Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Dear John,
I can understand why, when you invest the money I lent you in the Stock Market, you are always overshadowed by a sense of unease.
You harbor a desire for victory, like an adventurer groping in the dark for treasure, with a glimmer of longing for wealth shining in your eyes.
However, the Stock Market is like a turbulent and unpredictable ocean; you know well that in that world of adventure, the possibility of losing is like hidden reefs lurking in the shadows, ready to cause your dream ship to run aground and sink.
The money you risk is not what you have painstakingly saved but borrowed, like carrying a heavy burden of debt, and you must also pay interest, which feels like a relentless creditor urging you at every turn.
This feeling of being unable to afford loss has followed me like a shadow since my early days of entrepreneurship and even after I have achieved considerable success.
Before each loan, I find myself in a painful struggle, like a Little Beast trapped in a maze, wavering between the seemingly opposite paths of caution and risk.
That feeling of conflict is like two little figures in my mind arguing fiercely—one recounting the terrifying consequences of failure while the other shouts about the importance of seizing opportunities.
As night falls and I lie in bed staring at the ceiling in the darkness, my thoughts run wild like untamed horses, calculating how to repay my debts. Those numbers buzz around my mind like a swarm of annoying flies, keeping me tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
People often say that those who take risks frequently fail. But upon reflection, aren’t those mindless fools who drift through life also achieving nothing?
Once I manage to shake off my fear of failure, I can rise again like a warrior struggling out of the mud, regaining my spirit and resolutely deciding to borrow money once more.
In fact, my son, in pursuit of progress, I am like a Wanderer groping for light in the darkness; with no other path available, I must turn to the bank for loans. That bank is like a mysterious Treasure Vault—full of opportunities but also fraught with risks.
Son, what often presents itself before us are great opportunities that cleverly resolve tricky problems. Borrowing money is not necessarily a bad thing; it does not have to lead to bankruptcy like a Flood of Beasts.
As long as you do not see it merely as a Lifebuoy used only when drowning—only remembered in times of desperation—but rather as a powerful tool, like a master key that can unlock countless treasure doors.
You can use it to create opportunities that are like brilliant pearls hidden in the mist, waiting for you to discover.
Otherwise, you will find yourself trapped in a bottomless quagmire, falling into the mire of fear of failure, where fear binds your arms, which could have soared to great heights, like a resilient rope, preventing you from stretching freely. In the end, you will be left to toil aimlessly, missing out on success.
Among the wealthy individuals I know, those who have built their fortunes bit by bit through hard work are as rare as solitary stars in the night sky.
Most wealthy individuals have become rich by borrowing money. The reasoning behind this is not profound; it is like a small pond—no matter how many fish it contains, it cannot compare to the wealth found in the vast ocean.
A one-dollar transaction is like a trickling stream; the profit it can generate is far less than that of a hundred-dollar transaction, which can bring substantial returns like a surging river.
Son, life is a continuous process of mortgaging.
For our future, we mortgage our youth. That youth is like a burning torch that we unhesitatingly throw into the unknown future to exchange for dreams that may come true.
For happiness, we mortgage our lives. Life is a precious and fleeting journey, and we willingly take risks to embark on this uncertain path just to pursue that ultimate happiness on the other side. Because if you do not dare to approach the bottom line, you are like a soldier retreating on the battlefield—you have already lost.
For success, we mortgage our adventures. Is it not worth it? It is like a brave navigator who resolutely sails into the vast ocean filled with unknown dangers to discover new lands.
Speaking of mortgaging, I want to tell you that when I received those large sums from the banker, I mortgaged not only my business but also my honesty.
My business is like a meticulously crafted giant ship, the culmination of years of hard work, while my honesty is like the most precious gem embedded in the bow of the ship. I regard contracts and agreements as sacred and inviolable; they are like divine commandments that I strictly adhere to without ever defaulting on debts.
As each repayment date approaches, I fulfill my mission like a devout believer and deliver the funds on time. I treat investors, bankers, clients, and even competitors with sincerity.
When discussing issues with them, I stand firm like a witness swearing before an altar, always speaking the truth without fabricating or being ambiguous. I firmly believe that lies are like snow under sunlight—they will eventually reveal themselves—while the truth shines brightly and will never be obscured by darkness.
The rewards for being honest are immense; it is like planting a seed of kindness that ultimately yields a lush forest. Before I left Colivran, those bankers who understood my character were like guardian angels who repeatedly rescued me from seemingly inescapable crises.
I clearly remember one day when one of my refineries suddenly caught fire; it was like a nightmare unfolding. The flames were like the tongues of demons, devouring everything in their path as the refinery was engulfed in flames and suffered severe losses.
Due to the insurance company’s delay in compensating the insurance claim, it felt like a timely rain arriving late after a drought, while I urgently needed funds to rebuild my business from the rubble. That rubble resembled a battlefield in a devastated area, forcing me to seek additional loans from the bank.
Thinking back to that day at the bank fills me with excitement. In the eyes of those shortsighted bankers, the oil refining industry was already considered high-risk, akin to a volcano that could erupt at any moment; providing funding to this industry was no different from gambling.
Moreover, my refinery had just been destroyed in flames, like a warrior recently battered and bruised. As a result, some bank directors hesitated to grant me additional loans, their eyes filled with doubt and concern, unwilling to lend immediately.
At that moment, one kind-hearted individual among them, Mr. Steelman, shone like a beacon in the darkness. He summoned an employee to bring his own safe and waved his hand toward the other directors, saying, “Listen to me, gentlemen. Mr. Rockefeller and his partners are exceptional young men. If they wish to borrow more money, I urge you all to lend it without hesitation. If you want more security, here it is; take as much as you need.”
His voice was firm and powerful, like the beating of war drums. At that moment, I conquered the bankers with honesty.
Son, honesty is a method, a strategy. By being honest, I exchanged what was most precious for trust, thus earning the confidence of the bankers and many others. That trust became a solid bridge supporting me through various challenges and leading me onto a fast track to success.
Your future may involve managing a business; you need to understand that the purpose of running a business is to make money. Expanding a business can generate profits, much like raising larger sails on a sailboat to harness the wind and navigate toward broader seas for greater wealth.
However, using your business as collateral is also an important aspect of managing and utilizing money; it is as crucial as deploying troops effectively in warfare. If you focus solely on one function while neglecting another, it will be like a one-armed warrior fighting on the battlefield—inevitably leading to failure.
In the worst-case scenario, this could result in financial collapse, akin to a magnificent building suddenly crumbling; in better circumstances, you might miss many opportunities—those opportunities are like fleeting shooting stars that are hard to catch once missed.
Son, you are moving toward achieving greatness in life; this has always been your goal. You need to be brave—braver still. Like a fearless warrior charging toward the dawn of victory, do not be intimidated by the difficulties and obstacles along the way.
Love,
Your Father
Comment 0 Comment Count