Vijai P. Sharma, Ph.D
For example, you often hear the profundity, "what is in the name?" Well, name is wealth. Once a person has made a "name," he or she can sell it, literally, for millions of dollars. Popular athletes, singers, actors, and other celebrities generate enormous wealth by endorsing products and giving permission to use their name. If we really like a person, we are prepared to give him or her some of what we have. Once our basic needs are satisfied, we spend money largely for fondness of, or recognition received from other people. Individuals and corporate America successfully market and cash in on our preferences and public appeal.
Many business pundits claim that the biggest asset of a company is not its physical assets, but its "reputation," that is, people's perception of, and their feeling about that company. Billions of dollars are spent in protecting reputation and building goodwill which exists purely in the minds of people, giving a new meaning to the saying, "It's all in the mind." Money is first generated in the mind and then it is "materialized" in the physical form.
Consumer research indicates that a buyer has to like a sales person in order to buy from him or her. If you don't like a sales person you won't buy regardless of the quality of the product he or she is trying to sell. As a sales person, your success depends on your personal likeability, trustworthiness, and the confidence you inspire in your prospective buyers. In all professions, businesses, and jobs, it is the personal qualities and characteristics, skills, and knowledge that bring success and wealth. Such is the power of personal wealth.
When we think of getting rich, we look grudgingly at the lucrative businesses and occupations others are doing. We believe that the only way to make big bucks is to own or join one of those businesses or occupations. This often remains a wishful thinking and next morning we are back to doing what we always had been doing. Some try to imitate others, but not having the personal qualities and natural talent for it, fail. Three out of five new businesses close down within five years. Could it be that the seekers of wealth are "barking up the wrong tree?"
This reminds me of a story from the Middle East. In the story, one night, Mullah Nasiruddin, the "wise idiot" is looking for a lost "dinar" (Persian money) under the street light-post. A passer-by joins Mullah in his search, but the dinar is not to be found. The passer-by finally asks Mullah, "Where exactly did you drop the dinar?" Mullah points to a corner on the other side of the street The totally confused passer-by asks Mullah, "Then, why on earth are you looking for it, here?" Mullah answers, "Because, it's dark over there." A lot of us, like the Mullah, avoid looking for wealth inside because there is more light outside.
We look at what everyone else is doing, so we can do the same. That is a formula for mediocrity. A creative entrepreneur who has amassed many "first-time" honors to his credit, advises, "Look at what everyone else is doing and do something else." Let that "something" be what comes to you naturally, what you are cut out for, and what you are good at. That will be your "thing." If you do your thing, you are more likely to succeed in your endeavor.
Your characteristics, qualities, skills, and style,
constitute a combination that is truly unique. Were
there 55 billion people on this earth, there was a chance
that someone out there would be like you. We don't
have 55 billion people on this planet, as yet. So
we will all remain unique in our life-time. In the
following article I will discuss the techniques by which
you can identify your unique personal assets.
Remember everyone has a secret wealth. Your secret
wealth is you!
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1996, Mind Publications
Dr. Vijai Sharma
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