One of my favorite old proverbs goes like this:

"If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a week, get promoted.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help others."

Narrowed down to a simple biblical truth-to get, first we must give. This was restated by Winston Churchill, who said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

An abundance mentality for our industry could be revolutionary. Is any dream too big or too bold to envision and achieve? Might we all take a little action every day to create something that will serve others, add to the lifetime quest of happiness and fuel a simple revolution?

At our company, we decided to mentor 10 artists per year. It's been an ambitious goal, and at times we have wondered how the time could be managed to give everyone what they need. We defined this process as follows:

• Pray for discernment and common sense to prevail.

• Maintain humility and don't consider becoming people of success, but be people that add value to others.

• Don't think that there is anything in it for you. Think solely about others.

• Stop wasting time being busy and find the time for others.

• Make yourselves indispensable.

• Do everything with grace and kindness.

Know that everything that is good may not be right for us or them at that precise time. Learn lessons from others and share them. Build a supportive community by discussing what has worked and not worked. For example, take the recent death of several brands in the market, and recognize core values. For one former greeting card company, it was misjudging how their secular company would ram their products through a delicate Christian channel. The company underestimated the value of relationships and the importance of Scripture as authoritative language to live by. Further, retailers really don't care about "synergies" of consolidating companies unless there are inherent benefits to them and the consumer.

As you take up the cause to give more, understand that you can't be all things to all people. Be easy on yourself as you cross over to this servant leadership life.

Consider that the era of rugged individualism may be over and that you should set your sights on the highest form of human development-helping others in a community of service.

Rick Tocquigny
CEO
Artbeat of America

• Prev
• Next