South Florida CPA Exam Review Program
Personalized "One-On-One" CPA Exam Preparation and Review
2743 Madison Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020
Program Instructor - Andrew S. Rosz, CPA
(954) 922-8040
Achieving Success and Prosperity in All Matters of Life
As adapted from Mark Twain's "Life Lessons to Learn in Youth and Avoid Regrets in Old Age"
Copyright © Andrew S. Rosz, CPA – All Rights Reserved
Mark Twain (whose real name was Samuel Clements) lived from November 30, 1835 to April 21, 1910. He was a statesman of the times and a master at understanding the principals essential to success, prosperity, and happiness. His literary works are well-published worldwide, and 80 of his more-famous quotations and life lessons are presented in the list below and interpreted by your Accounting instructor and mentor, Andrew S. Rosz, CPA.
Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Kindness is a universal language understood by all and also the first step in building trust between people and within organizations.
Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option. Over-caring parents often over-prioritize their children with this sort of behavior which often results in the child developing a sense of entitlement and/or expectation as they get older.
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. Remember, this quote originated almost 100 years ago and before the age of the Internet and mass-information. As applied to the times of today, let’s just say that with all the misinformation and false claims of today’s media and social media, it’s always wise to get a second opinion.
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. This is one of the few times that we see the less-optimistic side of Mark Twain… I like to believe that most people in the world are good, and the really bad people in the world are the outlier-minority. Problem is, bad news and the workings of bad people seem to be more popular than good news. Bad news also seems to spread much faster than good news.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect. The lesson here is to be mindful of the conformity trap. Rather than always conform to social norms and expectations, progressive thinkers and future leaders should always strive to be innovators and create new ideas rather than conform to the status quo.
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Pent-up anger is often self-destructive and also the cause of many physical and emotional ailments. Learn to let-go of anger quickly; especially when someone else is the root cause of that anger. Always remember, when someone crosses you, living well is the sweetest revenge.
Always acknowledge fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off guard and give you an opportunity to make a choice. When you are clearly at fault and choose to say nothing, others will eventually confront you with a carefully thought-out message and force you to discuss the matter from their perspective. If, however you are the first to bring the matter to discussion by first admitting your fault, then you are in a better position to explain and/or justify the fault from your perspective rather than from theirs.
If you tell the truth, you won’t have to remember anything. Covering up a lie takes a considerable effort in conjuring-up a complex story of fake facts and false information that is easy to forget over time. Liars eventually become revealed when changes in their story support the notion that they have simply forgotten the false details of their original story.
Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who lays an egg cackles as if she has laid an asteroid. It has often been said that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. It has also been said that the noisy duck gets shot. So, using noise and/or sheer volume to prove a point usually does little to strengthen your argument. Also, a loud confrontation only serves to build walls and hinder effective communication.
The truth must be served like a coat, and not thrown in the face like a wet towel. Sometimes the hard cold truth can often be hard to bear. So, when sharing a “reality check” with someone of lesser stature than yourself, it is best to include an element of compassion, understanding, and patience in your message rather than deliver the truth accompanied with an insensitive “I told you so...”
The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read. Along these same lines is the saying that… “The world is full of educated derelicts.” Meaning… For those who have been blessed with the ability to create and be productive, but choose not to use their skills and talents out of laziness, are no better than those having no skills at all.
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain. And such is exactly the case with commercial banking today… So long as your company is profitable and cash on hand is plentiful, the banker will gladly loan you money; even when you don’t really need it. But at the first sign of financial trouble when you really do need the cash, the banker either calls the loan and/or insists on a personal guarantee.
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. Minimalists are often pessimists and non-achievers who routinely find fault with others. Minimalists will also try to justify their own shortcomings by discouraging you from pursuing your own goals and ambitions. Truly great people on the other hand are most often successful people that encourage your efforts and support your goals so that you too can become successful.
Man will do many things to get himself loved; he will do all things to get himself envied. The worst feeling in the world for any man is the thought that he is not needed. When people feel needed, this makes them feel useful. But when the need for attention becomes an obsession, some people will do almost anything to get it; even if it involves quite literally jumping off a cliff. And for those who feel the compulsive need to always be the best, those people too will do almost anything to support their ego and sometimes even allow their behaviors to cross the ethical boundaries on what others may be consider to be immoral and/or illegal.
