ONE of the latest on the ‘How To’ shelf is the book titled How to Be Rich & Happy. The book, as the author puts it, attempts to strip away veils that hide some basic truths about our lives. Beliefs like if you are good at studies and at academics and have made the minimum of mistakes, you stand a better chance to be successful and rich in life. This also ensures that you land good well-paying jobs. As students, we are not allowed to make mistakes, thus robbing us the opportunity of learning from them. Mistakes, says the author, are important for growth and vital to learning, which sportspersons call practice. “A person has the right answer the first time around, so learning is accomplished through trial and error,” says the author. Making mistakes are ‘learning experiences’ or ‘taps on the shoulder’, alerting us to the fact that there’s something we are missing and must further explore. “A mistake is only a sin when not admitted”.
Secondly, says the author, schools actually decrease our potential for success because of the way they are geared to specialisation. Specialisation leads straight into career traps that rob the world of our great potential. Challenging the common belief that sales is bad and sales-persons are guys who are out to fool people, the author says that the more competent one is in sales, the easier one’s life becomes. Sales work epitomises the kind of skills that are applicable in virtually every career positions.
Then, suggests the author, become a PhD Generalist. Specialists must work for generalists unless the specialist is also a generalist. Perpetual self discovery, perpetual re-shaping is the essence of the generalist-to be moving towards a horizon which can never be reached.
To women, the author says, the more they know about business and finance, the greater freedom they will enjoy and discover their power.
Don’t stay in your nests, just grasping what little security you can find, the book advises.
Have the courage to change. If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Rounding off, the author asks – so how do we change? Do something strange, unlearn lessons that keep you down, create new friends, etc. etc, he suggests.
Thought-provoking, the book is a good read.
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