Hey friends,
Today we are going to look at a parable from one of my favorite books — I hope it provides you as much insight as it has for me!
The language in the book is "old-timey," so I changed it up a little.
The sun was high in the city of Babylon. Camel traders, rug merchants, and town folk lined the streets, going about daily routines. To most, it seemed like only another day in the city.
Yet, one thing was different that day. Arkad, the richest man in Babylon, stood among a small crowd in an old part of the city's largest university. He had one goal that day — to teach the common people of the city how he had built his wealth.
He tells the story of his life, and one of his students exclaims, “You had strong willpower to keep on after you lost your first year's savings! You are unusual in that way."
Arkad replies —
“Will power is but the unflinching purpose to carry a task you set for yourself to fulfillment. If I set for myself a task, be it ever so trifling, I will see it through. How else will I have confidence in myself to do important things?”
Arkad continues with an example —
“If I say to myself, ‘For a hundred days as I walk across the bridge into the city, I will pick up a pebble from the road and cast it into the stream,’ I would do it. If on the seventh day I passed by without remembering, I wouldn’t say to myself — ‘tomorrow I will cast two pebbles.’ Instead, I would retrace my steps and cast the pebble. Neither on the twentieth day would I say to myself, 'This is useless. What does it avail you to cast a pebble every day? Throw in a handful and be done with it.' No, I wouldn’t say that or do it.”
Arkad finishes —
“When I set a task for myself, I complete it. Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and impractical tasks, because I love leisure.”
Self Accountability & Confidence
This story has stuck in my head since reading it 2 years ago. Although the book mainly focuses on financial advice, this idea can be applied to daily life.
It blew my mind how often I deceived myself (I still do, but I’m getting better!). I constantly told myself I would do specific things daily, and then fail to do so.
We all fall victim to self-deception - even if only in minor ways.
“I will go to the gym today,” you say — or “I will start to eat better” — or “I will start a business.” These are all great ideas, but that is all they are — Ideas. Even worse, these ideas turn into lies, when you fail to do what you promise yourself. This leads to losing trust in ones self (consciously or unconsciously).
⚖️ Judgment
Strengthen your judgment by defining your values. Then only completing tasks that align with those ideas. The opposite is also helpful. Decide what you view as unimportant. Do everything in your power to stay away from committing yourself to these tasks.
Don’t ask yourself to do something, if you are not ready to complete it.
📚Quote of the Week
“If you’re going to trust one person, let it be yourself.” – Robert Tew
If you’re interested in reading more of the book, get the FREE PDF here!
See you next week!
Rocky