Apr212024
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How to Find Value

If you cannot say no to legitimate requests, then your “yes” will have no value. Dad and I were down the Cape and drove by ocean-view properties. Out of nowhere, Dad pointed to one of the beautiful homes and said, “I almost bought that house when you were little. They were asking for $60,000 and I offered 55. He went down on the price a little, I went up a little, but we did not quite meet in the middle so I didn’t buy it.” I was really surprised to hear this for the first time and that he had come so close to being the owner. I exclaimed, “That house is worth 2 million dollars now. Dad said, “Actually, it is closer to three.” Why didn’t you get it?” He told me, “Back then it was a lot of money and I had five little boys at the time. I didn’t need it.” My father made a good point that day. If we say “yes” to every great investment, every golden opportunity, every jelly doughnut that comes, we will not have anything of value.

We could have twenty shepherds and access to twenty pastures, but we would never know or get close to any of them. I know it is very hard to say “no” to legitimate requests, opportunities, and valid resources, but when we can say “no” to them, we know we have something of great value.

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