Today it’s fashionable to talk about the New Economy, or the Information Economy, or the Knowledge Economy. But when I think about the imperatives of this market, I view today’s economy as the Value Economy. Adding value has become more than just a sound business principle; it is both the common denominator and the competitive edge.

Arthur Levitt, Jr

There are two ways you can add value.

First, you can help someone achieve a meaningful goal. Let’s say that your friend wants to adopt a golden retriever. There are none listed for adoption in the area. But you have a veterinarian friend. So you introduce them and your veterinarian friend offers some good ideas for contacting dog breeders. Your willingness to connect your two friends was extremely helpful.

Second, you can help them resolve a material problem. Here’s another simple example. Your neighbor needs to get to the hospital to visit her injured sister. Your neighbor’s husband has their car and won’t be back for hours. So you offer to drive her and wait with her. Being unable to get to the hospital was a very big problem. You helped solve the problem.

These examples are trivial. But they illustrate that you can add value even in simple ways with the right mindset.

Here are some introductory thoughts as you’re getting started with Chapter 1.

You can only add value to another person. Not a company. Not a team. A person.

When you add value to someone you’re building a relationship. And that helps you, too. It adds to your personal community and support system.

When word gets around that you’re willing and able to help others, you’ll start building a reputation. Admittedly, when you add value in trivial ways that reputation may be minimal. But, as you discover ways to add greater value, your reputation will grow proportionally.

Adding value should never be intentionally transactional. It’s best to help freely and with no expectation of return. But the natural sense of reciprocity automatically sets in. It’s inescapable that when you help someone, they want to return the favor and help you. Even if you’re not asking for anything in return, you are initiating a cycle of giving and receiving that helps everyone.

When you become intentional about helping others, you build expertise in two ways. First, as you help others within some area of your expertise, you’re going to be learning even more. And, second, through these helping relationships you will be developing greater insights and perspectives about the world around you and the type of help that others find valuable. In other words, you’ll be discovering even greater ways to add value to others.

And, maybe best of all, you’ll be building a richer life for yourself. It’s fulfilling to make a positive impact on others. You’ll be building connections. You’ll be reaping gratitude. And, ultimately, that’s how you build a legacy.

The key to a great life lies in shifting your focus from accumulation to contribution. The old saying “He who gathers the most toys wins” needs to be replaced with “He who serves the most prospers”. Remember, happiness is the by-product of a life spent adding value to other people’s lives.

Robin Sharma