Realism is for accountants
This chapter covers something that affects every single one of us. "Keeping it real" or "Yeah, but" or "That's great, but". Anyone here ever say that after someone describes their vision to you? Maybe, more often than not, you say it to yourself after thinking that you're about to make some SERIOUS breakthrough. Maybe you had a GREAT idea that could make you some serious cash. Only to have that little voice in your head is telling you to "keep it real yo!!!" Then you see your vision in the store? Someone else beat you to the punch? It's happened to me before and it sucks.
The authors give some GREAT examples of crazy ideas that you probably would have scoffed at if they were presented to you. This isn't in the book but imagine for a second that your son, who is attending Harvard, comes home to tell you he's done with Harvard. He has a crazy idea to start a new company. Could you imagine that anger you would feel? The frustration levels would be through the roof!! Then imagine 10 years from that date that the Harvard dropout would be a billionaire... Would that change your feelings a little bit? Good, because the story above, in some form, is about Bill Gates. A Harvard dropout becomes a billionaire... True Story.
For a second imagine your Bill Gates father. He comes home and says "Dad, I'm starting a software company". What would you say? I know I'd be furious... That is until I read this book. I'd be upset but at the same time, I can't really force my son to do anything. One important thing I read is that most people are unhappy with their lives because they did something THEIR PARENT'S wanted them to do in life, not what they wanted to do with their life. That's a powerful statement. I cannot imagine any greater disservice to my kids then to force them to do something they didn't love to do.
This chapter also touches a little on beliefs. Beliefs can be a very limiting thing in your life if you let it. Don't believe you can do something? Guess what, you can't... Believe that you can? Then you can do it. I mean if it's in the realm of possibility. What I mean is I'm under 6 foot tall, never played organized football and weigh less than 200 lbs. It's really not a possibility that I can become an NFL quarterback. I can however play a vicious game of flag football...
Point is that you can basically anything you want if you choose to. That's an awesome feeling KNOWING you can do something before it's actually happened. For instance, I KNOW that I will be wealthy. Am I now? Nope, but I will be and will be soon. I hope you are too...
This review is part of a comprehensive review of the book "How to become Rich and Happy"