Small Business Owners Start with Self-Education by Paulie Sabol

Russell H. Conwell's Acres of Diamonds Speech

Very often I've heard the story of the person who had great riches in his/her own back yard used as a kind of optimists expression of nearby abundance.

I would scratch my head and think, "Was that really the point of the story?" Until recently it hit me, the point of the story is not so much in this line...

...had Al Hafed remained at home and dug in his own cellar or in his own garden, instead of wretchedness, starvation, poverty and death -- a strange land, he would have had "acres of diamonds" -- for every acre, yes, every shovelful of that old farm afterwards revealed the gems which since have decorated the crowns of monarchs.

But much more in this one...

OF ALL THE simpletons the stars shine on there is none more foolish than a man who leaves one job before he has obtained another.

In fact, it is in these two together that the real point of the story is made clear and actionable. The story isn't a rah-rah session to suggest there's vast riches at your feet you just have to pick them up. It's not about a bias towards massive action either. No, this is a story about patience and prudence.

The message is clear, rather than run after riches... ...learn about the ways of wealth.
Rather than rush in being ignorance on fire... ...be methodological about money.

The point of the story was, NOT that there he was right there amidst great wealth. The point of the story is, that the ignorant miss great wealth. The frenzied "doer" without a plan to follow, a set of measurements to gauge progress, and a team of ready experts to trailblaze; is going to burn up and bottom out.

Consider also, what if the person had been a gold prospector, oil wildcatter, or pearl diver?

If that person had learn all the ways of wealth, he might have gotten a clue about gemstones and been able to convert his expertise into a connection with a world class gemoligist. By being the best at a single core competency and not "leaving that job" until there is another, the educated and readied person is the one who finds the "acres" of diamonds inside.

It's the diamond mine of accomplishment, competency and experience.