Tell me, have we seen any LACK of INTEGRITY with leadership in these economic times? How about TRUTH, any problem with that these days? It’s strange that when one thing becomes devalued something else gains in value. As the dollar loses its value, gold gains value. Why? Because gold is stable, tangible. Remember that the American dollar was once fully backed by gold. What backs up our monetary system now? Our economy? American integrity? Believe it or not, it is backed basically by our consumer “might,” because we are the world’s largest consumer. How’s that for stability? Oh that’s power for sure but what if another country like China or Germany takes over that position. What if the dollar, the primary tool of the consumer continues to drop in value? What then would we have to offer the world in exchange for the safety and the lifestyle we enjoy today? You do realize we have to give something in exchange for all of this. What would that be? Right now gold has a tremendously high value and is expected to go higher. I personally think that Truth may indeed be worth more than gold. It’s rarer, more difficult to find than gold. Lots of folks are selling gold; how many are speaking even a word of truth? As times get worse, the dollar (the primary tool of the consumer) shrinks and the more people will lie and connive to make up for what they are losing. Think about it. If gold is selling for over thirteen hundred an ounce, what would one sentence of absolute Truth spoken at the right moment, by the right person, at the right time, under the right circumstances be worth? Maybe several million per sentence? If you have any doubts about this, what would it be worth to you personally to hear the absolute truth from, a politician, a president? How about a doctor, a lawyer, a witness, or a business associate? Remember I said under the right circumstances, and at the right time. I’m talking about the people who control our lives and many of them tend to put truth and integrity aside during tough economic times. “Your well being” may not be quite as important as their own needs. After all, they have worked long and hard to get where they are. Just staying there is difficult these days (Or so they say, justifying their actions in their own minds.) We go through lengthy agonizing court trials, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars and a serious inconvenience to all involved, just to get to the TRUTH. Recently on the news I saw where a man had been released from prison after being wrongly accused and convicted of a crime he never committed. What do you suppose truth would have been worth to that man?
There is tremendous value in Truth, it’s the main ingredient needed in solving problems. If you think that you can solve the problems in your life, your business, your country without embracing truth, you are seriously misinformed. Unless and until we come to this realization we will continue to flounder in all aspects of our lives. Much like gold, the more rare truth becomes the more valuable. Is it obtained without cost? Certainly not. Many have paid for it with their lives.
We vote for politicians because they are handsome, brilliant, and have charisma. But if they lack integrity they have no political value, especially during difficult times. We have become a Self Centered, Pleasure Driven, Image based society, with a Hollywood mentality, Educated through advertising and we are paying the price for this foolishness. Can you imagine Abe Lincoln running in an election today? Why, who in the world would vote for such a homely face? Some of you reading this book may think that I’ve drifted off a bit with this discussion on problem solving, truth and all this. Allow me to wake up a few brain cells… Do you remember the little lemonade stand? Did Happensburg not teach me about Truth, Common Sense, Knowledge, and Wisdom? At the side street location the “problem of thirst” did not exist. At the bus stop the problem of thirst existed and I prospered by satisfying it. Later at age fourteen did I not understand that the race car guys had a problem getting the lettering on the cars repaired and replaced each week? The Truth was that the sign painters would letter the car once but couldn’t be there each week to touch it up and replace lettering. Common Sense told me I could solve that problem with the Knowledge I had of lettering, and Wisdom dictated that I would eventually take over the entire business of race car lettering and all of the race car owner’s truck lettering and signs that went along in the bargain.
Then there were romantic problems, motorized problems, and business problems, I guess you could say my life was just filled with problems! That’s what it’s like living in the “creative world.” A world filled with problems. Interesting, challenging, adventurous, exciting, often job creating, money making problems.
I can go on and on but you read the pages, come on, you’ve seen the ideas, problems solved, the creative world, how it’s done, you get it don’t you?
Do you still want to solve all of your kid’s problems for them? You will seriously devalue them as Creative Human Beings if you do.
Entrepreneurs and creative people make money-solving problems. They create concepts, inventions, literature, and a slew of things, to accomplish this. There’s something else you need to understand…
A problem cannot be solved at the same level it occurred. “In solving the problem we grow immensely. Intellectually, Creatively, often Financially, and I would hope… Spiritually.” (davies)
There are so many problems to be solved and rewards are connected to each and every one.
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