Magical Success Formula
Are you looking for the secret or magical success formula?
Do you think it’s a well-guarded, password-protected valuable locked away in some private vault? Good news! In this article, I open wide the door to the success formula vault.
Here’s The Secret…
The secret to success is having a strong vision and the perseverance and determination to overcome whatever obstacles get in your way, along with the courage to make a difference. Not what you wanted to hear? Read on.
When Amadeo Peter Giannini (better known as AP) was only 7, his father died in a fight over one dollar. Times got real hard. Eventually, AP’s mother married a man in the produce business. At age 14 AP quit school to work with his stepfather. By 19 he was a partner in their thriving enterprise. It was here that AP built his reputation for integrity and honesty. At 31 years of age, he had all the money he needed or wanted and announced his retirement.
At 32, AP’s real career started when he was asked to join the board of the Columbus Savings & Loan Society. It wasn’t long before AP found himself at odds with the other directors. He wanted the bank to loan money to hard-working immigrants, but at that time banks catered only to businessmen and the wealthy. His ideas of loaning money to the working-class were scoffed at, but AP was determined to make a difference for immigrants too – he had the vision, the perseverance, and determination.
He raised $150,000 and bought a converted saloon across the street from the Columbus S&L. AP kept the bartender on as an assistant teller, and opened the Bank of Italy. It was here he began to make a difference – to devise his real success formula.
It was considered improper and uncouth, but AP began ringing doorbells and talking to everyone he could about his bank. He advertised. He kept the bank open longer hours and on weekends to fit into working people’s schedules. Business boomed. He knew he was beginning to make a difference.
But making money wasn’t AP’s sole measurement of success. He believed he could make a difference by making other people’s dreams come true, too. He helped the California wine Industry get started. He bankrolled Hollywood when they were trying to make movies popular. When Walt Disney ran $2 million over budget on Snow White, he stepped in with a loan.
AP’s story exemplifies the secret to success — a strong vision, the perseverance, and determination to overcome obstacles thrown your way, and the courage to make a difference, even in the face of opposition.
OK, I Gave Away The Secret — Now Here’s The Success Formula Integrity combined with “giving back” is the real success formula. This was AP’s success formula. What began in 1904 as the Bank of Italy is now the Bank of America — the world’s largest bank. And what about AP? Did he die a billionaire?
When he passed away at age 79, AP’s estate was worth less than $500,000. This was purely by choice. AP looked down on great wealth. He believed it would make him lose touch with the people he wanted to serve. He worked without pay for years. One year he was given a surprise $1.5 million bonus and promptly gave it to the University of California.
It’s a winning success formula — integrity plus “giving back.”
There’s One More Thing –
By every standard, Amadeo Peter Giannini was a success. But his true measure of success was to make a difference every day of his life. I hope that will be your measuring stick as well. To achieve success, you’ve got to have a strong vision, and the perseverance and determination to overcome the obstacles that will come your way, permeated with integrity. Adding to that, give back to your community - make a difference, and you’ll be successful indeed!
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