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The Teacher
By John | July 24, 2011
Many years ago a contingent of her former pupils visited a retired teacher. Then in her late eighties, the teacher had spent over 40 years teaching in one-room rural schoolhouses in Northern Michigan during the early part of the twentieth century. As the only teacher – in fact the only adult – in the building, it had been her responsibility to prepare her students to succeed in life, whether that life was to be spent on the neighboring farm or pursuing a professional career in some distant city.
A member of that visiting contingent of former pupils asked the teacher, “In all of your years as a teacher, who was your best student?”
Without hesitation, the teacher named the student she considered to be the best – the one who had stood out from the rest in her long experience of teaching multiple generations of students.
Taken aback by her quick and decisive response, the visitors endeavored to determine exactly what it was that differentiated this student from all the rest. Had it been a photographic memory? An ability to excel at tests? Oratorical skills? A speed reader? A mathematical whiz? An ability to quickly grasp and retain information?
No, none of those, the teacher replied. This student stood out because of the thought-provoking questions – questions the teacher could not always answer – questions the teacher had not always thought of herself. This student stood out because of a desire to know why, the desire to understand in depth, beyond the facts, beyond the information presented. This student stood out because of a desire to know more.
This teacher understood that though the skills and information she was disseminating to her students would prove valuable in their lives, success would be determined by a continued habit of delving deeper to learn more, of becoming a lifetime student.
Most investors today seek “the answer.” Whether investing in the stock market, bond market, futures market, mutual funds, real estate, precious metals, etc., everyone seeks some simplified formula or “system” to tell them the path to riches. Well, there ain’t none!
Investment success is totally dependent upon you, the investor. As an investor, you must have that desire to know more – to get beyond the superficial, to ask those thought-provoking questions, to understand.
Topics: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
September 2nd, 2011 at 11:08 am
John,
I discovered your blog two weeks ago, picked up your book last week, and have been reading both since. I am impressed and pleased with the thoroughly informative and educational nature of both. Your writing is refreshingly short on the needless abstractions that too many in this field employ while your work is generous with valuable to-the-point facts and concepts. I hope that you continue to keep up the good work with continued blog updates in the future.
Chuck
October 8th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Hi John,
I am a vacant land investor from Romania. I am continuously lookind for resources of education in the area and, since in Romanian there are not to many books on the real estate, I am looking on Amazon.
I found your book on Amazon and I intent to order it, but, I am wondering why your book cannot be browsed as other books? If you can send me by email some content to have an idea, I will be very greatful.
I have to be sure that the materials I order are appropriate for me, since the ordering from Romania is a little bit complicated, and carries higher costs (delivery) much high than a normal local order.
Thank you very much and I wish you success in the new economy. I will follow your blog from now on, anyway..
Regards,
Adrian.
October 10th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Adrian,
A summary of my book is available on my website, as well as through several outlets for the book.
I also have a comment on your comment. You seem to be seeking assurance that my book will be valuable to you. In my experience, successful investors don’t seek such assurance. If you are a serious investor, the cost and inconvenience of acquiring a book should be trivial in relation to the information you are seeking.
Whether its buying my book, acquiring other information, or making a vacant land investment – go for it!
John
October 11th, 2011 at 7:32 am
Thank you John, I will order your book.
I didn t want to offence you, I just make a selection with materials that best fit my needs, since there are a lot of lectures to be red, while some of them might be filled with technics specific for American market and do not apply on other markets, or zoning American legislation that is not useful for me .. so on.
I especially appreciate the experience of REAL INVESTORS -as you are- not only journalists, professors, so on.
Beside your book, could you recommend me some other books on vacant land that you might consider will be helpfull for may education?
Thank you,
Adrian.