I like Seth Godin because he makes me think – think about the business I’m in, think about clients and customer service, think about life. Today’s post by Seth states the obvious – but it is only obvious in hindsight. It’s the kind of reasoning that makes you smile because you didn’t think of it yourself first. (I have reposted the blog entry below; to see the original post by Seth go here.)

If you read a book that tries to change you for the better and it fails or doesn’t resonate, then it’s a self-help book.

If you read a book that actually succeeds in changing you for the better, then the label changes from self-help book to great book.

We don’t like books that fail, because they waste our time, they offend us, they speak a different language or they make us feel out of sorts. Self-help books are a bane.

On the other hand, a book that resonates with us, whether it’s Catcher in the Rye, The War of Art or Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance earns a place of trust and we revere it and tell others.

A store clerk who tries to sell you something and fails is a high-pressure salesperson.

If she succeeds in selling you something, she’s helpful.

The difference between the two categories isn’t one of intent. They’re all ultimately trying for the same thing. The difference is in success. So, go ahead and denigrate self-help books and salespeople and the rest. Just be clear with yourself that what you’re unhappy with are the ones that fail.

By the way, the only real help is self-help. Anything else is just designed to get you to the point where you can help yourself.

Diversified Insurance Group donates to many worthy charitable causes and this year has included the Utah Food Bank among them. An affirmative vote was taken among the employees to forgo the annual Holiday Party and instead donate the money to a worthy charity to help the homeless and less advantaged. The owners gathered together and instead of forgoing the party decided to both make a sizable donation and to still hold the annual Holiday party.

A service committee was formed to both choose the charity and organize the service projects accompanying the cash donations. Diversified donated $3600 gathered from all of the employees of Diversified and will be donating service hours next month to help distribute food and serve hot meals to those in need at the Food Bank.