The Science of Getting Rich
When I wrote about taking Massive Action last week, I mentioned that I was reading 2 books at once.
As I read, the ideas from both books flowed together and I had this sense that what I was reading was simply true. And inspiring.
Anyhow, the book I’m talking about in this week’s video is by Wallace Wattles and it’s called the Science of Getting Rich. (Scroll down for the text version.)
The book: The Science of Getting Rich
This book was written in 1910. (Timely business advice shared in the book: the railroad systems are pretty much monopolized. You might want to turn your attention to the upcoming opportunities in developing aerial transportation.)
My one line summary:
The Law of Attraction Meets Action
Here are my key takeaways.
If you like what I’ve written here, you may find the 99¢ investment in buying it worthwhile: The Science of Getting Rich
The universe is made of an intelligent formless substance, ready to do our bidding
Tell me what you think – and I’ll make it so.
This first bit was the hardest to wrap my brain around. The book begins by insisting that we take the following on faith:
There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.
A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.
Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.
You can create what you think about
Have a clear and compelling vision for what you want.
Contemplate it often.
Have unwavering faith that it will come to pass.
Do not get distracted by negative thoughts and inputs.
Be a creator, not a competitor
If I take this junk and turn it into something useful – I’ll be creating value!
Creators add value.
Competitors take it away.
This point is easily seen in service businesses. We get an idea for a service and we offer it.
In doing so, we’ve added value – without directly drawing on the Earth’s resources.
We’re creating something from nothing. Except it’s not really “nothing.” (Ah…perhaps this is what is meant by intelligent formless substance?)
Here, I can get behind the idea of an unlimited supply. (I’m a little less convinced when the author talks about physical materials – which he claims are also unlimited and created by this intelligent formless substance.)
Choose a business you like – and always give more value than you receive
When you provide more value than what you charge, sales become easy.
This is a key component of a YOU-Shaped business. Doing something you’re good at and something that you enjoy.
I also love the idea of providing more in value than the money you receive. When I talk to my clients about determining the right price, I always explain it this way:
What you offer needs to be worth more to your client than the pile of money they need to exchange in order to get it.
When you can really rest into that idea that what you’re delivering adds value and makes the world a better place, it dissolves a lot of the discomfort/ickiness around sales and marketing.
Practice gratitude
We get more of what we focus on.
Pay attention to what you have now and what you’ve accomplished so far. Be grateful for it.
Celebrate and acknowledge your progress each week – because it’s too easy to get caught up in what’s wrong, what’s missing or what still needs to be done.
There’s no need to hurry…
Take the time to get clear about what you want – and appreciate it when you see it!
I found this to be the most reassuring part of the book.
We’re living in a sped up world. Everything is urgent urgent urgent now now now. And marketing, especially, is becoming more and more about “hurry up or you’ll miss out.”
The author contends that there is a space for us. It will be there when we are ready. No one is going to beat us to the jump.
When you get out of the competitive mind you will understand that you never need to act hastily. No one else is going to beat you to the thing you want to do; there is enough for all.
If one space is taken, another and a better one will be opened for you a little farther on; there is plenty of time.
When you are in doubt, wait.
Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your faith and purpose; and by all means, in times of doubt and indecision, cultivate gratitude.
A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and in earnest thanksgiving that you are getting it, will bring your mind into such close relationship with the Supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act.
…but you do need to take action!
Unlike other “law of attraction” teachings, this one really underscores the importance of taking action toward our vision. His advice:
Do all that you can. Which dovetailed nicely with the 10X Rule book which made it clear that most of us can take more action than we do. (And that perhaps it is this lack of action that is standing between us and our goals.)
Do the best you can. I would add to this the wisdom of Don Miguel Ruiz, who reminds us in The Four Agreements that “the best you can” will vary from day to day. Your best when you are sick won’t be the same as your best when you are well.
This is something to remember when life gets in the way of growing your business.