Thursday Thoughts... Book Club

Something I’ve repeated with my teams for a few years is something we call Book Club. We’ll pick a development book, read a chapter or two on our own during the week, and then rotate who leads the review and discussion during a virtual happy hour every month. I ask them to participate to continue growing together as a team and helping each person grow personally for whatever the future holds.

Our most recent Book Club was on The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. It’s a book I’ve read four or five times myself, and every time I revisit it, something new stands out. It’s an easy read (the audio book is only about two and a half hours), but it is packed with principles that can reshape how you approach both life and work. The authors outline five laws:

• The Law of Value: Your true worth is measured by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. 

• The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them. 

• The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first. 

• The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself. 

• The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

The theme of giving keeps showing up everywhere I look. I see it in the Bible, which consistently instructs us on generosity. I see it in studies that show people who live generously actually receive more in the long run, whether in relationships, health, or opportunity. I see it in teachers and coaches who give their evenings to build up kids. I see it in business leaders who pour into the next generation, even when it doesn’t benefit them directly. I see it in retirees who volunteer constantly. I see it in people who take a night off to serve or speak at youth group.

And I see it in my own life. Every time I give more than what’s expected, whether it is more effort, more encouragement, or more attention, the result is always better than if I had simply done the bare minimum.

The challenge, of course, is that giving requires intentionality. It doesn’t happen by accident. It takes making the decision to do more than what’s required, to add value even when it costs you time or effort, to think about what someone else needs before thinking about what you might get in return.

The part that really hit me this week is that the key to becoming valuable is ensuring it isn’t part of the transaction. That feels like a √-1 = i kind of math problem, where numbers suddenly turn into letters. My brain doesn’t love that kind of shift, and it took me a while to grasp. But here’s how I’ve started to think about it: the formula works best when you focus on increasing the value you give, without tying it to the return. The more you give without keeping score, the stronger the equation becomes.

The truth is that there isn’t always a simple way to measure giving more value. In the book you’ll see an example of a hot dog stand. The man charged for a normal hot dog, but gave you an all-beef dog on a fresh bun, with great toppings, and he remembered your name and preferences, and he served you with joy. That experience is measurable and memorable, and I would choose it day in and day out. But adding value isn’t always that simple. Sometimes it’s your time, a quick text to let someone know you care, or doing something extra for a customer that you never promote.

That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge… Where in your life can you give more than you ask for? Where can you add more value than what’s expected? Maybe it is an extra effort at work. Maybe it is investing more time in your family. Maybe it is mentoring someone younger.

Don’t underestimate your ability to impact others. You already have value to offer, but it will take intentionality.

And if you’re looking for a simple next step, pick up a copy of The Go-Giver. It’s short, easy to read, and packed with wisdom that can change how you think about success.

I’m thankful you took the time to read this, for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing.