Many would question or affirm the wisdom found in the lyrics of Country and Western Music probably depending on their appreciation of the style. With all do respect to Willie Nelson who sings Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys… make ‘em be doctors and lawyers and such… maybe we need to rethink that verse.
Both The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko and the follow up book The Millionaire Mind penned only by Stanley were well researched, well-documented material on the background and behaviors of the wealthy in the United States. They both had a number of good useable principles and clearly communicated that most wealth is generated by great work as opposed to good investments.
But two points jumped off the pages at me. In The Millionaire Mind Stanley did the homework on how millionaires in this country selected their careers and line of work. Overwhelming, when given all kinds of options they said they chose based on aptitude or talent. In other words their own understanding of their individual strengths drove their decision far more than any other factor.
The second point was the shear number of different types of businesses the self-employed millionaires came from. Our culture would have us believe that only a few kinds of work really offer an opportunity for economic success. Look at the different kinds of businesses that produced substantial wealth and millionaire status:
Accountant, Accounting/Auditing Services, Advertising Agency, Advertising Specialty Distributor,
Advertising/Marketing Advisor, Aerospace Consultant, Agriculture, Ambulance Service, Antique Sales,
Apartment Complex Owner/Manager, Apparel Manufacturer-Sportswear, Apparel Manufacturer-Infant Wear, Apparel Manufacturer-Ready To Wear, Apparel Retailer-Wholesaler-Ladies Fashions, Artist Commercial, Attorney, Attorney-Entertainment Industry, Attorney-Real Estate, Auctioneer. Auctioneer-Appraiser, Audio/Video Reproduction, Author-Fiction, Author-Text Books/Training Manuals, Automotive Leasing, Baked Goods Producer, Beauty Solon(s) Owner Manager, Beer Wholesaler, Beverage Machinery Manufacturer, Bovine Semen Distributor, Brokerage/Sales, Builder, Builder/Real Estate Developer, Business/Real Estate Broker/Investor, Cafeteria Owner, Candy/Tobacco Wholesaler, Caps/Hats Manufacturer, Carpet Manufacturer, Citrus Fruits Farmer, Civil Engineer and Surveyor, Clergyman-Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, Coin and Stamp Dealer, Commercial Laundry,Commercial Real Estate Management, Commercial Laboratory, Commercial Property Management, Commodity Brokerage Company, Computer Consultant, Computer Applications Consultant, Construction,
Construction Equipment Dealer, Construction Equipment Manufacturing, Construction-Mechanical/Electrical, Construction Performance Insurance, Consultant, Consulting Geologist, Contract Feeding, Contractor, Convenience Food Stores Owner, Cotton Gin Operator, Cotton Farmer, Cotton Ginning Owner/Manager, CPA/Broker, CPA/Financial Planner, Curtain Manufacturer, Dairy Farmer, Dairy Products Manufacturer, Data Services, Dentist, Dentist-Orthodontist, Department Store Owner, Design/Engineering/Builder, Developer/Construction, Diesel Engine Rebuilder/Distributor, Direct Mail Services, Direct Marketing, Direct Marketing Service Organization, Display and Fixture Manufacturer, Donut Maker Machine Manufacturer, Electrical Supply Wholesaler, Employment Agency Owner/Manager, Energy Production Engineer/Consultant, Energy Consultant, Engineer/Architect, Excavation Contractor, Excavation/Foundation Contracting, Executive Transportation/Bodyguard Service, Farmer, Fast Food Restaurants, Financial Consultant, Florist Retailer/Wholesaler, Freight Agent, Fruit and Vegetable Distributor, Fuel Oil Dealer, Fuel Oil Distributor, Fund Raiser/Consultant, Funeral Home Operator, Furniture Manufacturing, General Agent Insurance Agency, General Contractor, Grading Contractor, Grocery Wholesaler, Grocery Store Retailer, Heat Transfer Equipment Manufacturer, Home Health Care Service, Home Builder/Developer, Home Repair/Painting, Home Furnishings, Horse Breeder, Human Resources Consulting Services, Import-Export, Independent