It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life

by Tom Rath

We are, to a large degree, the product of what others have contributed to our lives.

when children twelve and older battle cancer and survive, they are more likely to experience what scientists call post-traumatic growth.

You can’t be anything you want to be, but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.

Scientists have determined human beings are innately other-directed, which they refer to as being “prosocial.”

Even small acts of generosity trigger changes in our brains that make us happier. Each prosocial act at work creates energy that measurably benefits “the giver, the receiver, and the whole organization.”

Take a few moments now to think about some of the people who have had the greatest influence on your life. What can you learn from them? How can you let them know what a difference they made, before it is too late to tell them?

Every morning, wake up and remind yourself: it’s not about me. Then ask yourself: How can I contribute to another person’s life today?