Entries Tagged 'Mindset' ↓

Update: Based on the recent gains in the price of gold, it seems wisdom is becoming more valuable by the day.

In turbulent and uncertain times like these, nothing is more important or valuable than wisdom.

-Ryan M. Healy

Popularity: 39% [?]

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I had planned a different post for today, but as I read the book of John this morning, God directed me to write something different. Which probably means one or more of my readers needs to hear this.

So let me ask you a question: What’s worth more than $970.50 an ounce?

If you follow the financial markets, you probably already know I’m making a comparison to gold. As of this morning, $970.50 is the price of gold per ounce in U.S. dollars. With the exception of perhaps a near-perfect diamond, I can’t think of anything that would rival the price of gold, ounce for ounce.

Well, I can think of one thing that not only rivals the price of gold, but exceeds it by far. I’ll get to that in a minute.

But first, let me make an observation. Whether you are employed in a job or self-employed, I’m willing to bet that you’re literally slaving away to achieve greater success, maximize your earning power, and (ultimately) become wealthy and well-known (a.k.a. “rich and famous”).

I hate to burst your bubble, but…

You’re seeking the wrong thing.

Success, wealth, and fame come and go. They are transient. Here today, gone tomorrow.

In a sense, we are all a bit like Sysiphus. We toil and strain to push an enormous rock up a long incline. When we are close to the top, we are ready to rejoice… only to witness the rock slip and roll down to the bottom of the hill.

Then we start all over again.

So the question arises: What should we be seeking?

The things of this world serve a purpose. But they don’t deserve our passionate pursuit. All the gold in the world can’t buy love, happiness… or immortality.

Rather than gold, seek wisdom.

I offer this advice because of this…

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast. (Proverbs 3:13-18)

This is such a beautiful picture. In the pursuit of wisdom we also find riches, honor, peace, long life, and happiness.

Do you remember when you were a kid? Remember the game we used to play where we imagined holding a magic lamp that contained a genie? We used to say:

“If you had three wishes, and you could wish for anything in the world, and the genie had to give you whatever you wished… what would you wish for?”

This was always a fun mental exercise.

I remember as a young boy trying to “game the system.” I’d usually use my first wish to wish for unlimited wishes.

The reason I bring this up is because this really happened to a man. Except instead of three wishes, he got only one. Here is the story…

In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

Solomon said to God, “You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”

God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” (2 Chronicles 1:7-12)

This is what I felt I needed to write to you this morning:

Wisdom trumps wealth.

Therefore, seek wisdom.

Oh, and one last thing: All wisdom comes from God. If you desire wisdom (as you should), you’ll have to make friends with your Maker.

Have a great weekend.

-Ryan M. Healy

Popularity: 46% [?]

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You’ve heard it said that to achieve success in any area, all you must do is find somebody who has already achieved success and follow the proven path they’ve taken. I believe this is, for the most part, true. Naturally, achieving anything in life will be easier with somebody to guide you who has already done what you’d like to do.

But following a proven path is one thing. Copying somebody is another.

When sitting down to write a sales letter, many people will borrow concepts and ideas from sales letters that have been proven to work in the past. For lack of a better word, this is called “swiping.”

Swiping is perfectly acceptable so long as it doesn’t become plagiarism. Plagiarism is copying verbatim. It is taking another person’s words and calling them your own. According to some definitions, plagiarism also includes the use of another person’s ideas without giving credit to the author of those ideas.

While plagiarism may be a faster way to “success,” it will only hurt you in the long run. For one, you will look like a copycat. When you are seen this way, it will be that much harder to achieve lasting success. Secondly, the person who is innovating will always out-maneuver the person who is merely copying. The innovator will always be one or two steps ahead.

So how does this apply to you?

When you want to find success in a new area (for instance, building a business), study what successful people have done. But don’t copy them outright. Rather, adapt their ideas for your own use. Take what successful people have done and put your own spin on it.

After all, you cannot be somebody else. You are you. So become good at being you.

Take this blog, for instance. As you might already know, I am one of James Brausch’s Magic Email students. He has succeeded in an area I would like to succeed in. That’s why I chose him to mentor me.

You’ll notice some aspects of this blog are similar to James’s blog. But I’ve put my own spin on what he has done. I did not use the same Wordpress theme. I spent some time investigating and found a theme I liked that I have not seen anybody else use. This is different from what other people have done. Have you noticed how many of James’s students use the Very Plain Text theme? A lot of them do.

Here’s the problem: Anything that becomes ubiquitous will eventually become ordinary and lose its impact.

(This is why I believe there is more money to be made in keeping secrets than sharing them. Share too many secrets and they aren’t secrets anymore. Worse, they can become commonplace.)

By adapting proven ideas, concepts, and methods, you benefit yourself and others. You strengthen your own position while differentiating yourself in the market. This is what you want. You want a proven path (because it is faster and there is less risk), but you also want to add the one unique element nobody else can copy: you.

-Ryan M. Healy

Popularity: 26% [?]

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