But I Want It Now!

With all the "immediate gratification" in today's world, getting what we want now is often just what is expected. The impact of this type of impatience is often just accepted as risk or a worthwhile consequence.  From buying too big a house or too fast a car to conclusions without all the information....and the list goes on and on.  However, at the root of this has nothing to do with the actions, but instead everything to do with an internal issue - selfishness.  That's right, I said it, no apology for it, but that is what causes so many of us to be impatient and want what we want, NOW.

This selfishness has caused us to act irresponsibly with regard to our jobs, finances, relationships, etc and we are raising a generation of kids who have watched us do it, and now will stretch their expectations for the NOW to even higher levels.  I am amazed at how often I hear teenagers say they "would never work there" (insert where you worked for your first job) and how does anyone live on only "that much money"?  However the result of this, doesn't just effect others who might not fit into the solution of the immediate, but it will in most cases hurt the one who is impatient.

As we get older, the concept of winning for others shows itself as a positive in many ways, but mostly, it helps us in whatever we do.  I believe we have been created to serve - not receive.  Now, don't get me wrong, most of us (certainly include me) like to be pampered and relax, but the two things are not mutually exclusive. I love a nice vacation, and look forward to my next one about the time the last one ends, as many of us do - but how relaxed could you be in a beautiful tropical setting a day after a tsunami hit, even if it didn't cause any problems for your resort, but the rest of town was wiped out and people are struggling to survive...oh waiter..could you bring me a menu? I think not.  Most of us, would be far more comfortable putting aside our long awaited itinerary of frozen drinks and amazing food to help our brothers and sisters who have experienced the harshness of the storm.

Finally, putting others first will help a person achieve the long-term satisfying success that has lasting value.  There are many stories of the narcissistic person who knocks down people so he can use them to climb his way to the top - but usually, that person either gets to the top and finds out he is there by himself, or he doesn't stay there long enough to realize he is all alone.  If getting to the top is so important you are willing to climb over others to achieve it - than I would suggest that you are actually "climbing toward the bottom", and you won't realize how directionally challenged you are until it is to late.

If you want to be valued, value others and become a "valueizer".