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Secrets to Success
Deborah Cole Micek |
Use your gifts
and resources
for greater good"With great power comes great responsibility," Spider-Man's uncle tells his young nephew whom he's raising as his own son. Such sage advice. Yet a hard lesson learned by young Spider-Man.
It's a principle that, when followed, makes the world a better place. And, when thwarted, makes us wonder why bad things happen to good people.
What powers have you been blessed with? Do you know how you're supposed to use your gifts, talents and abilities in this world?
Some people equate power with money. Others, with position or strength. What do you associate power with? What are the responsibilities that are associated with the power you have?
Watching the movie "Spider-Man II" this weekend got me thinking of topics that aren't usually talked about in the plethora of self-help books out there, nor demonstrated by many of our fallen leaders during the last decade.
Self-help gurus and litigious attorneys would have us believing there are more things outside of our control and, therefore, not our fault. "Hogwash!" I say.
What it really boils down to is practicing an "uncomfortable leadership quality" called self-sacrifice and deferring pleasure "for the greater good." Now that's what I call Real Power.
Are you afraid to acknowledge the power you have been blessed with in this life? Perhaps because of an underlying fear of success? Does financial success make you uncomfortable, because of all the misconceptions about success and money? Are you concerned that having more money will turn you into someone you don't want to be?
Too many people thwart their own success because they've been mistakenly taught that money itself is evil. That's because they quote the principle wrong. It's the "love of" money, they forget to mention, that's written in this timeless Scripture. Funny how just two words completely change the meaning of a principle. As a result, people are misled.
Having money doesn't turn you into an evil person; it simply reveals who you are inside. And if you've developed your character from when you were young, realizing that "with great power comes great responsibility," you'll reflect those values in the places where your money is spent and how it is used.
Money is merely a tool. It can be used for the greater good or as an excuse and a crutch to hide behind and use for one's own advancement of pride and power.
Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki says it best in his book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad": "Most people are afraid that money is evil, they'll become corrupt, they'll lose their values.
"Money does not make you who you are. Money just reveals who you are. If you're a greedy person, more money makes you more greedy. If you're an unhappy person, more money makes you more unhappy. If you're a fool, more money makes you more foolish. If you're generous, more money makes you more generous," he said.
What is the first thing you would do if you made a bonus of a million dollars this year?
Deborah Cole Micek
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John-Paul Micek is the lead business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. Reach him at JPM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.
Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach and life strategist. Reach her at DCM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.
Access an expanded version of this article at www.GetCoachedforFree.com.