Always obey your parents when they are present. This is the best policy in the long run because if you don’t, they will make you (obey them). This advice assumes that the parents are both capable and worthy of making the best decisions for their children. Unfortunately, some parents are derelicts and not capable of making intelligent decisions for themselves or their children. When a child comes from a home of loser parents, the journey into adulthood is certain to be an uphill struggle for the child. But when the parents are able to provide a stable home in which to raise a child, the parents advice for their children usually has at least some credibility. Older children should thus measure that credibility accordingly and consider their parents’ advice with an open mind.
We lavish gifts upon children, but the most precious gift; our personal association, which means so much to them, we give grudgingly. Maybe “grudgingly” is not the best word to use here… Perhaps sparsely or sparingly would be a better word. Because workaholic parents who don’t interact with their children enough during their child's formative years are slowly but surely alienating themselves away from their children. So, as the child gets older, the parents inevitably become less and less a part of the child’s life. It should then come as no surprise that once the child reaches the age of college, the workaholic parent “sends them off to the finest school” and rarely ever sees their child anymore on a regular basis since the child has learned from a very early age to live their life without their parents in the picture. And then when the parents eventually get old and now have the time to spend with their children, the child is now seemingly too busy with their own life to find time to spend with his parents. Recall the song “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. The song contains the same wisdom explained herein and delivers a sad reality to empty-nest parents when the adult child simply has no interest in his elderly and/or retired parents.
Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Well, I guess this is probably true… What I think is suggested here is to do your most urgent and/or unpleasant tasks first; at the beginning of each day, and then move on to other more pleasant tasks. This way, your day will hopefully improve as it goes on and not get any worse.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society. Appearance is everything in the business world and always try to look your best. We’ve all heard the expression… “Dress for Success.” Because your physical appearance is essential for making a good first impression, and first impressions are usually long lasting; especially in the business world.
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. For those who need this wisdom spelled out for them… It was the 14-year-old who gained in wisdom over the seven years, not the father. The father already knew these things… It just took seven more years for the young teenager to finally figure things out for himself.
Buy land, they’re not making it anymore. This was good advice back in the 1800’s when undeveloped land was both available and plentiful. Today, available land is not as plentiful as it once was and is generally offered at market price. Indeed, there are still good land deals to be had but it has become a specialized industry to procure and develop land in today’s economy. For those who learn the skills of doing so, great riches and great wealth is still to be had.
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. How true this is when observing an argument from a distance or as a bystander. Without knowing the exact details of the argument, it’s hard to know who’s right and who’s wrong. Both parties to the argument look like complete idiots. So, if you are right, and you know you are right, don’t bother arguing your point with a fool. He’s not worthy of your time or your attention. Remember, no amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot. Further, by arguing with a fool, you are only giving his input credibility when in fact, none is either warranted or deserved. Along these same lines… Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it as they may intentionally distort your message and misinterpret everything that you have said.
Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times. On the contrary, old habits are often very hard to break. But with discipline, determination, a support group, and a replacement for the old habit, new habits and new behaviors are genuinely possible. People can learn to change, but sometimes it just takes a lot of work.
When your friends begin to flattery you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign that you’re getting old. And for those hell-bent on staying young, a trip to the dermatologist for some Botox or a facelift may be in order (just kidding). Unfortunately, some people (even younger people) may take the trip to the dermatologist to heart. Sadly, elderly people hell-bent on maintaining a youthful appearance don’t usually have many defining character traits of wisdom and prosperity that typically come from a life of success. Nor are many of these elderly underachiever’s content with themselves or with the aging process. Remember, live life productively and you will be content to represent your seniority with knowledge and wisdom, and not exclusively by your appearance.
Do something every day that you don’t want to do, this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. What we’re talking about here is developing a good work ethic. People need to work. It feeds the mind and nourishes the soul. Work also gives an individual the ability to support himself in the economic world in which we live. But the real message contained in this quote is that people like to do what they are good at. And people don’t like to do what they suck at. So, if you do something (the same thing) every day, you will eventually learn to be very good at it, and then you will ultimately enjoy whatever it is that you do. On a similar note, it has also been said that if you find a job you enjoy doing, then you will never have to work a day in your life.
