If you haven’t already read The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie, I would highly encourage you to go online to Amazon and buy it right now! That is exactly what I did a week ago, and over the last seven days have been reading The Gospel of Wealth, and taking notes, listening to what other business coaches have gotten out of it, etc. This book it discusses how Andrew Carnegie started his path to success by working as a bobbin boy, moving up to working in a cotton factory, messenger boy, all the way to his first investment and purchase of shares in a company called Adam Express Company. Through craftful thinking, and pulling together as a family, not to mention years of long hours, hard days full of manual labor, and a desire to become better, Andrew Carnegie pulled together $500 dollars to purchase shares. This is then what led to him receiving his first check of $5 as a return of investment.
No matter what your goals are, if you are determined, willing to do the tedious tasks, and sometimes work long hard hours, and push yourself to your limits, you will find that it is only going to lead to your progression, success, and happiness.
Andrew Carnegie through hard work eventually became quite wealthy, however, not only was he rich monetarily but also rich with knowledge. From the very young age of 10, Mr. Carnegie already knew that if anyone could drive the “ wolf of poverty” from his door, it would be him. After a week of working basically from sunup to well after sun down, with only a forty min break, and he earned his first wage…$1.20! He knew that he had instilled in himself a lesson that he would never forget.
Andrew Carnegie said, “As a rule, there is more genuine satisfaction, a truer life, and more obtained from life in the humble cottages of the poor than in the places of the rich”. He went without many things, and in turn, learned to appreciate the time he had with his family. His parents and family members were there to care for each other, be each others mentors, teachers, chefs, and grew by working hard together towards a better life. If you have goals or dreams, for your business coach career, family life, health, financial stability, if you apply hard work determination, with the knowledge that if you are honest, consistent and hard working. You will see that your current state of mind, health, or the balance of your bank account will change. Those long hours, budget cuts, or other difficult or hard situations won’t last forever. You have the ability to change all that.
We must work hard to not destroy self-reliance, honesty, hard work, by continuously giving or receiving handouts. “If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.” Think of your self-reliance and honesty as well as other traits or virtues as a luxury and means to not only help yourself but to help others. No matter what your goals are, if you are determined, willing to do the tedious tasks, and sometimes work long hard hours, and push yourself to your limits, you will find that it is only going to lead to your progression, success, and happiness.