Wealth Comes by Creating Value

“Wealth is defined as your ability to create value for someone other than yourself.” - Myron Gold

Wealth Comes by Creating Value

We often equate wealth with what we own: money in the bank, property, influence, or assets. But what if wealth isn’t about accumulation at all? What if it’s about contribution?

That’s the premise Myron Golden puts forward, and it’s one worth pausing to consider: True wealth is your ability to create value for someone other than yourself. This idea challenges our assumptions and realigns them with something deeper and far more lasting.

We are made in the image of God. And God is not a hoarder. He is a Creator, a Giver, a Redeemer. We reflect His image best when we do the same - not when we store up treasures, but when we steward our gifts and relationships in ways that benefit others.

If that’s the case, then the pursuit of wealth isn’t about making our pockets deeper. It’s about multiplying our impact. It’s not how much we keep, but it’s how much we create, contribute, and cultivate.

Let’s look at this mindset shift through three different lenses: biblical wisdom, leadership theory, and behavioral science.

1. Biblical Lens: Stewardship and Generosity

The Bible repeatedly reframes wealth in terms of generosity, stewardship, and relational investment. Proverbs 11:25 reminds us: “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), the master praises the servants not for keeping his money safe, but for putting it to work and multiplying it. That’s what stewardship looks like, using what you’ve been given to serve a purpose beyond yourself.

When we focus on creating value for others, we’re not abandoning biblical principles. We’re living them out. We’re taking the raw materials of our skills, relationships, and resources, and shaping them into something that blesses others. That’s creation. That’s a reflection of the Creator in us.

2. Leadership Lens: Abundance, Trust, and Service

Stephen Covey’s concept of the abundance mindset is the opposite of the fear-based, scarcity-driven view of success. Instead of seeing life as a zero-sum game, abundance thinkers believe that there’s plenty to go around, because value can be created.

This mindset nurtures generosity, collaboration, and trust. Covey also introduces the idea of the emotional bank account - the idea that trust is built through consistent deposits: listening well, keeping your word, and serving others’ interests.

This is where business and value creation intersect powerfully: When we lead from a place of trust, we stop selling in the traditional sense. Instead, we serve. We help people make decisions they already want to make, for their reasons, not ours. And that kind of leadership is both magnetic and sustainable.

3. Behavioral Science Lens: Meaning and Satisfaction

Modern research backs all of this up. Studies in positive psychology and behavioral economics show that people who experience lasting satisfaction aren’t those who consume the most. They’re the ones who contribute the most.

Creating value gives meaning to our work. Whether it’s mentoring a teammate, designing a solution that improves someone’s life, or building a business that lifts your community, value creation activates purpose.

And purpose, it turns out, is one of the most powerful drivers of engagement, resilience, and long-term success.

Sidebar: The Profit Tension

Let’s clear something up: Generosity doesn’t mean giving away the store.

Yes, we’re called to serve. But Scripture also says, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18). If you’re doing meaningful work that creates value, it’s not wrong to charge fairly. In fact, not doing so can lead to burnout, instability, and lost opportunity to serve others well.

Profit and purpose are not enemies. In healthy businesses, they’re partners.

Wealth is not evil. But the love of money distorts the view. If our focus shifts from chasing riches to building value for others, profit follows in a much healthier way.

What Does This Look Like in Practice?

In business terms:

• If you’re solving real problems, you’re building wealth.

• If your leadership creates clarity and confidence, you’re building wealth.

• If your team grows because of your guidance, you’re building wealth.

• You don’t just grow a company; you grow people. That’s a better return than any market can offer.

Reflection Questions:

• Who benefits from the systems you’ve built?

• What problem are you solving for someone else today?

• Are you creating value, or just extracting it?

• Are you building a legacy or just increasing revenue?

You are already wired to create. And you’re most fully alive when you do it in service of others. If you want to build real wealth, start by asking: “Where can I create more value for someone other than myself?”

At BizCoachTN, we believe your impact is your legacy.