Investment Manager, Independent Insurance Agency, Industrial Laundry/Dry Cleaning Plant, Industrial Chemicals-Cleaning/Sanitation Manufacture, Information Services, Installations Contractor. Insurance Agent, Insurance Agency Owner, Insurance Adjusters, Investment Management, Irrigated Farm Land Realtor-Lessee, Janitorial Services Contractor, Janitorial Supply-Wholesaler Distributor, Janitorial Contractor, Jewelry Retailer/Wholesaler, Job Training/Vocational Tech School Owner, Koolin Mining-Processing-Sales, Kitchens and Bath Distributor, Labor Arbitrator, Labor Negotiator, Laminated and Coated Paper Manufacturer, Land Planning, Designing, Engineering, Lawyer-Personal Injury, Lecturer, Liquor Wholesaler, Loan Broker, Long-term Care Facilities, Machine Design, Machine Tool Manufacturing, Managed Care Facilities Owner, Management Consulting, Manufactured Housing, Manufacturer-Woman’s Foundation Wear, Marina Owner/Repair Service, Marketing/ Sales Professional, Marketing Services, Marketing Consultant, Mattress/Foundation Manufacturer, Meat Processor, Mechanical Contractor, Medical Research, Merchant, Micro-Electronics, Mobile-Home Park Owner, Mobile-Home Dealer, Motion Picture Production, Motor Sports Promoter,
Marketing Consultant, Mattress/Foundation Manufacturer, Meat Processor, Mechanical Contractor, Medical Research, Merchant, Micro-Electronics, Mobile-Home Park Owner, Mobile-Home Dealer, Motion Picture Production, Motor Sports Promoter, Moving and Storage, Newsletter Publisher, Non-Profit Trade Association Manager, Nursing Home, Office Furnishings, Office Temp Recruiting Service, Office Park Developer, Office Supply Wholesaler, Oil/Gas Company Owner, Orthopedic Surgeon, Oversize Vehicle Escort Service, Owner/College President, Paint Removal/Metal Cleaning, Patent Owner/Inventor, Paving Contractor, Pest Control Services, Petroleum Engineering Consulting Services, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacist, Physical and Speech Therapy Company, Physician, Physician-Anesthesiologist, Physician-Dermatologist, Physicist-Inventor, Pizza Restaurant Chain Owner, Plastic Surgeon, Poultry Farmer, President/Owner Mutual Fund, Printing-Self Storage-Farming, Printing, Private Schooling, Property Owner/Developer, Public Relations/Lobbyist, Publisher of Newsletters, Publishing, Race Track/Speedway Operator, Radiologist, Rancher, Real Estate Agency Owner, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Developer, Real Estate Investment Trust-Manager, Real Estate/Broker/Developer/Finacier, Real Estate Auctioneer, Real Estate, Restaurant Owner, Retail Jeweler, Retail Chain-Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Retail Store/Personnel Service, Rice Farmer, Sales Agent, Sales Representative Agency, Salvage Merchandiser,
Sand Blasting Contractor, Sand and Gravel, Scrap Metal Dealer, Seafood Distributor, Seafood Wholesaler,
Service Station Chain Owner, Ship Repair-Dry Dock, Sign Manufacturer, Soft Drink Bottler, Software Development, Specialty Steel Manufacturer, Specialty Oil Food Importer/Distributor, Specialty Tools Manufacturer, Specialty Fabric Manufacturer, Speculator in Distressed Real Estate, Stock Broker, Store Owner, Tax Consultant/Attorney, Technical Consultant/Scientific Worker, Technical/Scientific Worker,
Textile Engineering Services, Timber Farmer, Tool Engineer, Tradesman, Trading Company,
Transportation/Freight Management, Travel Agency Owner/Manager, Travel Agency Owner, Truck Stop(s) Owner, Trustee Advisor, Tug (Boat) Services Owner, Vegetables Farmer, Vehicle Engines & Parts Wholesaler, Water Supply Contracting, Welding Contracting, Welding Supply Distributor, Wholesale/Distribution, Wholesale/Distributor, Wholesale Grocery, Wholesale Produce, Wholesale Photo Franchiser, Xerox Sales/Service
Now, if you read that list carefully I already know what you’re thinking… especially if you are a Willie Nelson fan. No where on that list of millionaires did you see cowboy. But if you did read the list carefully, right there at the end of line 7…. Horror of horrors, you’ll find Bovine Semen Distributor. I have to believe if you can make a million doing that, you can make it on anything.
