Invest in Yourself — It’s Magic
Last Sunday afternoon I enjoyed five hours with my family and friends at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Though I have visited the Magic Castle many times since it opened in 1963, last Sunday’s visit was special. First, because we had two young children with us, enjoying magic for the very first time, and second because on weekends the “junior” magicians perform live in the three Magic Castle theaters.
On the “Close Up” stage a seventeen year old entertained us with his excellent (though not yet perfect) sleight-of-hand card and coin tricks. I am always “fooled” by magic, and I hope to will always retain my sense of wonder.
This morning I read an obituary for Ricky Jay, a well-known magician who had frequently performed at the Magic Castle. One of Jay’s mentors was the famous magician Charlie Miller, who died in 1989 at the age of eighty. Jay was quoted as saying, “Charlie was always trying to learn and refine and invent. I don’t think he ever stopped thinking about it. I think when Charlie finally died, he had the most famous classic 19th century magic text on his night table.”
I call that dedication. I also call it commitment. Charlie was committed to investing in himself.
During my business career I have invested in many other businesses. At least eighty percent of those investments totally failed. The last significant investment I made was more than ten years ago, and after (unexpectedly) investing more than four hundred hours of my own time, in addition to a substantial amount of money, I finally received my money back, together with a small profit. But I will never recover the lost hours of my life.
My best investments have not been in dollars. My best investments have been in my education in Accounting, Law, Psychology, and Professional Writing, in my business experience, and in time spent with my family both at home and traveling.
Vince Lombardi, one of the most successful football coaches ever, said, ”The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
I always want to perform better today than I did yesterday, and better tomorrow than today. That is why every day I aim to learn more about myself and the world we live in.
Money is great. The value of my time and life is greater.
I can sum up my thought in one short sentence.
Invest in yourself – it’s magic.
Alan
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