Success Secrets of The Rich - Are Rich People Lucky?

I've just sent an email to my mailing list based on Stuart Goldsmith's 'Seven Secrets of The Millionaires.' I don't know how they felt after reading the message it contained but it impressed me so much that I felt I must immediately write an article about it.

Stuart Goldsmith is a British multi-millionaire who moved from being in debt to becoming one of the rich people through his direct mail business. He also wrote a brilliant news letter. Some of his ideas may not be new but they are expressed in a powerful way and deserve to be read again and again. The key idea in this article is one of them

In Chapter One of his classic book, Stuart demolishes the idea that millionaires are lucky; instead they have become rich by making thousands of small decisions in which they chose to get the job done rather than not to get it done. They chose action rather than inaction:

"Most people believe that wealth is a lottery, that cards were shuffled and then randomly dealt and some received an Ace, whilst others received a Two or a Three and some get the Joker. They further believe that this is just luck - like the lottery, and so those lucky people with Aces should be willing to hand over a portion of their wealth to those unlucky people with lower cards.

Closer examination reveals a different truth, and one which is unpalatable to the general public. It is not a truth they wish to hear. The truth is that with a few exceptions, the wealth creators were not dealt Aces randomly by fate. They worked at their success by making correct choices on a minute by minute, day by day basis. Let me explain.

Everything you are and have today is the exact summation of countless thousands of little choices and decisions you made from the day you were first consciously able to make such choices. And stating it simply, those choices were mainly between action and inaction. Or putting it another way, between action and laziness. I'm not talking big, life-changing decisions here. I'm talking about tens of thousands of day by day, minute by minute choices like "shall I get up or lie in bed for another half hour?" "Should I read another chapter of that textbook or go for a beer instead?" "Should I try a little harder to get this job right, or just turn it out in a sloppy fashion?"

Thousands upon thousands of little things going right back to school days when you decided between completing a homework assignment or watching TV instead.

As Jim Rohn says, "Everything matters." It is the small choices which matter. The little day by day disciplines which build into an inexorable force propelling you towards success and wealth. After a lifetime of always choosing the easy option, the lazy way out, the least amount of work, the mediocre will have the temerity to call you 'lucky.' They will then demand 'their' share of your wealth - the wealth you built by numerous small daily disciplines, each one requiring you to forgo immediate gratification of your desires.

If anyone ever accuses you of being 'lucky' just reply: "You're right. And you know what? The harder I worked, the luckier I got." Whilst your friends are watching soap operas or down the pub, you will be working late nights, forgoing instant pleasure, striving to create new values, new products, new ideas which will move mankind forward."

I was going to add several comments to Stuart's words but I think he has said it so well that I will only add one or two comments. Nor am I infringing his copyright since I was an attendee in 2002 at one of his 'retirement' seminars when he generously handed over licences to his info products to the attendees.

In the passage above, he has provided a very effective guide or measuring tool to help us choose the best decisions minute by minute. Choosing action over inaction may seem stunningly obvious but the results of not choosing action only show up gradually and so it helps to have some one like Stuart point out the power of the thousands of chances we get to choose to get the job done rather than not get it done. We all need to do our 'homework' on a regular basis.

Not getting it done may seem to have no effect on our lives at the time but later on we'll suffer the consequences. I have chosen to read emails rather than mow the lawn for weeks. The back garden has suffered and will take a long time to mow.

This is no big deal but other choices could mean the difference between riches and poverty. A choice to take action and check out your investments more carefully could save you losing thousands if you have invested in another Enron. On the other hand daily choices to save money could keep you out of debt.

On reflection, we can be grateful that we are able to make these daily, minute by minute choices. Our lives, in all their glorious or inglorious details, are in our own hands. We can act or not act. Luck has nothing to do with it! The next time you are hesitating about making that phone call or leaving it till tomorrow, just pick up the phone and make the call. Choose action over inaction. Choose action over laziness.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and fifth degree black belt martial arts instructor. He has recently written several books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a motivational message and books by other authors

Ezine editors / Site owners

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.

---

Will You Be Successful?

We all want success. You do. So do I. Some... Read More

Wheres Your Value?

The simple action of writing the every day grocery demonstrates... Read More

The Formula For Failure and Success

(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More

How to Lose Your Money, Fake Your Destiny with Great Success

Everyone talks about how to be successful through hard work... Read More

Natural Laws of Success

Jim Rohn wrote in his book The Five Major Pieces... Read More

The Power Of Language: How To Language Your Future

Imagine living in the world that Helen Keller found herself... Read More

The Clichés of Success

The problem with writing about success is that almost everything... Read More

Two Great Success Tips - Read And Apply What You Learn And Do It Now!

Today I was glad that I had bothered to read... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Give Yourself A Gold Star

Give yourself a gold star Remember how rewarding it was... Read More

Reaping the Fruit of Success in Life

One way to become more successful in your life is... Read More

Success Lessons from Baseball - Enthusiasm And Excitement Can Make The Difference

I remember, about 35 years ago, reading two books by... Read More

Five Principals for Prosperity

Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my... Read More

Creative Destruction

This past Memorial Day weekend I decided to revisit my... Read More

Keep Track of Your Results

Three key words to remember: weigh, count and measure. Now,... Read More

Accelerated Learning is Profitable

Accelerated learning is not only practical, it is profitable. Acquiring... Read More

Like It or Not, In This Life... The Name of the Game is Change

Most of us fear change, because - as we've all... Read More

Affirm Your Intentions - Achieve Your Goals

Affirmations are emotionally driven statements of intention and faith that... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Friendly Competition

Friendly competition Get together with a group of like-minded friends... Read More

The Magic of Dreaming

The approach of a new year usually causes us to... Read More

Top 10 Secrets to Success

Much has been researched, written and taught about success. One... Read More

Strategy - Personal and Business

Many different daily tasks require a strategic process to be... Read More

Top Ten Success Strategies

1. Believe in yourself and what it is you do.... Read More

An Honest Commitment To Action Is Key To Your Success

With topics in personal development ranging from goal setting to... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Temp Your Way To The Top

Temp your way to the top Want to take the... Read More

Hidden Gems in a Quote: From Henry David Thoreau I have learned, that if one advances...

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the... Read More

Top 10 Miraculous Benefits of Keeping a Personal Journal

In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary... Read More

Want To Succeed In Business, Social, Personal Life? Take Good Care Of Your Personal Image

Your personal image: It's the most important YOU asset you... Read More

The Power of Mind-Imagery

Today I feel inspired that I should speak more to... Read More

Swotting for Success

Not so long ago, I impressed the daylights out of... Read More

Benefits To Having An Education

If you look back to the 70s and 80s, many... Read More

Success Secrets - What They Taught You About Success Back in 10th Grade

Let me say this to get it out of the... Read More

Reach Your Goals - Believe In Your Own Divine Nature

Believe in your own Divine nature Despite the varying religious... Read More

Success Without Whining About Doing Your Best

In the film 'The Rock', Sean Connery takes a dim... Read More