Be More Selfish ...

The following article, by Darren Hardy (Success Magazine), puts a great spin on the extremely touchy subject of Being More Selfish … I thought it was excellent, I hope you enjoy it as well !!

You are on a plane … It suddenly loses cabin pressure … The oxygen masks drop down.

The elderly woman next to you panics ... You help her put her mask on.

Then you see the little kid behind you crying.

You help him, then his mother, then his little sister…

Then, nothing … You’re dead.

It’s great to be a hero … But a dead hero? … Not so much.

Sometimes being selfish is the most selfless thing you can do. We are taught this every time we board a plane. But still, it seems we just aren’t getting it.

If you want to achieve the highest level of performance in business or your personal life, you need to know that it’s okay to be selfish, it’s essential. It’s a matter of life or death!

One of my favorite quotes from my mentor Jim Rohn is, “You take care of you for me and I’ll take care of me for you.” Selfishness can be the most serving thing you can do for another.

"The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone.”

― Ayn Rand

Those we present on the cover of SUCCESS are some of the most positively impacting, society-improving and humanity-advancing people on the planet. People like Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Peter Diamandis, Michael Bloomberg, Mehmet Oz, Howard Schultz, Maria Shriver and Joel Osteen come to mind.

What you might be surprised to know is the common trait of today’s most successful achievers and “universe denters” is selfishness—not in abusing or violating others, but in putting themselves and their goals first. They take care of their minds, bodies and souls. They know that you cannot achieve greatness if you are tired, uninspired, angry or wound up.

To operate at high-performance levels, you have to prepare and protect yourself from all that doesn’t support your most important goals, objectives and vision.

So here are 5 Rules to Being Selfish, in reverse order:

#5 Toss Out the Old Ideas
We are told at an early age that selfishness is bad. It’s not. It’s absolutely necessary if you are going to reach your potential, express your talent and do your great work.

Sure we want to help others. Your parents sacrificed so you could have the cool new sneakers, go to summer camp and attend college. But you wouldn’t have wanted them to sacrifice for you at the expense of their health, vitality or longevity.

Self-sacrifice breeds contempt. Instead understand it as self-interest. Putting others first is a disservice to yourself and those around you. It is your responsibility, your duty, to put yourself first. Only then can you truly help yourself and those around you.

#4 Stop Playing God
Stop trying to play God. Even God wants you to take care of you first (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This is also called the Messiah complex—and I have several friends who have it. Amazing and wonderful people, but they go around trying to save everyone else, sacrificing their health, sanity and greater life’s purpose (it literally killed one friend of mine).

#3 Heed the Warning Signs
Don’t get me wrong, I love helping others. I spend my life mentoring and coaching people to achieve greatness. But I always watch out for those Warning Signs if I am helping others at the sacrifice of myself.

Danger! I am not working out enough.
Danger! I am not eating properly.
Danger! I am getting behind in my work.
Danger! Others are taking advantage of me.
Danger! I’m losing valuable time in the pursuit of my dreams.

Beware of those Danger Zones that can derail your goals.

#2 Stay Selfish But Be Unselfish
Michael Jordan is recognized as the greatest basketball player ever. How did he get to the top? He was selfish, and he was completely honest about it.

“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate.”

Jordan’s teams won six NBA championships. They did so because Jordan worked on his own game first and then raised the game of his teammates, making the Chicago Bulls one of the most successful franchises in sports.

Follow Jordan’s example. Be selfish in your pursuit of excellence. Only then can you impact those around you.

#1 Make YOU No. 1
If you want to achieve optimal performance, take care of you first. You’ll find that you will become powerful. You’ll find out that you can make a huge difference in the lives of others when you are at your best. And you’ll find that in being selfish, you are unleashing your greatest potential… and the world around you will benefit.