Website owner: James Miller
We humans seldom succeed and prosper by following the crowd and doing what’s popular
The following is an excerpt from the May 1, 2017 SovereignMan.com financial news letter of Simon Black.
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You’ve probably heard the saying “The Early Bird Gets the Worm. . .”
It turns out that expression is completely wrong, both literally and figuratively.
This morning I was watching these new baby chicks run around and play on the lawn.
If you’ve never seen chickens up close and personal, their lives are pretty simple; they basically just wander around all day pecking at the ground looking for some insect or seed to eat.
(At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen; most chickens destined for grocery aisles live in tiny cages and never see daylight.)
Every time one of them would find a seed or worm in the ground, the nearby chicks would immediately dash over and start tugging at the food.
One would steal the worm from the other and run off with it in its beak, upon which the other chicks would pounce and steal the worm again.
It was hilarious to watch, it just needed the Benny Hill theme.
But there was one chick who had it in her instinct to separate from the pack.
She didn’t have to go far-- just far enough to be uninteresting to the rest of the chicks who couldn’t see past their own beaks.
Sure enough, after a while the solo chick discovered a treasure trove of worms nearby a compost pile.
While the other chicks were fighting over scraps, this one had a whole worm colony to herself.
That’s why the saying isn’t true. It’s not the early bird who gets the worm.
It’s the one who has the courage and independence of mind to avoid the crowd and go where everyone else isn’t.
Life, business, and investing aren’t so different than nature: we humans seldom succeed and prosper by following the crowd and doing what’s popular.
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He was making a point in regard to investing, but, as he said, the idea is also very true for life in general.
May 2017
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life