Get More of What You Want
By Roy Furr

Hey there! Roy Furr with you here again, with an issue of The Writer's Life aimed at helping you get more of what you want out of life.

And I’m not just talking about money here – although it will help with that too.

But it will also help you live a happier, more fulfilled life. It will likely improve your relationships. And because doing this lowers your stress levels, it may even lead to better health!

Wow – those are some big claims. But I'm sure this lesson lives up to them.

So let's get down to it.

How do you make lots of money, be happier, improve your relationships, and improve your health all at once?

By helping other people get what they want.

It's easy in this me-me-me world to focus only on yourself.

At my last job, we were expanding the marketing department and I was conducting the interviews with the president of the company. I'd just met a guy locally who was trying to find a way into internet marketing, so I invited him to apply. His résumé was pretty good, so we brought him in for an interview.

And that's where he fell flat on his face.

We started asking questions, and he instantly went into a long spiel about all these different marketing tactics he wanted to try. He hadn't asked a question about the company. Nor, it was clear, had he done much research. He didn't know anything about what we were currently doing. Or how his tactics might integrate.

And for the rest of the hour-long interview, he talked about what he wanted. What he would like to do. Which tactics he liked.

Not one question was asked about what we thought. What we wanted to do. Even what we expected from him.

I still liked the guy – to have lunch with, that is. He was interesting to talk to. But I wasn't about to endorse him in terms of hiring him, giving him a paycheck, or even trusting him to do marketing for us.

It was clear he was more interested in getting and doing what he wanted – not helping us get and do what we wanted.

Long story short – someone else got the job.

From the first minute the winning candidate sat down for the interview, we knew he was different.

He asked about the company. About the expectations we'd have for him in the job. He made it clear he'd done his homework and was interested in the marketing we were already doing. He asked questions about it and how we thought it might be made better. Then he offered his insights, which often complemented what we thought.

In short, it was clear he was interested in what we wanted. And if he were given the job, he would help us get that.

And he wasn't talk, either.

He got the job and continued to follow through in helping us accomplish our goals. He quickly moved to a role where he was helping to shape the company's marketing goals. He got to take on projects of his own and contribute in that way.

But it all started with finding out what we wanted – and helping us get it.

This applies in every area of life.

If you find out what people want and help them get it, it does help you make money. Doing this in your marketing makes it more effective. Doing it in business helps you climb up the ladder. And as a freelancer writer, it gets you a client for life.

It strengthens your personal relationships, too – because your friends, spouse, and family know you care about them. You show it through your words and actions.

More success in business and your personal relationships makes you happier – and lowers your stress. And makes you healthier as a result. (You'd be surprised by how many health problems high stress creates.)

Today, I encourage you to think – how can I help others get what they want? And then follow through on your ideas. The rewards for doing so can be tremendous. If you’d like, you can share it with me in the comments below.

And, if you want to learn about one specific way you can make money working from home that involves helping someone else, read my article, Live The Writer’s Life Without Ever Writing A Single Word.