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not. This quote may be a little extreme and perhaps appropriate for its time; but not necessarily accurate for the times of today. I believe the real message contained in this quote is one of discipline… That is, if you have the discipline to eat right, limit your alcohol consumption, and live up to your daily responsibilities, your mind and body will ultimately benefit. Indeed, maintaining good health takes a disciplined effort of diet, exercise, and mental stimulation afforded by productive pursuits.
The most important two days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why. This message is all about establishing and pursuing goals. As the late Earl Nightingale once said…” A man without goals is like a ship without a rudder; he has no direction and knows not where he is going.” Conversely, a man with a goal is successful each and every day that he is doing something to attain his goal. This idea also leads us to the best definition of success that I have ever heard… “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.” And the day you find out why you were born is often the same day you just set a goal for yourself. Earl Nightingale clarified the importance of goals during the 1950’s; something that Mark Twain also came to realize almost 100 years earlier.
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. Indeed, man can be cruel and children can be especially cruel. It is thus the goal and obligation of every parent to domesticate their child. This is an essential task off parenting if the child is to grow up to become a contributing member of society. Because domesticated people can learn to become civilized people who respect the rights and liberties of others. And only in such an orderly social environment does humanity have the chance to survive.
Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Stupid people are often irrational people who argue from a viewpoint that is seldom based on facts. They are convinced of their position and there is usually nothing you can do or say that will convince them otherwise. So why waste your time or effort in arguing with a stupid person... You can’t win an argument with a stupid individual because they are not receptive to listening to alternative viewpoints. Further, their view of the world is plagued by a belief system based on many false realities. So, if you are the one that is presumed by others to be stupid, it’s probably best to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid rather than to open it and remove all doubt.
Circumstances make man, not man circumstances. A well-traveled old person often has many good stories to tell. And these stories usually result from a life of overcoming adversity. Because learning to confront and overcome adversity builds character. Conversely, life under a dictatorship discourages individual character and only encourages conformity since a dictator determines the circumstances of life under his domain. This also explains why most dictators rarely go out with a happy ending. They create unpopular and/or unsustainable circumstances of life under their rule with disastrous results to both their people and their economy.
Let us live so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry. The lesson here is to lead a noble life. Plant a tree for others under which you know you will never sit... Always give more than you receive... Expect less and give more... Go the extra mile for someone in need and/or for a worthy cause... Always do your best at work without any strings attached... And always be generous to those less fortunate. Remember, a man who dies with wealth dies in disgrace.
Everyone is a moon and has a darker side to which he never shows to anybody. Here again is a message of discipline and domestication; in both your actions and your words. As a general rule, always say less than you think, because the darker side of your unspoken thoughts should remain just that… unspoken. People who feel compelled to freely say everything on their mind without discretion lose credibility. So, choose your words carefully and always say what you mean, mean what you say, and be sensitive to your audience.
No woman or man really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. I am both happy and proud to say that in my youth, I was fortunate enough to have found the closest thing to the perfect spouse, as my wife and I have now been married for over thirty years and we have two successful adult children that are both very much an integral part of our lives today. My wife and I both became professionals in our respective fields and throughout the years, we never fought about money. Because when you are together with someone for so long, you will either grow together (and learn to think like one another) or grow apart. We were fortunate in that we grew together. My wife became more like me, and I became more like her; and each of us bringing out the best in one another. The secret to our success and the best advice that I can give to a young couple just starting out in their marriage is simply this… Always be kind to one another and you will always find joy in each other’s company.
Do right and you will be conspicuous. There are a couple of ways to interpret this… The first is that everybody loves a winner, and the winner usually gets the most attention. Alternatively, be noble and righteous and you will be recognized and praised for your nobility. Either way, you will gain people’s attention.
A man should not be without morals; it is better to have bad morals than none at all. A man without morals has no internal framework for making routine life decisions. A man without morals is often an unstable desperate man who will do most anything if he feels it will suit him in the moment. This man has no consistency in his life and his behaviors are both unpredictable and erratic. A man with bad morals at least has a consistent framework for making decisions, even if those decisions go against social norms.
Be good and you will be lonesome. What I believe is meant by this is that it is lonely at the top. If you are better than everyone else, then you will find little company within your peer group. People may even envy your success and keep their distance simply because they cannot relate to your success.
