Providing genuine value

[rbhambha]

Hello all,

I've just been sitting here reading an article on the site, and something's popped into my head. I thought about how I'm 20 years old, and about how difficult it seems to be to provide genuine value. Here's what I mean.

In our world today, there are so many people providing so many services (duh). As I attempt to provide more value to society, I find that I'm not trying to compete with anyone, however it always seems that someone already provides what I attempt to provide better than I do. Now obviously that's a matter of opinion, but I just feel like anything I write about, or anything I attempt to do to help out people is just someone else's idea that has had a large influence on me. I just spin it off in my own words, and I don't want to do that.

So the question is, when are you able to provide genuine value; something which is your own innovation? Is it after years of experience and education? After imitating the best, and learning from the most learned, do you just adapt your own methods, teachings, or products to serve the highest good?

Just looking for some guidance here.

Rahul

[ericwordelman]

Rahul you're a little confused about service. I actually was thinking alone the same lines several days ago.

I feel that everything I write is just reiterated from what I've learned from someone else.

Are the words the other person whom I learned from just reiterating from someone else as well?

Hasn't each word been written before anyone for thousands of years?

I think you just need to put your own flavor on it and not worry about other people.

Other people are always going to be "doing what you're doing" or "say what you said" but the truth is every single word imaginable has been said before so I guess we're all "copying" someone else.

I had trouble with this concept during highschool. I always thought it was such a sham because every thought or anything I wanted to write I knew someone else wrote it before me so it was never original.

But the thing is service. If you desire to serve humanity then worrying about copying someone else's work should be the last of your concerns.

I forget who said this quote but it goes something like this "taking someone elses work and making it your own is the definition of being original"

[Shamou]

I agree with ericwordelman... we can only build on what was done before us... there may not be anything new under the sun... but there are ways of improving on it...

Also, there is the fact that every person dances to the tune of a different drummer... so, chances are that when you repeat something that has already been said before... you will say it in such a way that will reach people who have never been reached or touched before by that same message...

The very best of luck to you... and don't give up... you may be inches away from success...
.

[brooke]

I think it is up to us to discover (not create) truth, and find ways to make the world a better place with those good things that always were and always are. I hope that makes sense.
Although there is nothing new you or I could offer the universe, the genuine value of the things we offer lies in our ability to deliver the message, or whatever it is, in ways that others will be able to understand and use to gain more happiness and joy. We are all talented in different aspects, and can therefore make a contributions through the vehicle of those unique attributes we have.
So I would say the genuine value you have to offer, at age 20 or 100, is you and what is uniquely you. It isn't new information, but the way you are able to share it with the people you have the opportunity to interact with.
Hmmm, there is so much to be said about this. I think you have just given me a new topic to blog about

[rbhambha]

Wow guys,

I really have no words to express to you how eye opening those last posts were. Thanks a LOT! Those responses have re-motivated me and have given me a new faith in my ability to reach out to others.

I can't thank you enough.

Rahul

[Brutha]

What do you mean with the term "genuine" value?

Let's say you help someone with lawn-mowing.
The person pays you because he doesn't have to do lawn-mowing on his own. You provided him real value because he can use his time for some better purpose.
Sure you might want to do a bit more but it relativly easy to provide a bit of value.

It's okay to be old and say, hey there is nothing new. But it isn't to be young in our time. Their are lots of new ideas out there.
But ideas alone don't provide value. Execution of ideas does. The ideas are out there at places like universitiys or the web (if you read the right blogs/podcasts).
The key to providing value is making them happen. That inturn may mean that you have to learn a few skills first.

That allows you to combine multiple ideas (maybe from different fields) into innovation.

[RT Wolf]

Welcome to post-modernism. Everything has been done. Originality is dead. Just combine things in interesting new ways.

I dunno about that.

[Brutha]

Welcome to post-modernism.

I might be no modern but I'm still no postmodern

Originality is dead. Just combine things in interesting new ways.

Orgininality never existed.Goethe used Doctor Fautus as material for his Faust. Great meme seldomly have any origininality.

Christanity is made from Greek thoughts combined with Judaism.
Combining of ideas out there into new ideas is no zero sum game, but creates value.

Using the old stuff was very popular in the renaissance.
Even Machivelli (sometimes called the first modern man) used ancient war story's as material to develop his own work.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

Originality is dead.

Originality is not dead... it never existed... the only two original inventions that ever existed were, fire and the wheel...

Everything else after that was simply an extension of whatever existed before... just like evolution... a mutant came along... and a new path was created... nothing so mysterious about that...
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[rbhambha]

Originally Posted by Brutha

What do you mean with the term "genuine" value?

What I mean by genuine value is original content. Steve's content seems to be his own. Of course it's his writing, that's not what I mean. What I mean is that it seems like his ideas and his own discoveries through a process of trial and error.

I also understand service is about spreading the word, or doing good, regardless of if it's your own "original" content or not. However, I know it's important for me to be able to come up with my own concepts, techniques, and ideas to provide value which cannot be found elsewhere. Perhaps unique combinations? I don't know.

This is what I'm struggling with. I know I want to serve the highest good, and I am serving the highest good. I just want to do it in such a way that I don't feel like I'm just regurgitating information from elsewhere.

Is that a bit clearer?

Thanks,

Rahul

[Shamou]

Rahul! Everything that you write is an expression of who you are... and what you are is the sum total of your experiences...

Twenty year ago, Tony Robbins claimed that he had read over 700 books on PD material... and I believe that Steve claimed to have read over one hundred... so, it is no wonder that these guys can come up with novel, inspiring and fresh material... they have such a vast pool of references to stand on...

So, what you need to do is to continue your own education... get more experience... and as you grow and mature... so will your contribution...

Simply remember... we cannot give away what we do not own...

The very best of luck to you...
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