Millions of people are missing something that is critical to their success and happiness in life.

Even many who are ardent students of personal development, with robust libraries and a long history of attending seminars are still puzzled by it.

They want to know how to earn more money—no matter what their profession is.

Do you make this mistake?

Most of us were taught to get an education, get a good job, and then work hard to become financially secure.

Is that what you believe?

The truth is working hard to earn a lot of money or get rich doesn’t work.

Napoleon Hill addresses this in Think and Grow Rich when he says:

“If you’re one of those people who believe that hard work and honesty alone will bring riches, perish the thought because it’s not true. Riches, when they come in great quantities, are never the result of hard work. Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands based upon the application of definite principles and not by chance or luck.”

You can’t demand it of God, the universe, or even your employer…

You must demand it of yourself.

And you should do it today because, as Don Shula, the great American football coach, once said, “It’s the start that stops most people.”

That’s so true.

How many times have you said you were going to do something that would help you earn more money—or even make you rich—but you never followed through?

It’s not rocket science

Getting rich is not complicated. It starts with getting honest with yourself and, instead of hoping or wishing for more money, demand it of yourself.

Then, work with the laws that govern compensation, and you WILL earn more money, no matter what profession you’re in.

But, keep the following in mind.

Working is the worst way to earn money

We shouldn’t go to work to earn money; we should work for satisfaction. You should provide service to earn money.

I know this goes against what most parents and teachers tell us as we’re growing up. However, Dr. David Schwartz explained in The Magic of Thinking Big, when he said, “You can’t harvest money unless you plant the seeds that grow money. And the seed of money is service. Put service first, and money takes care of itself.”

Dr. Schwartz’s words demonstrate his understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect, which is the principal law on which everything in the universe operates. It’s another way of saying, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”

For today’s topic, it might best be to put it this way. Our rewards in life will always match our service. That said, each little “extra” you do for others is a money seed, such as …

Taking on a project that no one else on the team wants to do

Surprising clients with your generosity

Advancing an idea for a product that will improve the quality of your customers’ lives

And here’s another money seed–

Getting in the habit of doing more than you are presently paid for.

Unfortunately, many people think it is illogical to do more than they are being paid for. The philosophy that governs their behavior is “Give me the money, and then I will do the job.”

However, the Law of Cause and Effect, and indeed the system that drives our economy, clearly states, “Do the job, and then you get the money.”

So, whether you’re a business owner or an employee working as a mechanic, customer service professional, or engineer, you earn more money after you improve your performance…

Salespeople who deliver more service to their customers are at the top of the sales force.

Entrepreneurs who know how to be efficient while never letting up on delighting the customer are able to grow their business.

And employees who put their heart and soul into their job and are never too busy to do more, are the ones who are handsomely rewarded—if not by the company they work for, then by other companies waiting in the wings for them.

Your job title has nothing to do with it

Knowledge, experience, and job title are irrelevant when it comes to earning money.

Money is a reward you receive for the service you render — the more valuable the service, the greater the reward.

Thinking of ways to be of greater service will not only help you earn more money; it will also enable you to grow intellectually and spiritually.

Another way to look at it

The Law of Compensation isn’t the only law that governs how money flows into our lives. The Law of Cause and Effect (some people also call it Karmic Law or Sowing and Reaping) also plays a major role.

Here’s how this law works.

The thoughts, feelings, and actions that you express in life are seeds that you sow.

The conditions, circumstances, and things that come into your life are the harvest you reap because of the seeds that you sow.

When you attempt to ”get” something without giving, you are trying to reap the harvest without sowing the seeds. That is a transgression of the law—whether we’re talking about our finances or any other area of life.

So, if you attempt to get money without giving or providing service, you are violating natural law. And, ultimately, it will not work.

How much more money (reward) do you want?

We always reap what we sow.

So, determine how much money you want to earn and write it down on a sheet of paper in large figures. Look at the number several times a day.

Then, in addition to thinking of how you can do whatever you do more effectively, do the following things every day:

Review your behavior.

Answer this question: “How can I give more than is expected of me?” Then apply the answers.

Leave every person you come in contact with the impression of increase. In other words, make them feel good about coming into contact with you.

The compensation—financial and otherwise—you get from developing these practices will be phenomenal. It will go beyond the scope of your imagination.

To more and better,

Sandy Gallagher

P.S. If you want something better for your life, but you sometimes stop short of taking the actions that will move you closer to your dreams, download Linda Proctor’s (Bob’s wife) e-book, “Earn It and Enjoy It.” It will give you a framework for changing your mindset from trading to giving so you can earn more money and turn your dreams into a reality.