I am an old man and have known many troubles, but most of them never happened. The message here is not to succumb to your fears or become overly concerned about what “might” happen. Always be realistic in your expectations and conservative in your assessment of risk in all of your business ventures. A wise businessman never puts his investment principal at risk when the desired outcome is highly uncertain.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear; not the absence of fear. When faced with real and/or sudden danger, it is only the fool who is not afraid. So, when faced with a genuine crisis, the effective manager rolls up his sleeves and takes control with affirmative action to navigate the danger, and remains acutely focused on the matter until the danger has passed.
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is assured. Oh, how true this is... Because if we all knew right from the beginning exactly how hard something is going to be, and just how much work it is going to take, most us would never get started and/or quickly abandon our goals and accomplish nothing. And this is precisely why I do not prepare a timeline for completing CPA review studies with my students… Because if I told you the truth at the beginning on how long it’s going to take to adequately prepare for the CPA exam, you would quickly become demoralized and probably throw in the towel before we even got started. So, we’ll just stay ignorant with our timeline and just keep working toward your goal each and every day. The days will pass and your progress will advance. And before you know it, the finish line will be in sight… just not within the time frame that you may have initially planned.
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Indeed, there is perhaps no better salvation to feed the soul than forgiveness when one has been violated. As some people may seek retribution or revenge, do nothing of the sort and always remember this… “Living well is the sweetest revenge.” So, let it go, forgive, and live well. Bad karma always comes back to haunt those who have violated others.
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Let’s just say that it is not uncommon for successful people to fanaticize about living forever. Because when life has been good to them, they naturally want to keep living. But the successful retiree also finds content with his life’s accomplishments and no longer feels the need to set the world on fire. He looks back upon his career with content and is thus able to find peace in his senior years knowing that his remaining days are limited. He also comes to terms with his mortality by handing over his legacy and his wealth to the next generation during his lifetime; because he also knows that a man who dies with wealth dies in disgrace.
Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with. It has been said many times that time heals all ills. While this may be true in most circumstances, there are some things that time simply cannot heal. For example, the loss of a child. Joy, on the other hand, is something that is very empty and short-lived when one consumes it alone. Humans are social animals which explains why joyous times such as holidays are also social times. Eating can also be joyous thus we often eat together. Not surprisingly, happy people are generally social people while loners are usually unhappy unless they learn to find joy in other things such as hobbies, activities, and solitary work. To sum it all up, the more social skills a person has, the happier they generally are and more eager to participate in happy and joyful events.
Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits. Indeed… The behavior and habits of others can often become so annoying to the point of intolerance. And it’s usually the little things that over time, can really get on someone’s nerves. For example, blowing one’s nose at the dinner table or peeing all over the toilet seat and not cleaning it up afterward… Yes, it’s the little things that can turn into big problems if not addressed and corrected. So, the message here is one of consideration and tolerance. Respectful people need to learn both… To learn to accept the things they cannot change, to change the things they can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter. No doubt that laughter is a powerful weapon to combat disappointment and despair. But laughter should not be the first weapon of choice or used as a first response in moments of crisis. Always try to deal with each crisis in a logical and rational way to first mitigate the danger, and once the crisis has been resolved, then you can say, “We’re probably going to laugh about this later…”
In order to make a man or boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. This proverb reflects on the notion that life is not a having or a getting… but rather a being and a becoming. In other words, it is the process of life itself; the activity of living that makes life fulfilling, not the endpoint. So, once you achieve a certain goal, it’s then time to adopt a new goal and to move on to something else. Likewise, something is always is perceived to be better when you don’t yet have it. But once you get it, it has somehow magically lost the intensity of its appeal that it once had before you acquired it. This also explains why $100 is a lot of money to a person who has no money, yet $100 is an insignificant sum to the wealthy man. So, with all good intentions, the wealthy man may be so inclined to share his wealth with the poor, but this must be done wisely as he must be reminded that not all people are able to live in an environment of excess. Excess food, excess drink, excess wealth, excess time… All these things can become weapons with the potential to kill if not respected and managed. As a wise colleague of mine once quoted… “There’s a reason that you’re not supposed to feed the bears… because they forget how to hunt.” Such wisdom also applies to many of our government’s free give-away programs… because once people learn to rely solely on the government for their basic needs of survival, they will soon forget how to work.
