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The Ancient Mariner - Experiences of Everlasting Wealth
I recently discovered an almost forgotten legend about an
ancient race called the Lossen. They were a great ocean tribe
far advanced for their time, plying the Pacific and bringing
riches to their shores that no people in that time and place
possessed.
One tale is of a famous Ship's Master named Turth
who was famed for the way he traveled seas so swiftly and
always returned with great treasure far richer than any had
found. Shiploads of gold and silver, precious gems, rare spices
and metals forged to unheard of hardness had made him one of
the richest and most powerful men in the land.
Yet Turth, unlike other master mariners, had remained humble
and he treated his men honestly and well.
One day, so the legend says, Captain Turth was approached
by his apprentice Reekes. "Master, may I speak with you?
I must request permissions and help from you, sir."
The rich master knew this young man's nature well. He was
his most hard working assistant, honest, loyal and diligent
beyond the nature of most seaman so the master bid him to sit
and speak.
"Master," said the young apprentice, "you have
seen that I have worked hard in your service, but may not know
that unlike many of those who have sailed with you , I have
saved all the wages that you have paid. Avoiding taverns
and the alluring temptations of port that keep most on board
weak and poor have helped make me financially strong.
"I have enough to purchase shares in a new vessel about
to set sail for rich cargo in distant lands. With success,
I shall gain sufficient wealth to purchase my own vessel and
be a master like yourself.
"I ask your permission to sail with this vessel and have
also favor to ask."
Pleased with the young man, the master gave him leave and
asked what favors he might need.
"Master," the youth continued, "you always
seem to know of great riches even before you set sail. Your
ships cross the great waters safely and swiftly. Sir, please
share with me these secrets that keep the wind full in your
sails."
The Captain leaned back, gazed over the calm Pacific as he
quietly began to answer the young man.
"Son, you have worked earnestly and served me well. This
tells me that the experiences will be good for you on the sea.
I will speak of this knowledge though I do not share it easily
as these lessons are meaningless for those who want the riches
without the work.
"There are three lessons you must heed. The first is
that a full wind singing in your sails is useless, even a dangerous
siren, if you do not have a rudder that is well kept and attended
by one who steers it true. The currents and winds on the seas
are strong. Treachery is their nature and they feast on those
who desire speed without control. This first lesson tells
us that correct steering is more important than speed. Have
a strong rudder and use it with great care."
The old Captain then stood and walked to the water's edge,
recalling many memories as he continued. "But steering
is useless without direction. Your rudder is large and your
sextant small, but without good navigation you'll travel to
the wrong shores. The second lesson is to pay great attention
to celestial beings. Only forces greater than ourselves lead
us the correct way. Without them you cannot know where to go
or where you have been. You may gain great speed but you will
surely be lost.
"Finally," the Captain sighed as he returned to
his seat, "you must have a sturdy anchor and stout line." Even
the best voyage has times when skies are not clear. Then you
must have a steady anchor that in times of uncertainty
gives you a steady hold.
"These are the three secrets
that have served me well. Follow the heavens. Steer correctly.
Then look for strong winds to increase your speed. When good
conditions are not present, rely on your anchor. Do not be
afraid to wait.
"Now go my son and may the winds be with you!"
The young man left and sailed on his new vessel the very next
morn. Soon after the master set sail himself, found more treasure
and returned many months later his ships heavy with silver
and gold. As his vessel returned to port Turth saw the young
apprentice standing shipside, looking bedraggled and poor.
"My master," said the youth as the Captain disembarked, "I
have waited long for your return as I seek employment on your
vessel again. Our ship left port with a sturdy rudder, good
sextant and anchor, but less than a week from this port we
were caught in an unexpected, fierce storm. We floundered in
hurricane winds and raging seas. All was lost. I still wish
to become my own master, but must start at the beginning again.
Can you give me work and more training to help me avoid such
storms?"
The legend of the Lossen continues as the ancient and wealthy
mariner sits on a wooden dock and talks to his apprentice about
experiences he has gained at sea.
"My friend," the old captain said, " I gave
you important lessons for success and am sure that you have
used them well. Yet your vessel was lost and you feel your
wealth has been drowned in this sinking.
This is not so. Money is but the smallest part of wealth.
Honor, loyalty, honesty, friendships, knowledge, experience
and persistence are assets valued far more than silver
and gold.
"You have the education I have given you. Now let me
share my experiences, for an education teaches you the rules.
Experience shows exceptions to the rules.
"The lessons you learned were the same told to me when
I was young and eager to set sail. I felt great confidence
from these rules of the sea but shortly after leaving port
a great storm swept from the west. Ravished by strong winds
and high seas, our vessel ran aground and did not last the
night. We could only thank the almighty for our lives.
This was all the seas did not take.
"I redoubled my efforts and eventually set sail on my
own vessel again. This time I knew which winds to watch from
the west and was alert. So focused were these attentions that
I failed to see huge waves running from the east. A lashing
storm destroyed this vessel as well.
"I gave even greater effort and concentration both east
and west, yet my next craft was caught in a great vortex that
lay hidden in the south. All that was left were a few hands
and the drowning itself.
"Only after these three experiences did I gain success
because I accepted the most important lesson of all. No past
lesson guarantees our efforts of the day. Trips are never the
same. We must always accept and be alert for shifting weather,
changing tides and unexpected dangers. There is joy in this
diligence and we gain great comfort in the when we learn to
rely on the messages that the stars and sea give us.
"Success, wealth, and riches never stand still. Everlasting
wealth is not riches but a never ending desire to serve matched
by continual diligence to assure that we serve well.
"Never ending wealth is never ending growth gained in
the following ways.
"To begin we only
have ideas. Ideas are the most powerful
sails, but useless without wind. Ideas just themselves have
no energy. We must fill these sails with winds of enthusiasm
that flow from our heart. We must move forward with caution
but without fear to gain knowledge and experience. These experiences
become your rudder and provide your course.
"This action is
your duty. Reward must not be your concern.
All action will lead to reward, but not always as you planned.
Accept these currents of life. If you dictate what your reward
must be, you close your eyes of possibilities and can gain
nothing more than your limited desires. Yet our greatest discoveries
come when unexpected tempests push us onto unknown shores.
"Embrace your ideas
with action. Set sail and then leave
your fate to the currents, stars and wind. Trust your inner
guidance as well as your mind. Only in this way will your wealth
be everlasting, without worry and concern.
"Finally always
remember that every idea, experience and action is a gift
from forces beyond our abilities or control.
So enjoy the sea breeze and the salt in your face every day.
Never take an hour for granted. Then the fruits of your labors
will be full.
"Now go my son, back to the sea. Few answers are held
in words.
The truth lays waiting in the waters and on the breeze. Heed
little the words 'failure' and 'success'. Just sail, be aware
and always be with the winds, currents and stars. They are
wealth." With
these final words, the old master, saluted the young man, turned
and gazed upon the sea and then walked slowly back onboard.
The youth by the way, so the legend says, did not have to
begin as an apprentice again. The wise master was also a wise
judge of character and knew this apprentice would bring success.
He backed the youth on his next venture, the worthy vessel,
Orion, that sailed and survived its journey to find treasure
richer than anyone had brought to port before. The treasure
brought the youth and master wealth beyond imagination, something
neither of them cared much for as they both continued to live
and enjoy their love of life and the sea.
I hope you gain as much from this legend as I have. If so,
please share it with eleven more. Have safe and successful
sailing in every course of life. Good investing!
Gary A. Scott
Learn about investing in top value shares, currencies, gold
and silver. Join Merri and me at our September 15-16-17, 2006
International Business and Investing Made EZ course in North
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