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Radiant3 wrote: ↑13 Nov 2018, 11:54 One personal story that stood out to me was when Mark wanted to buy the 1956 VW bug, but he didn't have sufficient money. He learned an important lesson, that he must be "committed, able, willing, and prepared " so when an opportunity presents itself, he would be in a position to take advantage of it.

Oh yes, I liked that one too. Just as good things come to those who wait, opportunities come to those who are prepared to take advantage of them.

Jsovermyer wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 21:54 A story that really left me with questions was near the front of the book. His successful friend tells him that to be successful you must associate with successful people. I question if this is good advice.

To a certain degree, I think that this is valid. For instance, if you only associate with people who are negative or who can't hold a job, then you may well either pick up some negativity yourself or become the model of sorts. Alternately, if you associate with people who are successful, positive and/or profitable, then you will more likely be able to bounce ideas off each other and stay in a forward motion of advancing rather than trying to be the rope that pulls the others up and forward. Of course that is by no means set in stone and there are always exceptions. There are also different types of people and some people are more likely to succeed when they have someone they are able to help. I think it all depends on the individual.

I think the story about the giving the friend money is very interesting because it made me think on what different people consider to be an emergency or deprivation or... No one is in the same situation. So for me, not having enough money to feed my pets is a critical worry. But for some people, a critical worry is not being able to give their child a coat for the winter. Yet for others, their biggest worry is how to minimize tax implications in order to take a cruise.
Understanding that we are all in different circumstances and that, for each of those people their worry is valid, is something to think of. That's not to say that we should discount one because it seems trivial or that we should beggar ourselves in order to assist another. It is just saying that keeping an open mind is necessary if you are going to understand the bigger picture.

I enjoyed the story of Mark meeting the successful businessman who set him on his way to success by telling him to associate with people who are positive, successful and are affluent. If you learn to act like them you will become more like them.

Alicia09 wrote: ↑03 Nov 2018, 17:24 In this book, Mark shared a lot of personal stories of times when he made mistakes in his life. My favorite personal story was of the time he lent a friend money, only to find his friend driving a brand new car later on that same year. I liked this story because it was a good example of what happens when we try to go out of our way to help others. Others may try to take advantage of us, and it is important to keep that in mind. What was your favorite personal story?

This is a lesson indeed. There are numerous times when we are tempted to go out of our ways to help someone yet the help we are according may not be important or that urgent. In the end, we are the ones who get hurt.

Jsovermyer wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 21:54 A story that really left me with questions was near the front of the book. His successful friend tells him that to be successful you must associate with successful people. I question if this is good advice.

We may not always realize the impact of being in the wrong company because the result is usually long term. However, this statement holds some truth in it. Those who are mainly around us will always find a way of influencing. Remember the old proverb 'Birds of the same feather flock together?' It might be this too.

My best friend neglected me when when my former wife died. He refused to sign a loan form for me and was not present at the funeral.

I liked when he shared that how he was working under a well-settled man and how he advised Widowiak to do some unusual in life for a success.

I liked that story too! When I was reading, I expected the friend to take advantage of him. I have had a similar experience with a few family members. They say they have a financial problem and anxiety because of it. One gives them help. They spend the money on unnecessary things or luxuries.

I also liked when he said that having a baby at seventeen was his responsibility. That happened to me at twenty-three. Everyone thought my future was doomed. My husband (at the time my boyfriend) and I took full responsibility. I did not let the pregnancy deter me from finishing my bachelor's degree. I graduated Magna Cum Laude. Then, I completed a master's degree with high honors. Twelve years later we are still fine, not doomed as people thought.

I happened to have loved that same story of lending money to his friend only to find him enjoying life note than he did. That's the irony we grapple with in the society everyday. Some persons disguise their status or situation to seek for help and empathy from others.

My dad has always help me in my life. He showed me a purpose of life and association with positive people. It is because of him that I become the man I am today.

Jsovermyer wrote: ↑04 Nov 2018, 21:54 A story that really left me with questions was near the front of the book. His successful friend tells him that to be successful you must associate with successful people. I question if this is good advice.

Nice idea! I remember the qoute "tell me who your friends are and i tell you who you are."

I've been in a situation with...

talkative people-their spirit seems to wrap me and become like them which i hate.

Possitive thinkers- developa my dreams

Passive people- makes my life lousy

Rich people- makes me remember money is not the real happiness

Being myself- a good time to meditate

These personal stories added a lot of authenticity and the importance of the book over the others. The reality is that there are so many books out there in the stores on the same topic and subject matter thus including a personal account is always good as it gives the book some uniqueness.

Vitter Krane wrote: ↑26 Nov 2018, 06:51 I happened to have loved that same story of lending money to his friend only to find him enjoying life note than he did. That's the irony we grapple with in the society everyday. Some persons disguise their status or situation to seek for help and empathy from others.

This is true. You do not have to walk a long distance in our streets nowadays before you come across one person who is acting like a beggar or person in need asking for money. Yet the reality is that some of them are conmen or conwomen ready to take advantage of anyone.