Hello rich people,

I downloaded the book about 6 months ago bud never made the time to read it properly. Last week I finaly read it and I made a summary of every chapter and I this way I reduced the book to about 6 pages.

Now I'm studying these pages and I am now trying to apply them in my daily life. Most of the guidelines in the book are manageble but I think I will have a problem with the aspect of competition and how "to give people more in use value than you take from them in cash value" and "how to live on the creative plane instead of the competitive plane" and "not to drive sharp bargains".

I'm still quite young i.e. 25 years old and I am working as a shipsbroker. We work with traders who give us authority to charter a suitable ship at the most competitve, lowest freight rate to move cargoes from all places in the world. This is really a dog-eat-dog world. Every depends on the laws of demand and supply. Freight rates are high when a lot of cargoes are available and only a small number of vessels are available and vice versa.
My job as a broker is to ensure that my principals always have the lowest rate but this means actually that I have to rip off the shipowners and that I do not actually give them a fair price. On the other hand these shipowners also try to rip off my principals, this is also not fair but it all depends on the state of the market, the ones who are in the driver-seat.

I think that a lot of people encounter this kind of problem in their jobs (in trading, real estate, insurance, banking, etc.) So it's not just a matter of switching jobs.

How do these people act "creative" instead of "competitive" in their jobs? What can I do to "give people more in use value than I take from them I cash value"?

Please let me know.

Thanks in advance for a reply.

Kind regards

This may or may not help you.

I don't quite have the same problem you have because I'm in a creative business so while it is exremely competitive, I can manage to think creatively, think up new projects, and try to sell them. Thus, I really don't worry about what other people are doing.

Now let me try to apply this to your life in an attempt to help. But be warned...I'm not an expert. I may be wrong.

1. Firstly, in your business, everyone knows that there is a natural competition over pricing and delivery. And there is a certain way of doing things. Within that way, or the Tao of your business, you still have to practice standard industry behavior.

But, you can start seperating yourself from the others in the business by being creative.

Think about what you can do once you get the job to make that delivery a better experience for your client.

That's how you start to think creatively.

And once you do that, other ideas will flow.

2. I think Mr. Wattles is also talking about getting rich in your life which might be more of a personal thing for you than a goal or journey you can accomplish in this present job.

In other words, seperate yourself from your job and start thinking creatively in your life, not worrying about what $ your brother or friend is making.

I bet you might come up with some powerful answers.

These are just some ideas I got reading your post. Hope they help.

Mylesaway

quote:

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Originally posted by Steen:
We work with traders who give us authority to charter a suitable ship at the most competitve, lowest freight rate to move cargoes from all places in the world... My job as a broker is to ensure that my principals always have the lowest rate but this means actually that I have to rip off the shipowners and that I do not actually give them a fair price. On the other hand these shipowners also try to rip off my principals, this is also not fair but it all depends on the state of the market, the ones who are in the driver-seat... What can I do to "give people more in use value than I take from them I cash value"?

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I just wanted to add my thoughts to this...

You are dealing with two sides in this issue... your customer and your supplier. Just like in any retail business (or pretty much any business that exists), supply and demand decide price. But what Wattles says is to give more in USE VALUE than you recieve in cash value. Use value is the value that your customers receive. At the same time, as a customer to your suppliers, it is your "duty" (sort of) to take more use value from your suppliers than you give in cash value. Obviously the value of the use of the ships to your customers is greater than the dollars they are paying to use them... at the same time, the value of the ship is more valuable to you than the money you pay your suppliers. So, you are already following this principle.

As to how to be more creative instead of competitive... it's simple... stop worrying about what the other guy is doing and only pay attention to what you are doing. You are creating your own existence, but when you worry about what the other guy is doing (your competitors, suppliers, customers) you leave your creation behind and begin to concentrate on the competition instead of on creating your own life.

I'll try to give you an example of what I mean from my own life. I'm a reporter. There are two newspapers in my small town (5,000 people). The bosses of these two newspapers are highly competitive and have been for years. I, on the other hand, am not. I don't worry about what the other paper prints, who they have for advertisers, or how much money they are making. I worry about my own contribution to the paper I work for. Period.

There have been times when I've gotten information about a story before the other reporter has. In some of those instances, I've handed him my notes and said "Here's what you need". At first he was shocked (he runs the other paper), but over the last year or so, he has begun to actually joke with me now and then. Not all the time, but every now and then.

That's what being creative and not competitive is about in my eyes. Yes, I have a "creative" job, but I don't think Wattles was only referring to that sort of creating. I stepped out of the competition that these two men set up and created a more harmonious world for myself. And it's rather nice here.

Don't know if that was helpful, but there it is anyway. Have a good one!

Live in Light,
Coccinella

Thank you both very much for your replies, this proves very helpfull information I will try to integrate this in my job and keep you posted!

Kind regards