefit when you plan and set your goals. I think that the famous inventor Edison when working on the light bulb wasn’t only thinking with how much money he’d be making, but rather how much people would benefit and appreciate his replacement for the candle.
So how does some or all of the foregoing also apply to one’s career advancement? The best and fastest way to see one’s career advance is with a how-can-I help-you and what-more-can-I contribute attitude, this caring/sharing attitude is the winning one! This attitude spells success for self and others. It’s this attitude that in addition to personal blessings will bless and benefit one’s co-workers and corporation, and it’s this attitude that’s pleasing to God. Someone once said “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task – which includes the setting of goals – that more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 1 Corinthians 9:10
