Comments on: You don’t have to be smart to make money

By: Miles Japhet

Miles Japhet — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:18 +0000

Right on Ronnie.
I have never had so much fun as when working with people that I truly enjoy,(read Trust). The key is to bring self confident people into your team and then all energies are outward focussed. Business with this formula is then relatively easy.

Keep it tight.

Miles

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By: Allon Raiz

Allon Raiz — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:40:29 +0000

Hi Ronnie

What a great piece. There was a survey done on successful entrepreneurs a few years ago. Luck was regarded as the lowest of all factors that lead to success. The funny thing is that each person surveyed had a moment of “luck”. When asled why they never regarded it as one of the most important factors of success, their responses were all similar. “Everyone has luck, i just dod something about it.” Its about recognising it and acting on it.

Well done on an honest, well written and candid piece.

Allon Raiz

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By: Amalia Christoforou

Amalia Christoforou — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:56:16 +0000

Hey Ronnie
Congratulations on this blog. Great to have a platform for your insights to be shared with others. Read Garey Hamel’s latest book when he was in SA recently and he shares your sentiments that investing in people and treasuring the people who create whatever wealth there is to create - is the key to success - and also what will increasingly differentiate companies from eachother in future. Its very interesting. Very nice read. Looking forward to more!
Amalia Christoforou

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By: JP van der Spuy

JP van der Spuy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:37:50 +0000

@Mandy De Waal - it goes about the old saying that money can not buy happiness… not even on MyTrade

fully agree.

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By: JP van der Spuy

JP van der Spuy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:35:04 +0000

Hey Ronnie.

Glad to see you’ve contributed to Techleader. Welcome! I still need to get around to making my first post

Anyhow.. Really cool post, love it! a birds eye view of success vs timing vs luck brings much discussion to the table. A compilation of all 3 elements will only play to one’s advantage, surely. Your “Gary Player/Middle east/ Oil” concept explains it well.

The biggest mistake I see people make, is to rely on willpower and wanting sometion bad enough as all they need for it to happen and then put the blame on “luck” if they didn’t pull it off.

you see the thing is that if you want something bad enough, you are attracting that towards yourself I believe, but willpower and determination will not in itself make things happen. Willpower should merely be a metaphor for a determined thought that should be driving your actions.

It’s the simple principle that my Dad taught me early on in life.. that you can’t pray for something and just expect it to land on your doorstep. it unfortunately doesn’t happen that way, you have to work at it..

Everyone is responsible for their own “luck” so to speak, unless you’ve really been slapped with the unlucky stick! Keep knocking on doors.. work your ass off.. trail and error… and if oppertunity then still doesnt knock, build a F#@%&! door.

Hope all is well Ronnie? We managed with Hetzner in the mean time, think Anthony is a busy man.

later.

jpvanderspuy_dot_com

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By: Cecil Barry

Cecil Barry — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:54:51 +0000

I think I am with Bob on this one….”F*&^%$K the West. We Zeeembaaabwayens can do with out the filthy West’ Who needs money if you live in Africa - as long as they dont freeze that Swiss bank account. Apparently Grace loves really really fine Italian shoes. (And those cost real dosh!)

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By: Mandy de Waal

Mandy de Waal — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:30:34 +0000

Ronnie - I see that you and Warren Buffet share the same investment strategy. (Invest in people). Great to have you writing here - loved your answers to my MONEYWEBlife questions. There’s a Greek guy I know who’s the CEO of a technology business who knows he’s doing well when he encounters synchronicity. That seamless congruence when business seems effortless. Sounds spiritual or a bit like Deepak Chopra’s talking, but I’ve played with that and there’s something about it. My business and personal life has gone best or been at its best when synchronicity and flow occurs. Then I think that thinking or how you think has a lot to do with luck. I’m not talking about abundance mantras (but you get that), rather that there is a generosity of spirit and thinking. I have met people in business who are complete and utter asses. The problem there is that they are wealthy but completely miserable. So yes - you don’t have to be smart to make money. But what’s smart is when you make money and you’re happy. There’s nothing better. Sheldon Cohen was that kind of a guy - there was something remarkable about him. For me he captured what it’s all about. Being a great person and making money at the same time. I think that’s when you really get clever - not that making money should be a pursuit. It’s clearly not important to everyone. But if you’re after that and you can be happy as well. That’s when you’re smart.

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By: T-Man

T-Man — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:41:11 +0000

I have three things to add.

1) People don’t want to be millionaires - they want to live like millionaires. They just don’t realize it till it’s too late.

2) Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.

3) Live the 80/20 rule. 80% of your profits come from 20% of your products/customers.

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