"The Greatest Success Principle"

This is from my friend Lenny Cacchio who received it from Joe Calhoon, an acquaintence of Lenny's and one of the "good guys" in the Kansas City area. It's worth sharing. I know he won't mind:

The World's Greatest Success Principle

In 1983, I made a decision to become a full-time speaker, trainer, and business consultant. My first mentor in the speaking business was Cavett Robert.

Each year, the National Speakers Association gives an award called "The Cavett." It's like an Emmy or an Oscar for professional speakers, but it's not based solely on performance; one of the primary criteria for receiving the award is a spirit of giving.

The Cavett Award is a true tribute to the nature of Cavett Robert -- one of the most giving, caring, loving people I've ever known.

So it won't surprise you that as I began my career, Cavett advised me, "If it's worth doing for a fee, it's worth doing for free until people will pay you for it." So, I spoke for free.

Anywhere. Everywhere. Any place they'd have me, I'd deliver my message -- Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Chambers of Commerce, etc.

Years later, I could trace virtually every piece of business to someone who had heard me give one of those free speeches.

There you have it -- give, and you receive.

The most prosperous people I know -- the ones who are overflowing in health, happiness, and prosperity -- are the ones who are consistently giving. They give encouragement, service, advice, and their best contributions.

Jim Rohn, the nation's foremost business philosopher, suggests that we either "plant in the spring or beg in the fall." You can't harvest a crop you don't plant.

Right after the Sept. 11 tragedy, one of my hospitality clients in New York experienced a significant drop in business revenues. The executive team met to discuss their strategies for moving forward.

Obviously, making sales calls to their NYC clients was not at the top of their agenda. What were they to do? One of the leaders had an idea: Why not call their clients in NYC and give those individuals an opportunity to leave the pressure of the city and be guests at my client's safe and secure island resort in upstate New York?

Everyone knew it was the right thing to do. Rather than being paralyzed in their discomfort about how to handle 9/11, they gave their customers the gift of hospitality.

What do you think happened as a result? You know -- you give, and you receive.