Both The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko and the follow up book The Millionaire Mind penned only by Stanley were well-researched, well-documented material on the background and behaviors of the wealthy in the United States. They both had a number of good useable principles and clearly communicated that most wealth is generated by great work as opposed to good investments.
But two points jumped off the pages at me. In The Millionaire Mind Stanley did the homework on how millionaires in this country selected their careers and line of work. Overwhelming, when given all kinds of options they said they chose based on aptitude. In other words their own understanding of their individual strengths drove their decision far more than any other factor.
The second point was the shear number of different types of businesses the self-employed millionaires came from. Our culture would have us believe that only a few kinds of work really offer an opportunity for economic success. Look at the different kinds of businesses that produced millionaire status:
Accountant, Accounting/Auditing Services, Advertising Agency, Advertising Specialty Distributor, Advertising/Marketing Advisor, Aerospace Consultant, Agriculture, Ambulance Service, Antique Sales, Apartment Complex Owner/Manager, Apparel Manufacturer-Sportswear, Apparel Manufacturer-Infant Wear, Apparel Manufacturer-Ready To Wear, Apparel Retailer-Wholesaler-Ladies Fashions, Artist Commercial, Attorney, Attorney-Entertainment Industry, Attorney-Real Estate, Auctioneer. Auctioneer-Appraiser, Audio/Video Reproduction, Author-Fiction, Author-Text Books/Training Manuals, Automotive Leasing, Baked Goods Producer, Beauty Solon(s) Owner Manager, Beer Wholesaler, Beverage Machinery Manufacturer, Bovine Semen Distributor, Brokerage/Sales, Builder, Builder/Real Estate Developer, Business/Real Estate Broker/Investor, Cafeteria Owner, Candy/Tobacco Wholesaler, Caps/Hats Manufacturer, Carpet Manufacturer, Citrus Fruits Farmer, Civil Engineer and Surveyor, Clergyman-Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, Coin and Stamp Dealer, Commercial Laundry Commercial Real Estate Management, Commercial Laboratory, Commercial Property Management, Commodity Brokerage Company, Computer Consultant, Computer Applications Consultant, Construction, Construction Equipment Dealer, Construction Equipment Manufacturing, Construction-Mechanical/Electrical, Construction Performance Insurance, Consultant, Consulting Geologist, Contract Feeding, Contractor, Convenience Food Stores Owner, Cotton Gin Operator, Cotton Farmer, Cotton Ginning Owner/Manager, CPA/Broker, CPA/Financial Planner, Curtain Manufacturer, Dairy Farmer, Dairy Products Manufacturer, Data Services, Dentist, Dentist-Orthodontist, Department Store Owner, Design/Engineering/Builder, Developer/Construction,
Diesel Engine Rebuilder/Distributor, Direct Mail Services, Direct Marketing, Direct Marketing Service Organization, Display and Fixture Manufacturer, Donut Maker Machine Manufacturer, Electrical Supply Wholesaler, Employment Agency Owner/Manager, Energy Production Engineer/Consultant, Energy Consultant, Engineer/Architect, Excavation Contractor, Excavation/Foundation Contracting, Executive Transportation/Bodyguard Service, Farmer, Fast Food Restaurants, Financial Consultant, Florist Retailer/Wholesaler, Freight Agent, Fruit and Vegetable Distributor, Fuel Oil Dealer, Fuel Oil Distributor, Fund Raiser/Consultant, Funeral Home Operator, Furniture Manufacturing, General Agent Insurance Agency, General Contractor, Grading Contractor, Grocery Wholesaler, Grocery Store Retailer, Heat Transfer Equipment Manufacturer, Home Health Care Service, Home Builder/Developer, Home Repair/Painting, Home Furnishings, Horse Breeder, Human Resources Consulting Services, Import-Export, Independent Investment Manager, Independent Insurance Agency, Industrial Laundry/Dry Cleaning Plant, Industrial Chemicals-Cleaning/Sanitation Manufacture, Information Services, Installations Contractor. Insurance Agent, Insurance Agency Owner, Insurance Adjusters, Investment Management, Irrigated Farm Land Realtor-Lessee, Janitorial Services Contractor, Janitorial Supply-Wholesaler Distributor, Janitorial Contractor, Jewelry Retailer/Wholesaler, Job Training/Vocational Tech School Owner, Koolin Mining-Processing-Sales, Kitchens and Bath Distributor, Labor Arbitrator, Labor Negotiator, Laminated and Coated Paper Manufacturer, Land Planning, Designing, Engineering, Lawyer-Personal Injury, Lecturer, Liquor Wholesaler, Loan Broker, Long-term Care Facilities, Machine Design, Machine Tool Manufacturing, Managed Care Facilities Owner, Management Consulting, Manufactured Housing, Manufacturer-Woman’s Foundation Wear, Marina Owner/Repair Service, Marketing/ Sales Professional, Marketing Services, Marketing Consultant, Mattress/Foundation Manufacturer, Meat Processor, Mechanical Contractor, Medical Research, Merchant, Micro-Electronics, Mobile-Home