August 19

Serve Somebody

Who are the mostmiserablepeople you know?

OK, that might not be a fair question. And while it’s unlikely that I

know the person who immediately came to your mind, I want to predict that I know something about them: they are very self-centered.

The most miserable professionals I encounter are those who are only about one person: themselves. They feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick. They never get what other people are getting. They blame the client anytime something goes wrong. And whenever credit is being doled out for work well done, they are always there to ensure that they get what they “deserve.”

When you are self-centered, your world becomes a smaller and smaller set of concentric circles centered only on you. Your perspective. Your worldview. Your best interests. And eventually, you will get stuck. Stew on the perceived injustice for long enough, and it will take over your mind, leaving no space for creativity to flourish.

The antidote? As we’ve discussed before: generosity. Service. Doing things for others with no expectation of reciprocity.

Today, focus on doing something to serve another person. Offer to get them coffee. Give them credit for something they did. Write a note of encouragement. The funny thing is, when you commit to building into others, you will often find that you receive far more in return. Not just the feeling of having done something good but in real, tangible creative insight. It unlocks something in your mind.

Creativity thrives in the fertile field of generosity.

To get unstuck, get outside yourself.

QUESTION

How can you serve someone else today?