“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” – Benjamin Franklin
Those who invest in their education often end up richer – not just because they often improve their financial situation, but because their minds are richer too.
This story is a good example and brings us back to our earlier blog about how education can change the world:
I wanted to change the world
( – Author: Unknown monk around 1100 AD)
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realise the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realise that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation, and I could indeed have changed the world.”
This brings us back to curiosity and the need to be present in life, take time to reflect and continually question the status quo to learn to see things differently and develop new ways of being.
The quest for knowledge should be never-ending, and as we saw in last week’s blog, we all bring something different; and creativity is key.
These two quotes from Napoleon Hill’s classic self-help book, Think and Grow Rich, highlight this:
“The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge.”
“An educated man is not, necessarily, one who has an abundance of general or specialized knowledge. An educated man is one who has so developed the faculties of his mind that he may acquire anything he wants, or its equivalent, without violating the rights of others.”
Something worth aspiring towards for sure!
So let’s have a look at what it is that you want. We all have personal ambitions and wealth goals; the two are inextricably linked, but it is essential to look beyond money and status when considering wealth and to define success in life.
“Wealth is the ability to experience life fully,” as Henry David Thore said.
Reaching our milestones starts with setting clear wealth goals in which we find our work/life balance. Let us at WellsFaber help you review your goals and where to invest, not only financially, but also your time and energy – so you achieve the best interest in life.
Below as a final anecdote, a story as written in “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss: The Mexican Fisherman – Finding Success In Your Life
An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.
“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.
“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The American then asked.
“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.
“But…What do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll in the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, Señor. “
The American applauded and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you.
You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”
He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening up your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, Señor, how long will all this take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years. 25 tops.”
“But what then, Señor?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions, Señor? Then what?”
“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos…”