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Don't just get inspired, get disciplined.
Now here's Jim Rohn. OK.
So make this note. The future is where we're going.
You know, the past is where we've been, present is where we
are and the future is where we're going.
And if we can capture this moment in time from our past to
now, and then from now to a future more well designed with
better objectives and better purpose for ourselves, our
family, our business, our investments, everything else,
then this, this moment in time will have become extremely
valuable. So let me give you first what
really affects us all #1 we're affected by the environment in
which we live. We're affected by the physical
environment. I was challenged the way back in
those early days. Why not make the environment
better everywhere you go? I learned, Mama taught, you
know, turn off the lights when you check out of your hotel and
you leave the room, before you leave, turn out the lights.
And I thought, why do that? And here's what she said to make
a contribution that's so easy. Wow.
And if you could make a contribution that is so easy
that didn't cost you any money and didn't cost you any time,
you know, didn't cost you a a piece of your life, why not make
the contribution that's easy? Because if everybody did it,
think of how much we would conserve.
Someone says, well, yes, but the hotel benefits if you turn out
all the lights. And here's the answer that
sophisticated people always have.
Who cares who benefits if it benefits the hotel?
And if everybody did it, probably the cost of the hotel
room would come down. So every benefit you can give,
every benefit you can share. Because here's what happens if
you learn to give, you will what receive?
Maybe not in the manner in which you gave, maybe not in like
kind. Someone will save energy for you
because you saved energy for them.
But in some mysterious ways, it always comes back to us.
If you give, you will receive. In fact, here's what it says
that for the uneducated is a little bit strange.
It says it's better to give than it is to receive.
Now see, if you didn't understand, you would say that
doesn't quite make sense. Surely it would be better to
receive than to give. And the answer's no.
It is much better to give than to receive and here's why.
It's what we call being in having intelligent
self-interest. Nothing wrong with self-interest
as long as you do it the intelligent way.
Here's the key, giving. It's better to give than it is
to receive because giving starts the receiving process.
So to act intelligently in your own self-interest, which is
good, it's much better to give than it is to receive because if
all of you do, all you do is receive.
That may be very limited. But if you give and giving
starts the receiving process, coming your way from unknown
resources and from unknown places back, it comes around to
you because you became a giver. That's one of the unique
mysteries of life. We give to receive, and it's
better to give than it is to receive.
So that's what Mama said. Turn out the lights, make a
contribution. Why not make the easy ones?
Here's what else. We talked about it at our lunch
break today to those who were there.
It raises your self esteem plus your self respect that you do
things that the average person doesn't do.
Maybe if they were taught they would, maybe if somebody
mentioned it, they would. But it's easy for most everybody
to just go on their way. And if they're not interrupted
by a good idea that says, hey, it's so easy to make a
contribution. This one would be easy.
Turn out the lights when you leave the hotel room and make a
contribution. That's interesting.
Next is the phrase in terms of environment.
Always leave something better than you found it.
I talked to a man one time who rented out a long list of the of
apartments, and he said, Mr. Owen, you wouldn't believe it,
But when somebody rents an apartment, they usually leave it
worse than when they rented it. I said, you've got to be
kidding. He said, no, a high percentage
of people leave it trashed. If they stay six months or stay
one year, they leave it trashed. Not just not better, but
trashed. I said that's impossible, why
would anyone do that? Mama said to me, no, leave it,
what better than you found it? See, that's just a commitment to
your own self esteem. And why not do it if it makes a
contribution to your self esteem?
It's called intelligent self-interest.
Intelligent self-interest self-interest says I wish to be
ruder over many, and intelligent self-interest says I understand
how to do that. Be faithful when the amounts are
small. If you'll take care of the few,
we will someday give you a position of very high importance
over many. But if you don't be disciplined
when the amounts are small, why would we trust you when the
amounts are large? Brian mentioned that earlier.
Why would? Why would life give you a
fortune to manage if you couldn't manage the gifts of a
few? Interesting philosophy to
consider. OK your own self-interest.
Leave the contribution. I'm even aware of it when I
leave a restaurant and I get me a toothpick, right?
And you take off the little cellophane off the toothpick,
It's easy to throw it by the cash register, right?
Or somewhere where it looks like other people have done the same.
Mama said put it in your pocket. Somebody says, wow, a little
piece of cellophane, what difference does it make?
It doesn't make that much difference.
Only in yourself. Respect.
Take your trash home and deposit it.
How much does it cost to clean up the trash on the highways in
America? Mega mega Mega Millions.
Wouldn't people take home their own trash and deposit it there
rather than scatter it on the highways across America?
And the answer is, most people do not.
It's so easy to throw it out the window, but now add this.
It's so easy to keep it in your car and have a few more points
in your favor on self esteem, feeling good about yourself,
doing things that most people don't do.
If everybody different did it, what a different country we
would have. But it doesn't really matter.
You say, well, if everybody's going to do it, why shouldn't I
do it? And the answer is for your own
dignity and for your own self esteem.
You do things that most other people allow themselves to do
that you don't do. And so when I talk about the
environment now, we're affected by the political environment and
the social environment and we're affected by the economy
environment.