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Well, if it works then why isn't it working for you?




Something rather embarassing happened to me some days back. I was chatting with some acquaintances, and the subject of how to make money came up. Having worked with small businesses for quite a while, I thought I was qualified to respond... and so I did.


They were all blaming the government or something outside themselves for their misfortunes and failure in business. I'm more of an introspective individual, so even my response was along those lines. I brought up how most of the time, it's not really about hard work, but more about working smart. Setting a goal and methodically working towards it. More importantly, I also mentioned how our attitudes also play a significant role in determining our level of success.





Things went south very quick though, and one particular lady wasn't amused by my comments. She snapped. She told me how tired she was. Tired of advice. Tired of theory. Tired of constantly trying. Tired of being told no. Tired of watching people who seemingly don't deserve it getting all the good breaks. Tired of people thinking she's not working hard enough and that she brought all of this upon herself. Then to add the cherry on top, she pulled a fast one on me...


"I'm sure you've got billions in the bank, since you know all this stuff" she said slyly,


and just in case you haven't figured it out yet, my surname isn't Musk, Bezos or Gates... and so I'm definitely absent on that Forbes list.


For a moment, I felt like Papa Doc in the final battle on 8 Mile. I wanted to say something, but as my mind went through all possible answer scenarios, I figured nothing could beat that. I'm pretty sure the only acceptable answer at that point would have either been my nine figure bank statement or the latest Forbes issue with my smiling face on it... and I had neither.





Just to deviate a bit... some years ago I was talking to my little niece about how stressed I was about something. She asked what that was. So I figured, to shut her up, I'd make the conversation so over her head that she wouldn't understand it, get bored and leave. I told her I had to buy something but I didn't have the money at that point. I was worried I would disappoint the person who was selling it. I felt bound by my verbal commitment. Without even giving it any serious thought, my 6 year old niece asked "why don't you just tell them you don't have the money yet?" Just like that, the clouds cleared up, the sun started shining, birds chirped and I suddenly found myself thinking, "Why didn't think of that?"🤦🏻‍♂️ and just like that, my problem was solved.


At times some of the greatest answers come from the most unlikely sources. Some of life's greatest secrets are hidden in plain sight and packaged so ridiculously simple, that we overlook them.





Ever noticed how it's often that single friend who gives you the best relationship advice?

Or how the drunk 'bum' who spends their day by the corner doing nothing seems to give some of the most accurate political insights and analysis?


Now I have two questions for you.:


1. How would you have responded to the angry lady?

2. Before taking advice, do you first question the authority of the person giving it, to determine whether you take it, or not?


Found this meme on my phone and thought I'd share it with you. I'm hoping you'll find it as funny as I did. More importantly, I hope it inspires you to move beyond words. We can say it all, but our actions speak louder. Our actions are what people watch, and if we could only walk the talk, then we wouldn't even need to teach or preach. We would simply let them watch us in action.


Hoping some day I'll return to that lady just to tell her "it works. See?" but for now, I'll just have to wait.


Thanks for reading


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