A few years ago, I heard Keith J. Cunningham, a successful businessman and speaker, delivered a speech in town. Though I got to meet him for only about one or two minutes, he would not remember me out of the several thousands who were there, his messages left an impression with me.

One of the things he said was, we are defined by our being, not our doing. Hence we are called “human beings”, not “human doings”.

We have all at one time or another made some stupid mistakes or committed some sins. Just because we had stolen once before, do we go on labeling ourselves “thieves”? Whatever happened in the past is gone, we cannot do anything about it. Keith was tough, he made no room for whiners and whimpers, who insist their situations are worst off than anyone else, therefore (indirectly) they cannot be successful.

He insisted that if we want to be bigger than we are, we need to first “be” the person we aim to be. The “BEING” is the first step.
Just an example to illustrate this point. Some people say, when I become a millionaire, I will buy this and that and then do this and that…. that is the “Have-Do-Be” mode we think apply.

But fact is: we cannot first have lots of money, then learn to manage/invest it well and then be “wealthy”.
To be wealthy or successful for that matter, we have to begin with the “being”. We feel, act and think like we are already wealthy, successful. Then we will subconsciously do the things required to get there and when we start doing the right things, we start having what we wanted.

To apply this “Be-Do-Have” mode, first we manage our money like the wealthy do. We will then handle money matters using their tested principles, then we start “having” what they have.

It all begins in our attitude, our “BEING-ness”. The “DOING” will follow our being-ness. The “HAVING” is the inevitable end-results.

Just let this sink in… We are “human beings”, not “human doing”.