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Worth Thinking About

“I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life…to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
- Henry David Thoreau

“You can prepare today or repair tomorrow.”
- Dave Darby

“When a person does not know what harbor they are making for, no wind is the right wind.”
- Seneca

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”
- Diane Ackerman

“Success is a result, not a goal.”
- Gustave Flaubert

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
- Chinese Proverb

“The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”
- Nicolo Machiavelli

“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”
- Nicolo Machiavelli

Related Links

*As Featured on SlideShare

This slideshow was Featured on SlideShare and quickly vaulted to the 2nd most viewed for the week.

10 Proven Techniques for Building Your Ideal Life (View on SlideShare)

Current Reading
  • Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes
    Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes
    by Alfie Kohn

    Another book that I probably agree with the principle but not the origins.  A great read so far.

  • Talent Is Never Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent
    Talent Is Never Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent
    by John C. Maxwell

    Any John C. Maxwell book is a great read and this is no exception.  How many people think they can or cannot make it in this world simply because of talent?  What is amazing is how many people hold on to this view despite much evidence to the contrary - talent is great but determiniation and focus will take you farther.

  • Wired That Way
    Wired That Way
    by Marita Littauer, Florence Littauer

    Always the student - I (nurture) totally and utterly disagree with the title (nature), but I bought and I am reading anyway.  Full of great observations - we just disagree on the origins.

Current Listening
  • One Particular Harbour
    One Particular Harbour
    by Jimmy Buffett

    Our namesake and still a favorite.  One particular harbour - have you found yours?

  • 5th Gear
    5th Gear
    by Brad Paisley

    This guy has a great sense of humor.  Ticks.  I’m Still A Man.  It’s simple, but hey, it’s real and that’s country.

« Watch Your Aim! | Main | Minute Made? »
Thursday
12Apr2007

The Penny Principle

ringmaster.jpgStep right up!  Get yer tickets here!  Fer one day and one day only, you my lucky friend have an amazing opportunity to make MILLIONS!  Dat’s right!  You heard me correct-like - MILLIONS!

Whose gonna take dis offer?  You der!  You!  Poyfect.  Step right up here and let me show you how dis woyks.

It’s like dis.  You choose yer destiny.  How you like it so far?  Dat’s right - you choose yer destiny.

Choice #1 - you come back to dis very spot right here where I’m standin - correction, where yer standin.  You come back here in 30 days and you my friend will receive a lump sum payout of $1 Million.  Oh, my - dat’s a whole lotta change.

OR

Choice #2 - I will give you 1 red cent - that’s $0.01 today and today only!  Have you made up yer mind?  Not so fast my friend - you see ders more!  Tomorrow, you come right back the spot where yer standin I am gonna double yer money.  Tomorrow you der will have yerself $0.02!  Now hold on before you get all hot in the pants ready to take the $1M - ders more.  Yer gonna show up here each and EVERY day to this xact spot and I’m gonna keep doubling yer money all the way up to day 30!

So, what’s it gonna be?  I need yer answer in 5…4…3…2…1…alright, times up!  Which is it? $1M and no hassle or 1 penny doubled for 30 days?

So, what happens if you take a stupid risk and take the penny?  Let’s see…

The Penny Principal Day 10
The Penny Principal Day 20
The Penny Principal Day 27
The Penny Principal Day 30

 

So, what’s the lesson of the Penny Principle? The lesson is this: the quick payout is not always the best and sometimes, even though you see the power of the penny, others will doubt you, throw up roadblocks and beat you down as ignorant. It is up to you to know the value of the Penny Principle in anything you do in life.

Note, this is a financial example because it is easily measureable. The Penny Principle works in any area of yer - I mean your - life and the reward may actually be monetary, but it more likely may be pride in accomplishment, the reward of lifting others up or the magnificent power of teaching others.

So, go out into the world and make money, teach others, lift others up, but follow your own principles and your value will double every day. It may not seem like you are impacting the world immediately, but stay in it for the final payout and your lasting legacy and reward will be more powerful than those who took the easy payout and hoped to just show up at the end and cash out.

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Reader Comments (2)

I love this idea. I saw it on a public tv show when I was young, and have been waiting for someone to offer this to me since then. FYI, it's "principle", not "principal", unless you're offering this deal to the administrator of a school or the lead in a play.
December 5, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterAdriana
Thanks Adriana!

Quick quiz - ok so it happened like this:

a) I wrote this as 'principal' to test my readers and see who would catch such a gaffe

b) In fact, I did originally intend this for both professional stage actors AND school administrators

c) I'm a boob and you're the first in 1000s of readers to have caught that I used the wrong spelling.

The answer...C - you caught me. I actually do take pride in my grammar and glad you pointed this out. You made me better today. Thanks for that and thanks for reading. :)

Dave
December 5, 2007 | Registered CommenterDave Darby

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