Table of contents
Introduction
Chapter One
Question Everything and
Find a Better Way
To Do Anything
Chapter Two
What Do You Want Most?
Chapter Three
Be Nice No Matter What
Chapter Four
It’s The Tough
Things That Teach You
Chapter Five
If You Don’t Like
What You’re Doing, So What?
Chapter Six
Seek Improvement Everywhere
and In All Things
Chapter Seven
Stand Out From The Crowd
Chapter Eight
Take People With
You On Your Journey
Chapter Nine
Work-Life Balance
Chapter Ten
If You’re Going To Do Anything,
Do It All The Way
Chapter Eleven
Give Back To Everyone You Can
Chapter Twelve
Heal Yourself With Your Mind
Conclusion
Chapter Five
If You Don’t Like What You’re Doing, So What?
Because of my level of success—and my advanced age, I suppose—young people often ask for my time and want to talk to me about success or life or maybe just ask for my guidance about the direction they’re heading in. About two years ago, I had an unusual conversation with a guy who wanted to ask me some questions. He was about thirty-five and was married with two young children. He’d been working for a company and said, “I didn’t like the job I was doing. I liked the company, and I liked the company culture, but I didn’t like my role there.” To his credit, he made the decision to move on and took a position with a different company. Here’s where the story gets interesting. Of his new company, he said, “I love what I’m doing now, but I don’t like the company. I don’t care for the owner, and I don’t like the culture there.” I asked him if he was making a good living, and he said he was making over six figures, meaning more than $100,000 a year. He was doing well—making a six figure income at thirty-five is impressive, and it was enough to support his family. But it seemed to me that he could find something he didn’t like in just about anything. With the first job, he didn’t like what he was doing, but he liked the company. With the second, he liked what he was doing but didn’t like the company. It made me wonder if he just didn’t like working.
I reminded him that his real job in life was to be there for his family financially. Obviously, he also had to be there emotionally, but he could do that while still having a good income, whether he thought it was a good job or a good company. I’m assuming that whatever work he was doing was viable and, of course, legal. If he is working with a legitimate business with a strong foundation and the potential to move up in the company, then his real job becomes creating financial stability for his family. Even better, if his role allows him to learn a trade or helps him create his own business and eventually use his knowledge to become self-employed, he can create vast wealth for his family down the road.
Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to make money. What ever I chose to do, I wanted there to be no limit on my income. Wherever I worked, I was determined to be the best at what I did. I would rather choose something to do and decide to like it than choose to do what I like and not have the income potential associated with it. If you’re working and decide to like what you do, you’ll find joy in whatever it is you’re doing. If you’re like me, you hope to bring joy to the people you work with. The more I could do at work, the less somebody else had to do. If you’re going to work—and it’s likely you’ll have to— I suggest you choose something where you can make good money and then make it fun. Make it something you can learn and, over time, have the option of going out on your own to do it. You don’t have to go on your own, but it’s always nice to have that option. You don’t have to agree with me now, but you might when you get older.
I always knew I wanted to own my own business. I knew I wanted to run my own business because I wanted to be able to make as much money as possible. And I was going to find joy in whatever I was doing as long as there was an opportunity for me to really make big money. Over the years, there have been some years where we did really well and some years where we did not. Today, I find more joy in helping others make more money than in making more myself.
I believe anybody who can work should work. And learn to make it fun and joyful—wherever you may be. Why not choose a job, a profession, or even start your own business where you can lift up others around you along the way? Make the day just a little bit brighter for others when you walk through the door.
The money we make should be used to lift up the lives of the people we come into contact with. Yes, it’ll touch your family first. Tipping a waiter more than usual not only helps them but also brings me joy. When I see homeless people, I go to the ATM and get $20 bills and give one to each person when I pass by. I don’t know if it helps them overall, but it will at least help them for a few minutes—and it makes me feel good. Choose a couple of charities and donate. I’m passionate about homeless shelters, but you can be passionate about whatever charity you’d like. Imagine a time in your financial life when you can give back that way. You will find so much joy.
Table of contents
Introduction
Chapter One
Question Everything and
Find a Better Way
To Do Anything
Chapter Two
What Do You Want Most?
Chapter Three
Be Nice No Matter What
Chapter Four
It’s The Tough
Things That Teach You
Chapter Five
If You Don’t Like
What You’re Doing, So What?
Chapter Six
Seek Improvement Everywhere
and In All Things
Chapter Seven
Stand Out From The Crowd
Chapter Eight
Take People With
You On Your Journey
Chapter Nine
Work-Life Balance
Chapter Ten
If You’re Going To Do Anything,
Do It All The Way
Chapter Eleven
Give Back To Everyone You Can
Chapter Twelve
Heal Yourself With Your Mind
Conclusion