7 Keys To Meeting Successful People

. .

Would you like to be meet, learn from and work with successful people?

Seem impossible to you?  It’s not.

There are three things you need to understand about successful people before you read this teaching.

First, successful people don't complain as they realize it only wastes time and never solves a problem.

Second, successful people see opportunities where others see problems or nothing at all.

Third, successful people never wait for or count on fate, chance, luck or anyone else to determine their future success

Here are seven keys to meeting successful people.

1.         Be recognized as someone who’s diligent.

Proverbs 22:29 says:

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”

The key to meeting, working and socializing with successful people is to be “diligent” in your business.

It’s important to understand that being diligent in your business does not necessarily mean that you have to own your own business.

The word diligent is the Hebrew word mahiyr (H4106) which means:

“quick, prompt, skilled, ready.”

The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 22:9 says:

“Observe people who are good at their work—skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone.”

Let’s ponder a few questions. . .if you’re unemployed, then consider these questions in the past tense.

Do you like your current job or the most recent one you had?

Are you good at your job?

Are you the first one out the door at break and lunch time?

Is your paycheck the only thing you like about your job?

I have a revelation for you. . .if you don’t like your job. . .if you talk negatively about your employer or supervisor  . . .it will show in either your countenance or performance but probably both.

However, the opposite is also true.  If you love your job and have great things to say about your employer or what you do . . .it will also show.

Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart said:

“If you love your work, you’ll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you—like a fever.”

“Yes, but Brother Harold, you don’t know the people I work for.”

That may be true, but God does.

Ephesians 6:7 says:

“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

God anticipated you’d run into this problem and gave you an answer to it.  Getting a fresh revelation of this scripture will change a person’s attitude and work ethic.  That will ultimately also change your life in a significant way … for the better.

We may be paid by American Airlines, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, a governmental agency, etc. . .but we’re to do our jobs “as unto the Lord.”

That’s right. You should do EVERYTHING, and that includes your job, as if you were the Lord’s employee.

When you understand the principle of performing your assigned responsibilities as unto the Lord and not to men, you immediately add an extra dimension of powerful success and advancement to whatever vocation you might be involved in.

This mindset will immediately increase the value you place on the things that you do for your employer.  At the same time, your position of employment will take on a much higher level of value.

There is a powerful principle of increase behind the mindset of being the Lord’s employee.  If you’re doing your job as unto the Lord, there will be a more valuable standard of excellence that will guide your effectiveness as well as your enthusiasm for your job. Do you see how this alone can be an asset?

2.         Never compromise your work ethic even when it’s not appreciated, valued or rewarded.

Years ago, my fine wife, Bev, who was newly born-again, began working for a Christian organization.  She was more than disillusioned when she realized that all “Christians” don’t act like it. 

Fortunately, she went to God with her problem and the Holy Spirit began teaching her His ways of overcoming in a very stressful situation. 

Once when she was overwhelmed with how much she did not want to be working where she was … and God would not release her … she read 1 John 5:3 and asked God to make this real in her life. It says:

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

She told me she began claiming the fact that if she was going to keep God’s commandments which was continuing to work in this environment, then He promised it would not be “grievous” to her.  To her amazement, she began to feel a compelling desire to see the organization flourish thus allowing her to do “everything as unto the Lord.”

Her situation was not an easy fix and she spent many days struggling to perform the Word; however, God did bring her out with a high hand and a lot better off than she ever expected to be.  She passed the test that would take her to a higher level.

Psalm 75:6 says:

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.”

Not long ago it was popular to wear a bracelet that said, “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do?). That is the same question you must answer every day on your job.  What would you do differently on your job if you knew that Jesus would be evaluating your performance?

Truthfully, He is.  The scripture is quite clear.  We should do “EVERYTHING” as unto the Lord.

How do you increase your effectiveness so you can be classified as diligent and meet successful people?

3.         Increase your wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 1:5 says:

“A wise man will hear; and will increase learning.”  

Paul wrote to young Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13 and said:

 “Till, I come give attendance to reading…“

2 Timothy 2:15 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”

If you don’t increase in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. . .you’ll be left at the dock waiting for your ship to come in. . ..

Hosea 4:6 proclaims:

My people are destroyed (bound) for a lack of knowledge

I’ve always found it interesting that the Scripture doesn’t say that Satan would destroy you. He says ignorance would destroy you.  Satan just helps you enjoy staying ignorant.

The right information will not only promote, motivate and give you confidence.  It will also bring you before successful people

Proverbs 11:9 says:

“…through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”

4.         Increase Your Circle Of Friends.

Spend your time with those who can encourage, edify, lift you up, build you up and sincerely want you to be all that God created you to be.

In Genesis 39:5, the scripture says:

“... the Egyptian [Potiphar] was blessed because Joseph was in his house.”

In Genesis 30:27, Laban said to Jacob:

 “... I have learned by experience that God blessed me for your sake.”

Spend your time with people who can challenge you to even greater levels of accomplishment.  Create a list of people with whom you’d like to associate with and why.

