Don Roulo is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Life Quest. He is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

By DON ROULO

I am a big fan of quotes to help motivate, encourage and change the way we see and experience life. Recently, I heard a great quote that I have to add to my list of favorites. It fits for every area of life – personally and professionally. Let this one roll around in your mind and see where it fits for you right now.

“The problem with society today is we have things backwards. We are now lovers of things and use people, instead of loving people and using things.’”

I heard this quote on a podcast I listen to frequently. The host was quoting someone else, so I do not have the direct source. I see this exact thing happening in today’s world over and over. When did we turn this principle around? When did we start to love things more than people?

Ask yourself some tough questions. Are you using people to get things? Do you love things more than people? Do you place a higher value on things more than the relationships you are building?

In business, people are called “human resources.” I believe we all understand this idea and are fine with it. There is a difference in using the talents people have to offer rather than using people. It is absolutely necessary to have other people involved in your life, career and business in order to achieve success.

People are and can be a resource; we should not look at people as simply a means to an end to gain some things in our life. If you are looking at people solely from a ‘what can I get from you’ perspective, you may be falling into this trap.

You can see this happening in our political and business world more and more often. Our politicians, regardless of party affiliation, are not trusted or liked much. The reason is we see them using their constituents for personal and professional gain rather than what they are truly in office to do – serving others.

Decades ago when you worked with a company, there was a sense of community or family. Company decisions were made not based exclusively on the financial bottom line of what was best for the company. I certainly agree there are times when companies have to do what is best for the overall company or team so they can continue to prosper and stay in business. However, what we see playing out many times now in our culture is for a company to use people to get the bottom line profitable only with no thought for the individual.

I also see this happening in our personal lives. Let me ask you a few more tough questions. Are the people you are friends with friends because of what they can do for you? Do you have them in your life only because they are beneficial to have around? Or, are they friends because there is a mutual exchange? True friendships and great relationships are always about a mutual exchange of thoughts, ideas and actions. In reality, every great relationship should be about what can you give someone else, rather than what can they give you.

Take a look around at the people you have in your life and career. Are you building genuine relationships because you care about them and they care about you? Or, do you have people around you solely for what they can do for you? Remember, we are to love people and use things, not use people and love things.

About the Author

Don Roulo is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

As a business consultant, he has written business plans and worked to market products or services as well as organizing financial statements for investors. Because of his success in the sales and business arena, Don has been blessed with the opportunity to train, motivate and inspire others. His passion is to motivate and equip people to find their passion and achieve their goals and God given destiny.