The title of this article is lifted directly from Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s book Thou Shall Prosper (2010, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) In it he says

Success comes to the unselfish. Always keep in mind that everything you do must benefit others as much as yourself. The truly successful business professional is never concerned solely with his own welfare.

It goes without saying that a smart business person should

• keep overhead low (within reason)
• budget well
• not spend extravagantly
• charge a fair price for products/services
• provide the best value possible in products/services

Once basic smart business principles are in place, the business has to focus on building relationships and meeting the needs of its customers/clients/patients. If a business person is solely focused on the bottom line, they might profit in the short term but they are not fulfilling real needs, offering real value or developing relationships that will sustain their business long term.

The word “unselfish” might seem to be in opposition to the term “business success” but I promise you it’s not. Decisions must be made in the context of what will benefit those you serve – your audience and your team. This philosophy doesn’t only allow you to go home satisfied knowing you have improved someone’s life, it is a proven formula for success and longevity of a business.