Success in Business
I found the following written by James Altucher of great benefit and hope the WA community will as well.
Honesty Is the Only Way to Make Real Money
By James Altucher, author, Choose Yourself
Honesty is the only way to make money in today's world. Nobody believes me on this. People laugh at me. "Don't you know anything? Of course dishonest people step on the honest people and have more
success."
People want to justify their own failures and use their pretend-goodness to explain why they didn't start Google, or steal $65 billion, or get that last promotion when the backstabbing b---h from aisle 3 got the raise after doing who knows what.
But here's the truth. Dishonesty works… until it doesn't. Everyone messes up. And when you are dishonest, you are given only one chance and then it's over. You're out of the game – at least until you get your act
straight and you have to start from scratch with your tail between your legs.
HONESTY COMPOUNDS. It compounds exponentially. No matter what happens in your bank account, in your career, in your promotions, in your startups. Honesty compounds exponentially, not over days or weeks, but years and decades. More people trust your word and spread the news that you are a person to be
sought out, sought after, given opportunity, given help, or given money. This is what will build your empire.
I know this through countless failures. The more times I fail but communicate about it, the more times I make no money at all but let someone have ideas for free, the more times I try to "get mine" but only end up getting
stabbed by those who think it's OK to be dishonest, the greater the number of seeds I've planted and the more money I'll make in the long run. Be dishonest once, and all of those seeds will be washed away in a thunderstorm of life-killing proportions. A hurricane of despair that will sweep away all of your opportunities forever. You are left with a desert and will have to start again.
How you can be more honest in your life…
GIVE CREDIT.
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BE THE SOURCE.
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INTRODUCE TWO PEOPLE.
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TAKE THE BLAME.
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DON'T LEAD A DOUBLE LIFE.
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DON'T BE ANGRY.
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NO EXCUSES.
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MAKE OTHERS LOOK GOOD.
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DON'T GOSSIP.
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DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO.
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ENHANCE THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
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I haven't always been honest. I try. And I hope I'm getting better. I try every day to improve and to follow the advice I've just given you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have given it. But I've seen it. With people who have been in business for 10, 20, 40 years. Honesty compounds little by little. And that compounding turns into millions or
billions. The dishonest people disappear. They die. They go to jail. They don't maximize heir potential. They run. They are scared. You will have nobody to run from. Some people will hate you. Some people will
doubt your sincerity. But the people who need someone to call, someone to share with, or someone to
give to, these people will know who to call.
They will call you.
– James Altucher
Recent Comments
19
Excellent post Bob, a reminder of the road we want to travel on our journey, thanks for sharing.
Awe inspiring Bob thanks for sharing it with us, I'll take away a lot from it and use it in my life from now on.
An excellent post, Bob. Indeed, by enhancing the lives of others - which is what we try to do here - your own life will be enhanced. It may be slow, it may seem imperceptible, but it will happen. Almost like the Golden Rule in action.
:) george
Thanks Bob! It is true that people can earn quick money from cheating, but real business has to be honest to survive long time.
You're welcome. In a culture that seems to be abandoning values it is good for me to be reminded of their importance.
Wow, so much to comment on!
My fav: "At heart, everyone wants to be perceived as special. That's because everyone is special but often never acknowledged that way."
Thanks for sharing.
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Absolutely wonderful post Bob. HONESTY COMPOUNDS is very memorable. I will pass this on to others. Thanks for putting this out it is appreciated.