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Reap What You Sow
by Rebecca Monet
As a behavioral scientist and developer of a suite of psychographic assessments used to predict franchisee compatibility and performance, I’m frequently asked if there are some common traits of successful business owners. I could go on and on about franchisee-franchisor fit and how that impacts success, but I will spare you. Instead I’d like to share with you the one trait super-performers possess in spades: they are givers. The battle of the ego. Our egos tend to resist the idea of giving. The ego only cares about our wants, needs and interests. For some, fear prevents them from being generous. Many have been programmed with a scarcity mindset. Others were taught that to survive or to be successful we must look out for ourselves. Giving confronts our fear and boldly claims that we are not held captive by our thoughts of lack. As Maya Angelou says, “Giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
42 The Franchise Woman
You reap what you sow. You likely have read The Go-Giver, by Joe Berg and John David Mann. In it if you recall, Pindar, a frustrated salesman, learns that happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction and success are by-products of serving others—not the result of seeking these things for their own sake. This positive-sum, almost altruistic focus in business is likely embodied by most entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses. Yet, this ‘you reap what you sow’ law speaks to all facets of our lives. An acorn when planted, watered and given sunshine will bring forth an oak tree. It will not bring forth savory grapes that you can turn into wine. Similarly if we sow greed, we bring forth grief, sorrow and unhappiness. If we sow selfishness, we bring forth loneliness, estrangement and disconnection. In contrast: • Love when shared gives rise to more love.
• Success when shared creates further success. • Friendliness when given brings forth friendships. • Knowledge when shared generates wisdom. • Money when given provides opportunity. • And so it goes. A generous woman gives of her time, money and talent. She does so without keeping score. She listens to the needs of her children, spouse, friends, employees and customers and looks for ways to serve. She gives 100% placing their needs ahead of her own. There are days she is tired of course, but there is great satisfaction and oh so much more by giving authentically of herself. Unlike the woman who complains she is cold but refuses to put a log on the fire, the thoughtful actions of a generous woman act as kindling to a fire
