How to Make Money and Be Successful

By studying the lives, successes, and failures of truly successful people, we can see what we need to do to succeed. It’s not necessary to read a ton of books or flail helplessly about hoping to find the keys to success. They’re already out there ready to open doors for anyone willing to use them. I see it as complete insanity to try and reinvent the wheel through trial and error when I can use a model readily available.

Henry Ford came from a farming family, but he knew he didn’t like farming so he had the COURAGE to break away and work with machines. He gained the KNOWLEDGE necessary to become an engineer, which in turn gave him the ability to create his first car, the Quadricycle.

This wasn’t a quick event by any means. He would have been 33 years old when the quadricycle came into being. But Ford wasn’t happy with that, he had a DREAM of creating a company that would build cars. He tried twice unsuccessfully to start his company, but failure was not an option so he PERSERVERED.

Finally, in 1903, the Ford Motor Company was incorporated making Ford 40 at the time. With a small amount of capital from 12 investors the company started producing cars. Ten years later the company was producing half the cars in the U.S. He had become a SUCCESS.

I have oversimplified the trials Ford went through as he moved forward with his company. There were many problems and obstacles, but Ford never curled up his toes and quit. Think glue.

Ford could have let friends and family talk him into staying on the family farm, but he didn’t. He could have gotten a job to support himself without becoming an engineer and gaining the knowledge he needed, but he didn’t. He could have spent his whole life with his dream hidden in some recesses of his brain, but he didn’t. He could have given up many times during the course of pursuing his dream, but he didn’t. (If you don’t think he had it tough in the beginning check out Bart Gibby’s article on Henry Ford.

So here’s the formula for success employed by Henry Ford:

A DREAM + COURAGE + KNOWLEDGE + PERSEVERANCE = SUCCESS

Henry Ford offers additional wisdom in achieving success. Here is what he says to us:

Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.

Don't find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain.

Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own.

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.

It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.

Money is like an arm or leg - use it or lose it.

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.

Wealth, like happiness, is never attained when sought after directly. It comes as a by-product of providing a useful service.