How to Get Rich

by Felix Dennis

Boldness? The most successful generals or admirals in military history shared one characteristic: they were willing to ignore orders and risk utter disgrace in order to exploit rapidly changing circumstances. When the chance came, they recognised an opportunity, weighed the odds swiftly, and placed their lives and careers on the line to snatch a victory. (Not to mention the lives and careers of those around them.) The three great quotes concerning ‘luck’ for me are these: ‘Luck is preparation multiplied by opportunity.’ SENECA, ROMAN PHILOSOPHER ‘The harder I practised, the luckier I got.’ GARY PLAYER, GOLF CHAMPION ‘Luck is a dividend of sweat.’ RAY KROC, MCDONALD’S FOUNDER Fortune favours not just the brave but the bold. Boldness has a kind of genius in it, as Goethe pointed out. It can lead to complete failure and defeat, because conventional wisdom often proves to be at least wisdom of a kind. But should boldness succeed, should the chance be seized and sufficiently well executed, then success will surely lead to glory. All around us, every day, opportunities to get rich are popping up. The more alert you are, the more chance you have of spotting them. The more preparation you have done, the more chance you have of succeeding.