While growing up, mama told me never to be selfish if I must be successful in life. She always beat me up when she realise I refuse to share what I had with people. I grew up with this mindset and I've always been selfless. Have I made a million dollars yet? NO! But yet I have been selfless at all times. Days ago I began to wonder why I'm yet to produce financial results in my endeavours despite my selflessness. I pondered on this for a while until I began to study the lives of the world's richest men. I realized that they all at had one thing in common which is their love for humanity. They've always been engaged in activities that will meet the needs of humanity. Yes they are selfless but that's not what gave them their net worth I thought.
I figured out that their giving alms, etc are all carried out for selfish reasons. Either to make financial profits hence the price attached to their goods or services or to make a good name or great personality hence their NGO's and foundations. Everyone who became successful had at some point in their life be selfish. I still believe it won't be a fallacy if one says as I'm about to say that EVERYONE IS SELFISH or at least everyone has got to be selfish to be a life god become successful.
Once u think self or what getting engaged will benefit you as a person I believe I'll be right to say you are self-centred. Even our religious leaders, the very ones we sees as saints are selfish.
What ignites or reignites the fire in an entrepreneur and help him or her stand away from quitting is not the love he or she has for humanity or what the public will benefit from the idea when it really blows up but what he or she as a person will benefit. There and then being selfish serves as a self-motivation.
IN CONCLUSION
What fuels the zeal that successful people have in affecting lives is what they will benefit as individuals. Selfishness and would forever remain a positive motivation if applied.
[But if you doubt that being selfish AT SOME POINT IN LIFE is a step away from success, RESTEEM this post and don't be selfish with the content]