Introduction
The primary focus of this book is to offer accessible, practical habits that facilitate the creation of personal and organizational wealth and achievement. It uses forms of the word entrepreneur frequently. However, the concepts are applicable to far more than the self-employed. Entrepreneurship is, to a large extent, a state of mind. The late Earl Nightingale expressed it so well when he said, "The biggest mistake you'll ever make in your life is to believe you work for someone else." Amen.
In selecting the title I was somewhat turned off by including the word wealth. Nonetheless, it is highly descriptive of what this book reaches for, especially since Habits of Wealth discusses wealth in terms far broader than money.
Whether used within or outside of the monetary context, wealth is one of our basic human desires. We can all be wealthy if we participate in an entrepreneurial environment. It's the entrepreneurial opportunities in life that allow us to fulfill the three essential human needs—having someone to believe in, having something to believe in, and having someone to believe in us. The most entrepreneurial seek to provide the type of wealth and improvement offered through these basic human needs.
Throughout this book you'll also find repeated uses of leader. The criteria for leadership include:
- Leaders are people with followers. That isn't limited to employees. It refers to anyone having a destination someone else also wants to get to.
- Leaders are perpetual learners. And they encourage others to continue the search for improved knowledge.
- Leaders develop people. They do it through role modeling, coaching, counseling, and mentoring. They try to give all birds in their environment the wings of eagles.
Leaders are people who give unselfishly to others, helping them achieve their goals and objectives. Is there a higher purpose?