Robert Frost wrote a fabulous little poem called Iota Subscript. When I first heard it, it struck me as a powerful message for both leadership and rainmaking. One of the key mindsets for success in both is the concept of being other-focused. Being more interested than interesting. The secret to motivating, persuading, and influencing others is in paying attention to what matters to them; what you want them to do or be is irrelevant. The same thing goes for powerful networking, marketing, and sales. As Covey says, it’s about seeking first to understand. As Bob Burg tells us, we’ve gotta be go-givers and “your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.” Call it servant leadership or whatever you want, but Robert Frost knew what he was talking about! Here’s his poem for you to enjoy:
IOTA SUBSCRIPT
Seek not in me the big I capital,
Nor yet the little dotted in me seek.
If I have in me any I at all,
‘Tis the iota subscript of the Greek.
So small am I as an attention beggar.
The letter you will find me subscript to
Is neither alpha, eta, nor omega,
But upsilon which is the Greek for you.