Many years ago, forty to be exact, I started my own business at
tender age of nineteen. The street markets in and around Manchester England was my happy hunting ground. Every day was an adventure and despite weather and difficulties of getting a stall on street market, life was always fun and enjoyable. There was always some comical incident, even when I had to stand in pouring rain, with no customers in sight. And if there was no amusing event to focus on I created one and made other people laugh.
Within a few years my business progressed and I opened a wholesale textile company. I went on to become a very successful businessman not only making money in my original business, but also in commercial property and stock market. I retired from business world forty-six years of age. After a six year, time-out period, so that I could understand why I was successful with no effort, I reinvented myself and became...... An author, poet, philosopher, motivational/inspirational/financial speaker, radio show host, director, producer and many other labels, within past five years. How was all this achieved with not a mention of word "work" in my vocabulary.....Well, you see, I just enjoy everything I am doing and if it is enjoyable, how can a class it as work?
When I read headlines in newspapers describing corruption and scandals in large and small corporations I wonder why executives had to lie and cheat to earn money? It is far easier and less risky to make money honest way, so why do people do things hard way and end up in disgrace?
What makes some people believe they need a billion dollars to be happy? Why has greed become so fashionable? Why in many instances do we seem to treat our fellow human worse than a wild dog? Our animal instincts, although contained in a civilized package, can be savage and uncaring, especially in business world. It has literally become Dog-eat-Dog.
In life there is always an easy way and a hard way to do everything so how about I share with you five principals of business that cannot fail.
As we climb ladder of success there are many other folks on higher rungs who may try to kick us down. There are also those who have not got on first rung yet who will try and pull us down. So how do we cope in a modern day world of hungry hounds eager to get their hands on as much money as possible any way they can? Levy's Five Principals for Prosperity Principal Number One. Enjoyment. We should understand world does not owe us a living. We will succeed or fail by amount of Joy we have for project we will call our work. The number one ingredient is enthusiasm and commitment for job in hand. We have to understand that very few things will go in direction we desire and more we practice our skills, luckier we will become. We manufacture our own luck and to recognizing opportunities is key to success. Every viewpoint, in every business day, has to be explored. Never say no to anything until we have examined every possibility and outcome. Even if we find that it is not what we desire, we leave door open for future development. If we are only interested in what we can get out of any action of moment, we are doomed for failure. Principal Number Two. Giving A key ingredient in a successful venture is giving rather than taking. In other words give best and you will receive best. If you do not have ability to give best, keep on trying different approaches until you can give best. Whatever you give you will get back in abundance.
There are those who have achieved money and status by devious means. They may have all trappings of luxury lifestyle, but they do not possess clear mind to enjoy fruits of their labor. Therefore, they are not a success to themselves. All stresses and strains of cheating will one day manifest into an illness. You can mislead other people but you cannot lie to your immune system. So, it pays big dividends to give others a helping hand up ladder of success. Principal Number Three. Overcome Adversity. Enjoy failures more than successes. Understand there is no such thing as failure. Each lesson learnt, is a lesson gained. Just don't keep making same mistakes. Everything is a gain, gain situation. Negative people are our stepping stones to wealth. The more they tell us it can't be done, more energy they give us to get job done successfully. Adversities are sent to test our resolve. Become a good hurdler and learn how to jump over them. If we require an answer to a difficult problem we need to solve this is what we do. We ask any questions we need to solve, a few minutes before we go to sleep and then forget about it. We then go into a sound, deep sleep. The next morning on awakening we may get an idea from out-of-the-blue that solves issue. If not that morning, then it may take more time to solve. Ask question every night until matter resolves itself. Principal Number Four.
