Acres of Diamonds

I'm really amazed how much wisdom this book contains, every lesson is presented with a true story and it's very easy to recognize the value in these stories. The book itself really goes hard against the very common belief people have that the grass is always greener at the other side of the fence. To read this entire book it won't take you longer than an hour and it's full of powerful concepts that can be just as easily applied today as in 1846 when this book was first published.

Two huge takeaways from this book that I loved. Read the stories though still to get the full effect:

 

1) Don't go searching for "diamonds" in other areas. Take advantage of where you are right here and right now. Consider what's under your feet and in front of you right now. Don't get caught up in other endeavors outside of your "territory but focus on what you can impact here and now. Very good practical application to focusing on your work, your company, and your clients here and now.

 

2.) In your work, find a need in your community. Don't assume what people need while wasting your time working in that area. Ask others what they need. Create value for others. Create a service or product that fills a void in the marketplace and people will flock to it.

I really liked this book, a small concise manuscript with stories and messages that are still relevant today as it was a century ago.

 

The most important message in this book is this whatever you want in life can be found in your own backyard. You don't have to go searching across seven seas to find it.

 

I apply this principle using the 80:20 rule. 80% of the time this is true. Only when one has exhausted all options available locally should only look for help elsewhere. A must read.

Sometimes the realities of life robs us of the knowledge that we have all it takes to change our world and make it what we desire. It is important to seek for God's help in trying times so we can see all opportunities and possibilities around us. This book with its examples has explained the real truths and its a must read for all ambitious people. We are indeed blessed to have such truths in a book!

A timeless call to recognize the wealth of opportunity beneath our feet. Conwell's message is as relevant today as ever: success isn't found in distant places, but in the potential we often overlook in our own lives and communities. Both inspirational and deeply practical, this short work plants seeds of ambition grounded in gratitude and vision. A classic in the truest sense.

This is a small book with a large message that could potentially have an enormous impact on the reader with the 'ears to hear' it and the will to internalize it and put it into action in his or her life every day. The greatness that exists within every one of us does not exist in any external form whatsoever. Rather, it exists within us...waiting to be uncovered and unleashed. When used for the good of others and not for reasons of selfish gain, we discover that we, also, have more than we need; of contentment, of happiness and, yes, of wealth also. As we like to say in my household, "Change your mind, change your life."

Another great example of someone who started out in life with nothing and achieved greatness. Mr. Conwell believed if you can find enough people to fulfill then need you are giving, you will become 'wealthy' because it is an automatic process.

 

Mr. Conwell was driven for the need to help other people help themselves. His primary motivation was to meet the needs of other people.

 

Have you heard of the Chinese proverb - 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'. Well Mr. Conwell discovered that you could help a lot more people through the proper instruction than through the mere handout of material goods and food.

I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with this speech when I started reading it. It was simply something given to me for proof-reading but boy, this is amazing! I've read stuff about thoughts and mind-power and will-power and always find all that anything but annoying. I think this speech is the best there is for self-empowerment. This is brilliant!