What does “getting more” really mean? In the age of hustle culture, it's easy to chase results—more money, more recognition, more success. But after a life-changing interview with the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I learned a powerful truth: the real path to getting more is through giving more. In this blog, I’ll share the surprising insight that changed my life—and how it can change yours, too.
The Day I Met Dr. Stephen Covey: Getting More Than I Bargained For
Twenty years ago, I was a young magazine editor hungry for growth—more readers, more visibility, more impact. Landing an interview with Dr. Covey felt like a major “get.” His team gave me 30 minutes. I prepared obsessively. But what happened during that interview still reshapes how I lead, work, and live.
Instead of diving into my rapid-fire questions, Dr. Covey asked about me—my goals, my family, my purpose. He turned a transactional interview into a transformative conversation that lasted over three hours. In that time, he gave me something far more valuable than quotes or content—he gave me presence, generosity, and care. That day, I stopped asking, “How can I get more?” and started asking, “How can I give more?”
The Real Meaning of Giving More
Dr. Covey helped me redefine success—not as accumulation, but as contribution. He told me something that stuck: “People shouldn’t apply for jobs. They should choose the companies and the purposes they want to contribute to.” That shift in mindset changed my career. I stopped seeing work as a transaction and started treating it as an opportunity to create value—value that goes beyond what’s expected.
Giving more doesn’t always mean doing more. It means understanding your audience, caring about your coworkers, and finding ways to deliver beyond the brief. Sometimes, it’s in the small stuff: showing up with empathy, going the extra mile, or simply listening well.
How Giving More Fuels Lasting Success
Since that pivotal conversation, my work—and life—has been guided by this simple principle: give first. Whether it’s a client, colleague, or company, I ask, How can I offer real value? Because when you genuinely care and contribute meaningfully, people notice. They remember. And yes, often—they reciprocate.
It’s not about being selfless for applause. It’s about being intentional. Dr. Covey didn’t give me three hours because I had a huge audience. He gave them because he saw something worth investing in—a young person with good intentions. And that generosity has echoed through my entire career.
Final Thoughts: Get More by Giving More
Want to get more in your life, career, or business? Start by giving more—to your work, your relationships, your purpose. As Dr. Covey demonstrated, real success comes when we shift from extraction to contribution. You don’t need to be a best-selling author or a business guru to practice this. Just be willing to show up, give value, and care deeply.
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