Tweet

Wanting

Written by: Robert Boucher

Article Overview: Summary It is not things that are going to make us happy but our willingness to grow as a human being and share that growth with others. In this way we will make our small mark on the world. Grow through your reading, writing and listening.

Wanting

Wanting More.

I met a man who described to me his success by the number of things he owns. His list included three cars for two people, two boats, a sailboat and motor launch, a four-passenger airplane, a mobile home and a very large house. He was happy when he was purchasing items whether or not he was going to use them. During our conversation he added something to his list of things that caught my attention and he spent more time on his own growth than using his things. He believed that the most important accomplishment was to continue to grow as a human being. He wanted to be the best he could be.

I did ask the questions then why all the toys? His answer was simple, he could purchase them. Over time the toys disappeared as he sold the ones he was not using. He is left with two cars and a sailboat. He explained that he learned that the toys were nice but he did not use them and found that to be a terrible waste. They just sat there week after week being ruined by the environment. After all the self-improvements he strived to make it did not make sense any more to just own toys.

He got his enjoyment from three simple things, reading, writing and listening. He has set aside each day time to read articles and books on leadership and topics on improving himself. He has discovered that he now works better with people and enjoys what he does. He has become an active participant in the organizations he works for and belongs to. He cares more about the people he works with and helping them learn how grow on a personal level. He believes that every one has an area of expertise that can be built upon.

Why keep the sailboat? He explained that sailing is like life’s journey-it is not getting to the destination but the journey along the way and a sailboat is the paradigm of that. Needless to state that we have a lot in common and discuss a multitude of topics together. We learn a lot about ourselves through these discussions. He is a sounding board for my writings and I for his.


It is not things that are going to make us happy but our willingness to grow as a human being and share that growth with others. In this way we will make our small mark on the world. Grow through your reading, writing and listening.

Related Articles
  When I Grow Up I Want To Be Rich!
  Start Now, Don't Wait
  When gratitude precedes gratification
  Leadership Assessment #1 – In vs. Out Ratio
  I Dont Want PR I Just Want To Be Successful

Article Tags: accomplishment, day time, journey, leadership, mobile home, multitude, own toys, paradigm, participant, passenger airplane, personal level, sailboat, sailing, self improvements, sounding board, two boats, two cars



Related Forum Posts
Re: NEW VIDEO - Advice for a Student Entrepreneur - Ask Evan - Good Video Evan and sound advice for any aspiring young entrepreneur. Wanting to be a businessman and actually doing the hard miles to make it happen are two different things but with your advice he should be able to test the waters and see if he can make any sales at all before going to the next level. I certainly admire his ambition at eighteen because when I was that age I was busy learning my trade as an engineer and the thought of starting my own business didn’t occur to me at all until later in life. regards, Mal.
Placemat / Table Top Advertising - Was curious if any of you have done anything like this and how you pitched it. Some people say placemat advertising dont work and I laugh. To say such a thing would mean no advertising works. Advertising in the form, not even newspapers can compete. We have a CAPTIVE audience unlike any other form of advertising. Everyone waits for their food while dining out and obviously rather than stairing at there silverware, they are going to read a few if not all the ads searching for great deals in coupon form or just looking it over while waiting for their meal. Billboards, radio, t.v just can compete with a advertising medium which holds a reader captive, relaxed and in a great frame of mind. Everyone I have talked to says calling businesses up is a waste of time but i can accomplish more by hitting more business than i can going business to business, plus with gas prices these days..WOW. I have put together the following scrpit for calling and I would appreciate any feedback please (good or bad)... Hi, my name is Daniel with (my business name). I got your number from the (local chamber). We are calling on behalf of the pizzahut. (NAME), the manager has an exciting new promotion going designed by us to increase local area spending. We are looking for local sponsors to advertise their business on the table tops at the restaurant for the next 3-4 months. Becoming a sponsor is a great way to show your community support and promote your business. If your interested, I will be in the area (FRIDAY). I would like to stop by and show you an example. What time works for you? maybe that is just to long. Maybe i just want to sound like a real person, a friend over the phone rather than a CAR SALESMAN so how bout this... We are calling on behalf of the local pizza hut. Crystal, the manager has an exciting new promotion designed to increase local area spending. It seems to be a poplular place to eat so we're looking for local sponsors to advertise their business on the table tops at the restaurant for the next 3 months or so. Will be in the area friday showing examples all day long to those already interested. What time works for you? Hmm, i just dont know. I would like to hit the gound running with this. They say SELL THE SIZZLE, NOT THE STEAK. Do i want to say that we got their name as a referral from, hmm, i think it was the local chamber (chamber of commerce). That might help loosin them up or maybe not. Maybe i am thinking on this way to much. PLEASE HELP! Our local newspaper charges 45 bucks a day for a black/white 2x2 ad. Needless to say radio and tv along with billboards are much more. Problem with billboards, most use a pretty graphic which then gets all the attention, you never get to look at the number or business name during your drive by and a few minutes later, out of site, out of mind. These are 350-400 to create the vinyl ad, then 400-700 dollars a month depending on location. Is it really worth the expense unless you can afford putting an ad up on 10-20 billboards? We charge $210 for 3 months / $70 monthly / $16 weekly / $2 daily. I would say we have the most economical marketing product on the market today!" or another option is $250 for 3 months which includes any radio promotions which we would plug them as a sponsor. Another option would be rather than run them for 3 months at a time. Run our placemats for (1) month at a time for $210 monthly but combine the ads in 3 different restaurant locations (same franchise of coarse). All within 30 minutes of each other. Or just do the 1st one and upsell the others for options. Wanting some feedback and opinions on it. Thanks, Daniel


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

3 Key Factors For Raising Capital

Coaching Tip: Identify Your Core Values

The new marketing question. Will they follow?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.