Acres Of Diamonds by Russell Conwell
Over a century ago, Russell Conwell was famous for his
traveling lecture in which he encouraged listeners to find the
“acres of diamonds” in their own backyards. He was born in
Massachusetts in 1843 and during the Civil War served as a
captain in the Union army. He studied law, but became a
Baptist minister and a popular public speaker. “Acres of
Diamonds” was his most famous talk which he delivered over
6000 times ! Making him one of the original motivational
speakers.
At the heart of “Acres of Diamonds” was a parable Conwell
heard while traveling through present-day Iraq in 1870 and in
summary it goes like this:
There was once a wealthy man named Ali Hafed who lived
not far from the River Indus. “He was contented because he
was wealthy, and wealthy because he was contented.” One
day a priest visited Ali Hafed and told him about diamonds.
Ali Hafed heard all about diamonds, how much they were
worth, and went to his bed that night a poor man. He had not
lost anything, but he was poor because he was discontented,
and discontented because he feared he was poor.
Ali Hafed sold his farm, left his family, and traveled to
Palestine and then to Europe searching for diamonds. He did
not find them. His health and his wealth failed him. Dejected,
he cast himself into the sea.
One day, the man who had purchased Ali Hafed’s farm found
a curious sparkling stone in a stream that cut through his
land. It was a diamond. Digging produced more diamonds —
acres of diamonds, in fact. This, according to the parable,
was the discovery of the famed diamonds of Golconda.
The point of the story is that we often dream of fortunes to
be made elsewhere. We ought instead to be open to the
opportunities that are around us. He illustrates this concept
with several other stories, including that of the discovery of
Gold in California. Another is a farmer in Pennsylvania sold
his farm for $833 and went to work for his cousin in Canada,
collecting oil. Shortly after, the man who purchased the farm
found oil worth millions of dollars.
Now I’m not suggesting you physically go and start digging
up your backyard, as this is a story, so how can you find the
acres of diamonds in your own backyards?
Maintain a ready mind. Be open to the possibilities around
you. Don’t let preconceived notions cloud your judgment. We
often overlook the value of something because we believe we
already know it.
Look at the familiar in new ways. Conwell lists some
important inventions — the snap-button, the cotton gin, the
mowing machine — and notes that these were created by
everyday people who found new approaches and new uses for
commonplace objects.
Learn what people want, then give it to them. Discover a
market, and the provide a good or a service. Too many people
do this the other way around. They develop a good or a
service and then try to market it, try to manufacture desire.
You’ll have more success if you see a desire and then try to
meet it.
Knowledge is more important than capital. Lack of capital is
a common excuse for not starting a business venture. How
often have you heard, “You need money to make money.”
Nonsense, says Conwell. He gives anecdotes of wealthy
people who started with nothing but an idea.
Don’t put yourself down, and don’t belittle your environment.
Don’t compare yourself with others. “Believe in the great
opportunities that are right here not over in New York or
Boston, but here — for business, for everything that is worth
living for on earth. There was never an opportunity greater.”
Find the best in what’s around you.