There is a reference in the bible of a story about a Syrian Captain named Naaman who came to Elisha the prophet to be healed of leprosy. Naaman was an important person. He was irritated that when he sent for Elisha, he did not come to him. So Elisha made arrangements to meet him. Naaman shows up with his entourage and probably a really nice chariot. Elisha did not come out to meet him. Instead Elisha gives Naaman instructions through a messenger to go dip himself in the river Jordan seven times and he will be cured of his leprosy.
Naaman is not happy about this at all. He complains very loudly. He refuses to go dip himself in the muddy waters of the Jordan. Instead he starts to point out that there are much better rivers to go dip himself into. There are better ways. Eventually, the servants of Naaman come to him and ask – “if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?” Naaman sees reason, humbles himself and dips himself in the Jordan seven times. He is healed.
This is the question that came into my mind when I committed to doing this 365 Commitment. I had the thought that if I just followed this simple formula everyday for 365 days in a row – I would be healed. In fact I absolutely believe that following this commitment will help me achieve my greatest ambitions. If that is true, and I really believe it, am I willing to actually do it?
I am not asking myself a very hard thing really. It is a kin to taking a dip in the Jordan seven times. If all I had to do is follow the 365 Commitment steps everyday and I would achieve my ambitions – would I do it? Am I like Naaman and waiting for “some great thing” or am I just going to do the simple thing that gets me there.
If you are dismissive of my example because it comes from the bible, then examine the success of Warren Buffett. After he got rejected by Harvard, he enrolled at Columbia business school. He learned from a person named Benjamin Graham. During the course of studies, he listed to Graham and took his advice and followed a few basic core principles. When Buffett went to get a job at Wall Street – Graham convinced him to stay in Omaha and continue with his value investing strategy. Against all modern convention, against all the illustrious ideas of working as a stockbroker in New York – Warren Buffet stayed in Omaha, dipped in the River Jordan seven times and had a net worth in his stock portfolio of 1M by age 31. Of course, he continued to follow his principles. That portfolio is now worth 89 Billion.
Are you willing to follow the same basic core principles everyday? It may not be a great thing – but it is absolutely required for you to get what you want. Would you do it?
Guy Reams (81)
365 Member
