Self Interest drives almost all human behavior. It is a “selfish” trait hardwired into human DNA for purposes of increasing your odds of survival in a sometimes dangerous and often competitive, world.
The Tree of Self Interest has many branches:
- Individual Self Interest – Prioritizing your individual needs and wants above the needs and wants of other individuals
- Family Self Interest – Prioritizing the needs and wants of your family above the needs and wants of non-family members
- Neighborhood Self Interest – Prioritizing the needs and wants of your neighbors and neighborhood above the needs and wants of other neighborhoods
- Company Self-interest – Prioritizing the needs and wants of the company you work for over the needs and wants of your company’s competitors. It also includes prioritizing the needs and wants of your inter-company group or division over the needs and wants of other inter-company groups or divisions.
- Community/Town Self Interest – Prioritizing the needs and wants of your community or town over the needs and wants of other communities/towns
- State Self Interest – Putting the needs and wants of your State above the needs and wants of other States
- Country Self Interest – Putting the needs and wants of your country above the needs and wants of other countries
- Other Self Interest Branches include prioritizing your church, your non-profit, your gym, your local bars/restaurants, your sports leagues, etc., above the needs and wants of others
The very fabric of your life is wrapped around Self Interest. You are literally pre-programmed to prioritize the things you care about at the exclusion of the priorities of others.
Many of the self-made millionaires in my Rich Habits Study became wealthy because they understood the power of Self Interest – they created companies whose products or services were devoted to meeting the specific needs and wants of individuals, families, communities, etc.
Individuals will spend their money on products and services they consider priorities to themselves, their family members, their community, their State, their country (e.g., “Made in the USA”), their gym, their church, etc.
