Here’s How You Can Get Rich!
By Jim Straw.
People often ask me …
“How can I get rich?”
Well … let me tell you how I did it.
1) I learned very early in life that the ONLY way to make money was to “sell” something … either a product or a service … something people wanted or needed – or – do something for them they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do for themselves.
2) I learned to “make do” with what I had, until I could get what I needed to do a better job.
3) I learned that I had to do anything necessary (but legal) to get to where I wanted to be, even if I didn’t like doing it (especially if I didn’t like doing it). — You can do ANYTHING you need to do … until you can do what you want to do.
“Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — Saint Francis of Assisi
4) I learned to never ask anyone to do anything for me that I wasn’t willing to do myself – and – everyone who has ever worked with me has taught me about what they have done for me and how they did it. After a while, I could do it, too – but – maybe not as well as they did.
“Anyone can be a genius, if they pick just one specific subject and study it diligently just 15 minutes each day.” — Albert Einstein
5) I learned to “pay” for what I wanted. If I couldn’t afford it, I saved-up to be able to afford it. (Sometimes if seemed like forever.)
6) I learned that no matter how long it took to achieve my goal (whatever it was), it would have been just as long if I hadn’t persisted, but I would have accomplished nothing.
7) I learned that NOTHING is as easy or as fast as it should be. It only gets easier and faster when you know how to really do it – and – learning how to really do it is just a matter of doing it over, and over, and over, until you finally find out how it works. Of course, if you give up after the first (second, third, or fourth) try, you’ll never do it.
“The secret to success is the constancy of purpose.” — Benjamin Disraeli
I learned most of what I know from my mistakes and failures. My successes never taught me anything … they were only based upon what I had learned from my mistakes and failures. (That’s why those who are afraid to make mistakes, or fail, never achieve the success they desire.)
“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” — Bill Gates
9) I learned that my most prized possessions were my customers. People who, directly or indirectly, paid for my lunch every day. (That’s why, unlike my contemporaries, I reply to my customers emails personally.)
10) I learned that “money” is NOT an end unto itself … it is only a way of keeping score. (The saddest people in the world are those who are forever chasing the almighty dollar – and – the vast majority of them have no real respect for money.)
11) I learned to ASK for what I wanted or needed – and – to graciously accept a “NO” as readily as a “YES.”
YES … you can get rich – but – you’ll have to do it yourself.
No one will do it for you!
I get tickled by people who want to start at the top of the ladder. — For some unknown reason, they honestly believe they are better than I am, since I had to start on the bottom rung and climb up one rung at a time.
When I mention the above, I often hear … “Yeah. I could do that – but – it will take too much time. I need money now – and – I don’t want to just make a little money, I want to get rich.”
Sorry, you’ll have to start where I started. — Do what you need to do to make a little money. Then, do more and more of it to make more and more money. As you make more and more money, the greater the opportunities you will have to make even more money. — Nothing succeeds like success … even small success.
The more things you don’t want to do, the fewer and fewer things you will do … until you are doing as most people do … NOTHING but dreaming!





Hey Jimmy and Jim,
Excellent article and fantastic new website.
Very much looking forward to digging through this site and signing up right now to receive future updates.
I’ve got a lot of respect for Jim Straw as he is from the “old school” of marketing and the thing is… what worked 30-40 years ago still applies today.
Thanks for putting this together!
Hi Jim:
Thanks for this article. I’ve taken a couple of your sentences and made quotes out of them and placed them on my wall next to my computer so I can refer to them often.
“I learned that no matter how long it took to achieve my goal, it would have been just as long if I hadn’t persisted, but I would have accomplished nothing.” — Jim Straw
‘The more things you don’t want to do, the fewer and fewer things you will do … until you are doing as most people do … NOTHING but dreaming!” — Jim Straw
Wow, you’ve hit a nerve Jim, you’ve hit a nerve.
Thanks,
Doug Cudworth
Hi Jim, I’ve been reading your articles since 1991 in publications like the Jackpot National Shopper and many other mailorder publications. I have learned so much from you over the years and I really appreciate your down to earth teaching style. Gregory Bey
Jim Straw,is one of the very few legends in direct marketing,who is stil with us,stil helping all who ask for his help.I consider it a great priviledge and blessing to stil be able to read his words of life and business wisdom.
My advice to any new home based entrepreneur is to try to read evry word of Jim Straw wisdom,order his material,read it,and APPLY it in your every day acivities and your life will change for better,my surely did!Thank you Jim!
Ivan
http://www.ivanzitek.com