Park Owner, Mobile-Home Dealer, Motion Picture Production, Motor Sports Promoter Marketing Consultant, Mattress/Foundation Manufacturer, Meat Processor, Mechanical Contractor, Medical Research, Merchant, Micro-Electronics, Mobile-Home Park Owner, Mobile-Home Dealer, Motion Picture Production, Motor Sports Promoter, Moving and Storage, Newsletter Publisher, Non-Profit Trade Association Manager, Nursing Home,Office Furnishings, Office Temp Recruiting Service, Office Park Developer, Office Supply Wholesaler, Oil/Gas Company Owner, Orthopedic Surgeon, Oversize Vehicle Escort Service, Owner/College President, Paint Removal/Metal Cleaning, Patent Owner/Inventor, Paving Contractor, Pest Control Services, Petroleum Engineering Consulting Services, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacist, Physical and Speech Therapy Company, Physician, Physician-Anesthesiologist, Physician-Dermatologist, Physicist-Inventor, Pizza Restaurant Chain Owner, Plastic Surgeon, Poultry Farmer, President/Owner Mutual Fund, Printing-Self Storage-Farming, Printing, Private Schooling, Property Owner/Developer, Public Relations/Lobbyist, Publisher of Newsletters, Publishing, Race Track/Speedway Operator, Radiologist, Rancher, Real Estate Agency Owner, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Developer, Real Estate Investment Trust-Manager, Real Estate/Broker/Developer/Finacier, Real Estate Auctioneer, Real Estate, Restaurant Owner, Retail Jeweler, Retail Chain-Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Retail Store/Personnel Service, Rice Farmer, Sales Agent, Sales Representative Agency, Salvage Merchandiser, Sand Blasting Contractor, Sand and Gravel, Scrap Metal Dealer, Seafood Distributor, Seafood Wholesaler, Service Station Chain Owner, Ship Repair-Dry Dock, Sign Manufacturer, Soft Drink Bottler, Software Development, Specialty Steel Manufacturer, Specialty Oil Food Importer/Distributor, Specialty Tools Manufacturer, Specialty Fabric Manufacturer, Speculator in Distressed Real Estate, Stock Broker, Store Owner, Tax Consultant/Attorney, Technical Consultant/Scientific Worker, Technical/Scientific Worker, Textile Engineering Services, Timber Farmer, Tool Engineer, Tradesman, Trading Company, Transportation/Freight Management, Travel Agency Owner/Manager, Travel Agency Owner, Truck Stop(s) Owner, Trustee Advisor, Tug (Boat) Services Owner, Vegetables Farmer, Vehicle Engines & Parts Wholesaler, Water Supply Contracting, Welding Contracting, Welding Supply Distributor, Wholesale/Distribution, Wholesale/Distributor, Wholesale Grocery, Wholesale Produce, Wholesale Photo Franchiser, Xerox Sales/Service
Now, if you read that list carefully I already know what you’re thinking… especially if you are a Willie Nelson fan. Nowhere on that list of millionaires did you see cowboy. But how many times, as you were reading the list did you raise an eyebrow? How many items were there, that you didn't even know that type of work existed? Keep in mind this isn't a list of hot opportunities. It's a reminder of the shear diversity of talent and ways to leverage it into living.
Your Moment of Truth: The only way you are likely earn a lot of money is to find your unique strengthspath and stay on it!
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Coaching, Class, and Collaborator Comments
The Purpose of this letter is to describe the benefits I enjoyed from my coaching experience with Dale Cobb. I had a very specific issue, which I needed help getting over the hump with. Our conversations were very helpful in keeping me on track and getting me to the finish line. I believe that Dale is a keen observer of the human condition and has the ability to reflect back an individuals thoughts and goals as one strives for success. I found the services offered by Dale to be timely and effective. In the future, I am sure I will be presented with challenges that require outside assistance. When that time comes, I will not hesitate to call on Dale for his fresh bright and insightful guidance.
“I would like to take the opportunity to offer my recommendation for Dale Cobb. He has the remarkable ability to clearly listen to a problem, understand the issues and suggest a course of action that satisfies the needs of me and my clients. I cannot tell you how many times his advice was precisely what I needed to close a deal or carefully resolve a difficult situation. He is resourceful and creative in his teaching style. Over all he helped me to be more efficient and successful in my career.”
“Dale gives attention to detail and runs one of the best team meetings I’ve ever seen. He has the keen ability to make complex things seems simple enough that anyone could understand them.”
“Thank you for all your time and encouragement. With your advice and direction, I was able to get a decent job offer. They even complimented my resume.”
Ben Davidson, Visalia, CA
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