by Tracy Brinkman ofBrinkmann and Associates

I recently heard a story that I would like to share  the story was about a farmer in Africa who heard many accounts of otherfarmers making their fortunes by discovering diamond mines. The tales got his heart racing and his mind reeling with the dreamshe could fulfill if only he could find a diamond mine. Quickly he sold his farm and offhe went to prospect for the riches that so many others had found in the glittering gems. He spent therest of life wandering the African continent searching, unsuccessfully for those precious stones. Finally,broken down, worn out, and fed up, the farmer threw himself off a cliff into the ocean and drowned

Meanwhile, back on the farm  literally. The gentleman who purchased the farm was crossing a stream on his new property. From within the cool, rippling water a flashing glimmer of blue and red caught his eye. He stopped and picked up a stone  agood sized stone and admired how it played with the light of day. Taking it home he placed it upon his mantel to enjoy

Sometime later, a friend was visiting and noticed the mantel decoration. He investigated it intently, hefted it in his handthen, after a dramatic pause, nearly fainted. He asked if the farmer if he realized what he had in his possession. The humblefarmer said no, he merely thought it to be a piece of crystal or quartz. His friendtold him he had found what he believed to be the largest diamond ever discovered. Taken slightly aback bythis astounding news the farmer quickly caught his wits and told his friend that he had a creekfull of stones like this one  none quite so large  but certainly many to be had at the bottomof the creek.

Needless to say, the first farmer had sold his farm so that he might find the very thing that his farm contained more of thananywhere else in Africa. Yes that farm turned out to be the most productive diamond mine on the entire continent. He hadowned, free and clear, acres of diamonds, but sold them cheaply to find them somewhere else.

The moral of this story is all too clear to many of us. If the first farmer had educated and prepared himself on diamonds intheir rough state, then searched his own property before searching the entire continent. He would have realized all hisdreams.

What hits home so much for me in this story, is that I was the first farmer. Unfortunately, it was not all that long ago. Isaw some associates of mine tapping into a lucrative industry and decided that Itoo would stake my claim in this money making venture. So, like the first farmer, I sold my farm and off Iwent to search out my acres of diamonds elsewhere in world. Searching before preparing,searching before studying. Luckily, I did not become so despondent that I drowned myself. I didloose some pride, some self-esteem and some money in this search. I have since learned that each of us is,right now, standing in the middle of our own acre of diamonds

We need only the wisdom and patience to effectively explore the work in which we are now occupied. For me it began while I wasgiving a series of training classes as a favor to my fellow workers. Now, I have been a Toastmaster for many years and haveenjoyed every moment on the stage. But had never really entertained the idea for doing it for a living. But while infront of these people teaching them techniques and strategies that would benefit them in their jobs I was energized andmotivated. Then a couple weeks later I gave a 20-minute presentation on goal setting  that is when themoral of this story truly hit me. I began to search out my acre of diamonds in the skills that I already have and in the work that Ialready do. I learned that, before we go running off to what we believe to be greener pastures, lets be sure that our own pasture isnot as green, or greener, then the one we are running towards.

Remember no matter what your goal is, perhaps the path to it is available in the very thing youre doing today, or a variationof it. You have only to look for it. It wasnt till he was struck down with aparalyzing disease that a farmer pulled his family together and told them to plant all their farmland withcorn. Then feed that corn to their pigs. Once these young pigs reached a certain age, they wereto turn those little pigs into sausages. From this idea came one of the countries mostsuccessful meat packing plants. He could have done this at any time  but his paralyzing situation forced him to dig for hisdiamonds. He took the resources and the skills he had (his acre of diamonds) and mined them into a successful life for him andhis family.

The greatest resource you have is your mind. Use it to explore the possibilities in what your presently doing as well as thepossibilities in the skills you currently possess. A beggar once went to a man in search of no more than a few dollars for a meal. The man was Napoleon Hill, a motivator and educator that many of you may have heard of already. Mr. Hill sat with the beggar and made him realize that the world will give you what you ask for; ask for a mere dollar and that is all you will get, not a penny more. The man now wanted more, Mr. Hill then assessed the mans skills. He had some experienceselling products and had been a cook in the military. Combining these two meager skills, Mr. Hill devised a plan where the man wouldsell cookware in a unique fashion. Having a dinner party for prospective clients, cooking the dinner in his wares and thentaking orders for those wares. The once beggar became a successful salesman by minesthe diamonds from the skills which he already possessed.

Every kind of work has such opportunity hiding within it. They are there now, waiting to be found. But they cannot shout at usto get our attention. They cannot print signs and place them on our desks. No, we must use our minds to find them. We must beable to see them with our eyes  eyes of creation as stated by Earl Nightingale. Ipersonally would modify that slightly to Eyes of creation without limitation

Take the time to stand back and look at your work and your skills as a stranger might. A stranger that asks, Why is itdone that way? or Do you see where what your doing can be enhanced, multiplied or capitalized upon?

Hey, if youre happy with things the way they are (and if your reading this Im guessing your not) then by all means stay thatway. But there is great pleasure to be had in finding the diamonds within yourself. While digging for those diamondsyoull never become bored or find yourself in a rut. (Remember a rut is merely a gravewith the ends kicked out). Ask yourself How good am I at what I am presently doing? or Do I have askill that I can use to make what Im doing easier or more profitable?

Each morning wake up with one question in mind  How can I increase my service today? (For if you give more, then you willreceive more. That the law of reciprocation in its basic form.) Remind yourself that there are valuable and marketablediamonds hiding all around you and that you need to be looking for them. Knowevery facet of your work  not just YOUR job  but every facet of your WORK or business. That could be thevery thing that uncovers that first diamond for you. Then your momentum will pick up andyoull uncover the next and the next. So take 15-45 minutes a day with a journal or pad of paper listthe opportunities that are around you this very moment, in your current skills, at your work. Brainstormand write down what ever comes to mind. One of todays thoughts combined with onetomorrow or a week from now could uncover that first diamond. Make notes on how you can build your base ofknowledge around your current profession, trade and industry. Make a plan and follow through on it (more on this in a later issue). Makenotes on how you can improve your skills and performance. Basically really explore your work and your skills. Look at allthe facets of them. There is opportunity in there  in there youll find your acre ofdiamonds.

=============================

(C) Tracy Brinkmann 2000-2001 all rights reserved

Tracy Brinkmannof Brinkmann and Associates

Want to be a better speaker?Want to put your life in the fast track?
Brinkmann and Associates provides motivational and educational material spiced up with humor and entertainment. Informing,educating and listening to keynotes does not have to be boring! We will put every effort to see to it that it is not.

From personal development skills, advanced presentation skills to motivational seminars. We will provide you with a made to orderprogram expressly designed to meet your needs and the needs of your audience. Guaranteed!!

Subscribe to our free newsletters on speaking and success:
http://www.tracybrinkmann.bizhosting.com/ezinesubscribe.htm