MINING YOUR ACRES OF DIAMONDS

I recently heard a story that I would like to share – the story was about a farmer in Africa who heard many accounts of other farmers making their fortunes by discovering diamond mines. The tales got his heart racing and his mind reeling with the dreams he could fulfill if only he could find a diamond mine. Quickly he sold his farm and off he went to prospect for the riches that so many others had found in the glittering gems. He spent the rest of life wandering the African continent searching, unsuccessfully for those precious stones. Finally, broken down, worn out, and fed up, the farmer threw himself off a cliff into the ocean and drowned

Meanwhile, back on the farm – literally. The gentleman who purchased the farm was crossing a stream on his new property. From within the cool, rippling water a flashing glimmer of blue and red caught his eye. He stopped and picked up a stone – a good sized stone –and admired how it played with the light of day. Taking it home he placed it upon his mantel to enjoy

Sometime later, a friend was visiting and noticed the mantel decoration. He investigated it intently, hefted it in his hand then, after a dramatic pause, nearly fainted. He asked if the farmer if he realized what he had in his possession. The humble farmer said no, he merely thought it to be a piece of crystal or quartz. His friend told him he had found what he believed to be the largest diamond ever discovered. Taken slightly aback by this astounding news the farmer quickly caught his wits and told his friend that he had a creek full of stones like this one – none quite so large – but certainly many to be had at the bottom of the creek.

Needless to say, the first farmer had sold his farm so that he might find the very thing that his farm contained more of than anywhere else in Africa. Yes that farm turned out to be the most productive diamond mine on the entire continent. He had owned, free and clear, acres of diamonds, but sold them cheaply to find them somewhere else.

The moral of this story is all too clear to many of us. If the first farmer had educated and prepared himself on diamonds in their rough state, then searched his own property before searching the entire continent. He would have realized all his dreams.

What hits home so much for me in this story, is that I was the first farmer. Unfortunately, it was not all that long ago. I saw some associates of mine tapping into a lucrative industry and decided that I too would stake my claim in this money making venture. So, like the first farmer, I sold my farm and off I went to search out my ‘acres of diamonds’ elsewhere in world. Searching before preparing, searching before studying. Luckily, I did not become so despondent that I drowned myself. I did loose some pride, some self-esteem and some money in this search. I have since learned that each of us is, right now, standing in the middle of our own ‘acre of diamonds’

We need only the wisdom and patience to effectively explore the work in which we are now occupied. For me it began while I was giving a series of training classes as a favor to my fellow workers. Now, I have been a Toastmaster for many years and have enjoyed every moment on the stage. But had never really entertained the idea for doing it for a living. But while in front of these people teaching them techniques and strategies that would benefit them in their jobs I was energized and motivated. Then a couple weeks later I gave a 20-minute presentation on goal setting – that is when the moral of this story truly hit me. I began to search out my acre of diamonds in the skills that I already have and in the work that I already do. I learned that, before we go running off to what we believe to be greener pastures, let’s be sure that our own pasture is not as green, or greener, then the one we are running towards.

Remember no matter what your goal is, perhaps the path to it is available in the very thing you’re doing today, or a variation of it. You have only to look for it. It wasn’t till he was struck down with a paralyzing disease that a farmer pulled his family together and told them to plant all their farmland with corn. Then feed that corn to their pigs. Once these young pigs reached a certain age, they were to turn those little pigs into sausages. From this idea came one of the countries most successful meat packing plants. He could have done this at any time – but his paralyzing situation forced him to dig for his diamonds. He took the resources and the skills he had (his acre of diamonds) and mined them into a successful life for him and his family.

The greatest resource you have is your mind. Use it to explore the possibilities in what your presently doing as well as the possibilities in the skills you currently possess. A beggar once went to a man in search of no more than a few dollars for a meal. The man was Napoleon Hill, a motivator and educator that many of you may have heard of already. Mr. Hill sat with the beggar and made him realize that the world will give you what you ask for; ask for a mere dollar and that is all you will get, not a penny more. The man now wanted more, Mr. Hill then assessed the man’s skills. He had some experience selling products and had been a cook in the military. Combining these two meager skills, Mr. Hill devised a plan where the man would sell cookware in a unique fashion. Having a dinner party for prospective clients, cooking the dinner in his wares and then taking orders for those wares. The once beggar became a successful salesman by mines the diamonds from the skills which he already possessed.

Every kind of work has such opportunity hiding within it. They are there now, waiting to be found. But they cannot shout at us to get our attention. They cannot print signs and place them on our desks. No, we must use our minds to find them. We must be able to see them with our eyes – eyes of creation as stated by Earl Nightingale. I personally would modify that slightly to “Eyes of creation without limitation”

Take the time to stand back and look at your work and your skills as a stranger might. A stranger that asks, “Why is it done that way?” or “Do you see where what your doing can be enhanced, multiplied or capitalized upon?”

Hey, if you’re happy with things the way they are (and if your reading this I’m guessing your not) then by all means stay that way. But there is great pleasure to be had in finding the diamonds within yourself. While digging for those diamonds you’ll never become bored or find yourself in a rut. (Remember a rut is merely a grave with the ends kicked out). Ask yourself “How good am I at what I am presently doing?” or “Do I have a skill that I can use to make what I’m doing easier or more profitable?”

Each morning wake up with one question in mind – How can I increase my service today? (For if you give more, then you will receive more. That the law of reciprocation in its basic form.) Remind yourself that there are valuable and marketable ‘diamonds’ hiding all around you and that you need to be looking for them. Know every facet of your work – not just YOUR job – but every facet of your WORK or business. That could be the very thing that uncovers that first diamond for you. Then your momentum will pick up and you’ll uncover the next and the next. So take 15-45 minutes a day with a journal or pad of paper list the opportunities that are around you this very moment, in your current skills, at your work. Brainstorm and write down what ever comes to mind. One of today’s thoughts combined with one tomorrow or a week from now could uncover that first diamond. Make notes on how you can build your base of knowledge around your current profession, trade and industry. Make a plan and follow through on it (more on this in a later issue). Make notes on how you can improve your skills and performance. Basically really explore your work and your skills. Look at all the facets of them. There is opportunity in there – in there you’ll find your acre of diamonds.

by Tracy Brinkmann


Tag MINING YOUR ACRES OF DIAMONDS blog Tracy Brinkmann wisdom patience prepare educate opportunity