Next time your son or daughter comes and tells you they want to go into some line of work that makes you raise your eye brow a bit… say bring it on.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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This blog comes with free access to: The web’s largest job search engines, a network of more than 100 career group locations, a free 80 page Maximize Your Career Booklet, links and resources from national experts like Marcus Buckingham, Harvey Mackay, Tom Peters, and Seth Godin, over a dozen short biographies from Entrepreneur Magazine on people like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, film maker George Lucas, Ben and Jerry The Ice-Cream Guys, and more...
What are you Insanely Great at? What could you be great at if you developed it? What are the moments when you think "I was made for this"? Read on. Explore the Career Assessment Strength Links on the side bar to your right. Nose around in our Career Bookstore. Begin a process designed to put your unique strengths out into the world where you and everyone else can enjoy the benefits.
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Very interesting, I've learned a lot... The material has given me a lot to work with.I've enjoyed all the sessions and feel I received something from each session to help me be a better person.
Thank You,
Joe Sexton
Managing Partner, CFR Executive Search
Chicago, Illinois
“Working with Dale has always been rewarding. Dale has always been on the leading edge developing new ways of marketing his products and services. Always willing to try new approaches and follow through... Always convincing.”
Fred Friday, Director of Operations
Fundcraft Publishing
Memphis, Tennessee
"Dale has always impressed me with his integrity, marketing insights, compassion and follow through. He thinks outside the box, asks the questions that others fail to ask and has a real heart for training others to be the best they can be. You can count on Dale."
Tim Turner, Owner Turner Strategic
Atlanta, Georgia
“Dale is always the most prepared person in the room. He has the ability to listen and clarify the issue at hand. He is a creative, caring leader. He has always been a joy to work with.”
Beverly Sherman, Owner Creative Connections
Lansing, Michigan
I would like to take the opportunity to offer my recommendation for Dale Cobb. He has the remarkable ability to clearly listen to a problem, understand the issues and suggest a course of action that satisfies the needs of me and my clients. I cannot tell you how many times his advice was precisely what I needed to close a deal or carefully resolve a difficult situation. He is resourceful and creative in his teaching style. Over all he helped me to be more efficient and successful in my career.
Michael Ward
Sacramento, California
It has been an incredible experience for me having you as my coach. As a small business owner I have at times felt isolated and stuck in my own thinking. With your excellent coaching I have been able to expand not only my thinking about existing design practice but about the design and building industry and how I can enlarge my place in it.
Interior Designer
Carmel, California
Dale helped me with exploring perspectives, chunking them down, setting goals, action planning, and overcoming hurdles (professionally and personally). The coaching format has moved me from a dream to implementing an action plan.
Management Consultant
Greenbrae, California
I have found your coaching very helpful. I have been somewhat stuck in my career decisions, but with your understanding and focus I am now moving forward. I am now positive about my direction and the steps I want to take. The coaching has also helped my personal life. I thank you for being there for me now and in the future.
Retired Dentist
Meadow Vista, California
This is one of the most beneficial and rewarding classes I have attended. Thank You.
Comfortable casual feeling....Lots of laughter...Made classes fun and increased learning.
Everything was explained so clearly. I came away from the course having learned a great deal.
Very interesting, I've learned a lot... The material has given me a lot to work with.I've enjoyed all the sessions and feel I received something from each session to help me be a better person.
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