If you are caught in a position where you must be the Joseph or Jacob on your job, then rely on God to make you the example just as they were to Potiphar and Laban.  The Holy Spirit will bring you out with a high hand.  Don’t give in when the going gets tough.  Look to the Holy Spirit to guide you through every situation.

Now create a list of people whom you would like to be associated with.  People who can help you get where God wants you to be on your job.

Now I want to give you several other important scriptural reasons why diligence will lead to your personal growth and success.

Let me give you several ways to increase your network of friends.  It’s called Social Media and guess what. . .it’s free.

Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and meetup.com. . .just to name a few.

Bonus Blessing For Those Who Are Reading This Article

(Smiling, if you’ve read this far in the article. . .you deserve to be included in a special conference call for only the people. . .who see this paragraph and respond.  Send me an email to [email protected]and I’ll let you know when this call will take place.)

5.         Let your reputation precede you in conversations.

Have you ever commented personally on someone’s reputation whether good or lacking?

Your reputation can either open or close doors for you.

Have you ever told someone or been told that “your reputation precedes you?”

Your reputation will go places you’ve never been or before people you’ve never met.

You will be profiled by your reputation of the past until you do something to change your reputation for the future.

Now you more fully understand why a diligent work ethic is essential. . .being lazy just doesn’t cut it.

Proverbs 10:4 says:

“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”

The New Living Translation of Proverbs 10:4 says:

“Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.”

Being diligent will also determine your freedom. . .financial and other wise.  Proverbs 12:24 says:

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”

The New Living Translation of Proverbs 12:24 says:

“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.”

The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 12:24 adds another dimension of clarity to this scripture.

“The diligent find freedom in their work, the lazy are oppressed by work.”

Be known as someone who plans their work and works their plan.

Proverbs 21:5 says:

“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”

The New Living Translation of Proverbs 21:5 says:

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”

I’m not going to spend more time on this point because a month or so ago, I wrote “7 Keys To Planning Your Work And Working Your Plan.”  I strongly encourage you to go to haroldherring.com and search for this blog.

6.         Your gift will bring you before great men and women.

Proverbs 18:16 which says:

“A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”

Many pastors and leaders in ministry mistakenly teach that the “gift” referred to in Proverbs 18:16 is your natural abilities or what they perceive to be ‘talent.’

That sounds nice. . .but it’s not what the Bible translation says the word gift means.

According to Strong’s Concordance the word gift is the Hebrew word mattan (H4976) and it means:

“gifts, offerings, presents.”

The word mattan appears in five verses according to the Hebrew Concordance of the King James Version and in each instance it’s referring to a monetary gift.

At your convenience, I recommend you read the places where this Hebrew word has been translated.  Genesis 34:12; Numbers 18:11, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 21:14 and, of course, Proverbs 18:16 are all included on the outline.

It’s clear the scripture is talking about a gift of financial value.  The scripture is also clear that a financial gift will bring you before important and eminent people.

First, consider the New Living Translation of Proverbs 18:16:

“Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!”

Next, let’s look at the Message Bible translation of Proverbs 18:16:

“A gift gets attention; it buys the attention of eminent people.”

Is there someone you’d like to meet with. . .ask God what gift He would have you prepare for them.

I’ve heard people say you can’t buy friendship and that is true.  Let me say it again, you can’t buy friendship . . . but a significant gift can gain you access to that person. 

A gift shows that you value their time and advice.  A gift also shows your heart is in what they do … for the scripture says: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34).

You are not just talking about valuing them, you are showing them their value to you.

I’m sure some well-meaning super saint would say that giving a gift to someone to have favor and access is a bribe.

That’s not what the word mattan means.

It means your gift is a present.

Throughout the Old Testament you can see where men gave gifts.

Abraham gave gifts unto Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), Joseph gave gifts to his brothers (Genesis 43:11), and David gave gifts (I Sam.17:17-18) just to name a few.

It just stirred in me that several of you are thinking that you’re out of luck because you don’t have the money to buy a significant gift.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a gift that will be valued.

7.         Move outside of your comfort zone.

You will never met nor be successful unless you’re willing to move outside your comfort zone.

Let me ask you seven questions. . .and just write down yes or no.

Do you read your Bible on a daily basis?

Do you take notes on what you’ve read?

Does the Holy Spirit bring things to your remembrance as you read and take notes?

Are you reading any book other than the Bible at this very moment?

Is the book motivational, inspirational and practical?

Are you taking notes as you read this book?

Is the Holy Spirit stirring things in you as you read the book?

If you answered “no” to more than one of those questions. . .you need to ask yourself if you’re living in your comfort zone.

Get wisdom. . .move from where you are to where God wants you to be. . .and that most assuredly, is not your comfort zone.

Earlier in the teaching I talked about my fine wife and what she went through.

Bev was called upon to accept a lot of extra positions for no extra pay.  In doing so, she learned extra skills, met extraordinary people, became known as a leader in the community as well as positioning herself for her next assignment.  She was never paid by this organization but she was shown favor by the Lord.

So, if you’re diligent in your business. . .whether working for yourself or others. . .the words of Proverbs 27:23 will take on extra meaning in your life.

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”

The scriptures are clear. . .if you’re diligent. . .the first important and successful person you meet will be the one you look at in a mirror.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS