Introduction: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

The Go-Giver, a business book written as a fable, addresses the importance of giving. I remember always being told – but I cannot remember by whom – that it is better to give than receive, and I always thought that made no sense.

The authors of The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea, Bob Burg and John David Mann talk about the fallacy of the whole idea of it’s better to give than receive. They suggest that receiving is the natural result of giving.

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann doesn’t present any new information, but it presents the old information in the form of a fable, that’s a reminder to you. At 127 pages, The Go-Giver is an easy read.

[Further Reading: Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard & Sheldon Bowles]

What is The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann About?

We all lead such busy lifestyles and are constantly bombarded with new information, so we inevitably forget things that we are supposed to know and even practice. The Go-Giver is a gentle reminder to us about some of the things that we should be paying attention to.

One example is the importance of paying attention to your thoughts because you usually get from life what you focus on. According to Pindar, one of the key characters in the fable, “Most of us have grown up seeing the world as a place of limitation rather than as a place of inexhaustible treasures… You get what you expect… What you focus on is what you get… Ultimately, the world treats you more or less the way you expect to be treated.”

A lot of emphasis is placed on service, and the book suggests that the goal of a great product or service is to provide higher quality than any money could possibly pay for. Ask yourself these questions about your product or service:

• Does it serve?
• Does it add value to others? And if yes,
• Does it make money?

The following Five Laws of Stratospheric Success summarize what The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann is about.

 Five Laws of Stratospheric Success

1. The Law of Value: your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment
2. The Law of Compensation: your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them
3. The Law of Influence: your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first
4. The Law of Authenticity: the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself
5. The Law of Receptivity: the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving

5 Great Ideas from The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

1. The secret to success is giving – make it a way of life – givers attract
2. Making money isn’t a goal that will make you successful. The truly successful people, the ones that are successful in all aspects of their lives, focus on sharing and giving
3. Appearances can be deceiving, it’s like the old adage, never judge a book by its cover
4. People will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust
5. There are three universal laws for working: to survive – meet your basic needs, save – expand your life and go beyond basic needs, and serve – make a contribution for the greater good. Strive for the last reason

Words of Wisdom

It doesn’t matter what your training, education and skills are, no matter what area you are working in, you are your most important commodity. You are the most valuable gift that you can give to yourself, so start appreciating and accepting you.

The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea is a nice book and easy read, so if you have the inclination to get a refresher on some old success principles pick up a copy.

[Further Reading: Book Review: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach]

First Appeared Here in March 2009

The Series of Go-Giver Books

The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business IdeaGo-Givers Sell MoreThe Go-Giver Leader: A Little Story About What Matters Most in Business

Bob Burg Books

Endless Referrals, Third EditionAdversaries into Allies: Win People Over Without Manipulation or CoercionThe Art of Persuasion: Winning Without IntimidationThe Last Prospecting Guide You’ll Ever Need: Direct Sales EditionIt’s Not About You: A Little Story About What Matters Most in BusinessThe Memory System