Put Yourself First, Not Last - How To Be Selfish So You Can Be Generous - Dan Lok

Summary

In this motivational talk, Dan emphasizes the importance of 'strategic giving'—helping others in a way that benefits both parties. He explains that while it’s great to have a giving heart, it’s crucial to establish relationships that also positively impact your own business or life. Dan shares a personal story of helping Jay Conrad Levinson, father of Guerrilla Marketing, by writing a successful ad for him. This act of giving led to more business opportunities for Dan. He encourages focusing on building one or two key relationships rather than meeting as many people as possible.

Takeaways

• 🌍 You can't save the world if you can't save yourself first.
• ❤️ Many people love helping others but often don't get much in return.
• 🤝 The philosophy of helping others in hopes of good karma may not always work as expected.
• 🙌 Some people constantly help others but neglect their own needs and goals.
• 📝 Strategic giving is essential: focus on giving to people who can make a difference in your life or business.
• 💡 An example of strategic giving: offering help to someone influential, like Jay Conrad Levinson, without expecting immediate returns.
• 📈 By helping Jay, the speaker tripled his sales and built a valuable relationship, showing the power of targeted generosity.
• 🎯 You only need a few key relationships that truly matter for your business success, not a large quantity.
• ⚖️ The goal is to focus on quality over quantity in building relationships.
• 🗝️ Aim to walk away from networking with one or two key contacts who can significantly impact your business.

Q & A

What is the main lesson the speaker has learned?

The speaker has learned that you can't save the world if you can't save yourself.

What issue do people who love helping others often face, according to the speaker?

They often help others but end up not receiving much in return for their efforts.

What philosophy do some people follow when helping others?

They believe that if you help enough people, good karma or something beneficial will come back to you.

What problem do 'nice entrepreneurs' often face according to the speaker?

They help everyone around them but tend to neglect helping themselves.

What is the speaker's recommendation for overcoming this issue?

The speaker recommends 'strategic giving,' which involves giving in a way that establishes meaningful relationships that positively impact one's business and life.

Can you provide an example of how the speaker used 'strategic giving' in their career?

The speaker offered to write a better ad for Jay Conrad Levinson's Guerrilla Marketing Association without charging anything. This helped increase sales and built a strong relationship.

What was the outcome of the speaker's work for Jay Conrad Levinson?

The ad tripled Jay’s sales, making him happy and willing to help the speaker by giving a testimonial and referring other business owners.

Did the speaker expect something in return for their help?

No, the speaker wasn't expecting something in return, although it would have been nice. The focus was on the strategic nature of the giving.

What advice does the speaker give regarding building relationships at networking events?

The speaker advises focusing on building one or two key relationships that will make a difference, rather than collecting many business cards.

What is the key takeaway regarding the quality of relationships?

The speaker emphasizes that the quality of relationships is more important than the quantity, and that even just one or two strong connections can significantly impact your business.