If you’ve ever wondered how you can run a successful business and still give back, ”The Go-Giver“ is for you. The book isn’t about making charitable donations or fitting volunteer work into an already-packed schedule. It’s about doing business—and living life—with true generosity.

That’s why I found “The Go-Giver“  so refreshing. I’ve read plenty of business books on earning boatloads of money and achieving stratospheric success, but with a few exceptions, they’ve all seemed kind of hollow to me. Then I came across this book … or rather, it came to me.

My Own “Go-Giver” Parable

I was at a New Tech Meet Up one evening a few weeks ago, trying to better understand the marketing needs of local technology firms, when I overheard a woman mention she worked in social media. Curious, I wandered over to talk to her.

I soon discovered that she—Courtney Engle—worked with an author named Bob Burg, who cowrote a bestseller titled “The Go-Giver.” (John David Mann is the other author.) But that was all, for she spent the next hour asking me questions about my business, my book, and jotting down the names of people she knew who could help me in my journey.

If you’ve ever been to a networking event, you know that people there tend to talk about themselves—so my head was spinning as I took referral after referral. I left the event feeling like I had won the lottery. My heart was buoyed by Courtney’s generosity, and I couldn’t wait to connect with all the interesting people she had mentioned.

Later that week, I spotted Bob’s book and decided to read it. Then I realized where Courtney got her philosophy (or at least why she was attracted to Bob’s work in the first place.)

About “The Go-Giver”

“The Go-Giver” is a parable about a young go-getter who discovers the true value of generosity after meeting a mentor who teaches him the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success. They are:

1) The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

2) The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.

3) The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.

4) The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.

5) The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

The book describes these laws by presenting detailed, “real life” examples along the way. It’s not only inspiring; it’s a great read.

Check out “The Go-Giver” for yourself, and discover how generosity can improve your business.