It is better to deserve honors and not have them, than to have honors and not deserve them. It seems that anytime something good happens, people from all over come out of the woodwork and quickly step forward to take the credit; whether they deserve it or not. Sadly, some people may even compete with one another as to who should get the credit. Granted, it is flattering to be acknowledged when you do something good, and all managers should recognize and reward their employees for a job well done. But the minimalist employee wants to be recognized and rewarded even if his involvement in the project was mere token. These minimalist individuals also tend to exhibit a strong sense of entitlement and become dangerous to the organization when they attain positions of leadership and authority. The effective manager on the other hand rarely insists on taking the credit for every little success. Instead, he defers successful acknowledgement to his employees and ensures that the employees are the ones recognized for successful outcomes. With this humble management approach, the effective manager is able to build strong employee loyalty along with enhanced productivity from each and every employee that reports to that given manager. And the one thing that all employees should always do is to just do your duty, and not worry about whether anybody sees you do it or not. Responsible management will eventually recognize your efforts and compensate you accordingly.
There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist except an old optimist. Pessimism in young people often results from a troubled childhood. Unstable parents, a broken family, not enough money for food, too many siblings, and the list goes on and on. The world has not been kind to the deprived child and his outlook on the future is that the world will continue to deliver more of the same disappointment. The deprived child thus learns to trust no one and is forced to learn to fend for themselves at a very early age. Conversely, children who are nurtured and encouraged by their parents learn at a very early age that the world can be a good place in which to live and work. “I want to be an astronaut,” says Johnny while Mary says, “I want to be a teacher.” These are expressions of optimism which in most cases can help motivate young children toward achieving their adult goals. An old optimist is another sad thing since the old optimist has more than likely had a very productive life. It’s just sad that the old person’s terrific contribution to society will eventually come to an end; and that’s what makes it sad.
Whatever a man’s age, he can reduce it by several years by putting a bright-colored flower in his buttonhole. “Dress for success,” they say in business. And indeed, this is good advice. Always dress the part as your appearance is a direct reflection on how you perceive yourself. So, if you want others to perceive you as a respected business professional, then wear nice business clothes. Or, if you would rather be perceived as a head of cattle, then wear a gold ring in your nose and wear an ear tag from your ear. You might as well also get a tattoo on your ass because that’s basically the same type of branding that you would often find on a horse or cow. When I went to work, I always wore a business suit and a color-coordinated tie embellished with a perfectly-tied Windsor knot and a tie pin. Cufflinks on my pressed silk shirts as well. On special occasion, I would also sport a neatly folded handkerchief in my shirt pocket. I dressed elegantly each day I went to work for the entire 18 years I served as CFO of a major manufacturing company. I was also young at the time; in my mid 30’s. But even then, I acknowledged and respected the importance of dress and appearance of senior management. And when you are off duty and the dress is casual, always be sure to keep a tidy soul.
The lack of money is the root of all evil. Mr. Twain is spot-on about this one… Some people say that money is the root of all evil, but this is incorrect. Money is not the root of all evil; it is the lack of money that is the root of all evil. This is because desperate people do desperate things. Age provides no resistance to the reality that once the money runs out, so usually does one’s morals, principles, and values. In fact, some people will do most anything if faced with extreme circumstances that require them to act a certain way in order to survive; they may even break the law and/or commit sins and crimes on their fellow man; purely out of desperation.
A truth is not hard to kill… A lie told well is immortal. Let’s face it, the truth is often boring. A well-told lie on the other hand has the potential to become folklore. Remember the fish that got away? Remember how big it was? It was over 10 feet long! You wouldn’t have remembered its length if it were a mere six inches. It’s also funny how with all the cell phone cameras, security cameras, and dash cams, no one has yet captured a genuine clear photo of Bigfoot. Yet, look at all the stories and video documentaries describing in detail the close encounters with the creature. And why is there supposedly only one? Doesn’t he have a girlfriend? And how do we know that Bigfoot is even a boy? Conjecture and a lie told well always make for an enduring story. On a more practical note, and something that I learned from my father a long time ago… ”A little bit of knowledge and a little bit of bullshit will take you a long way.” The lesson here is to always maintain perspective in your stories; make them meaningful with a careful choice of words supported by predominantly factual information.
Patriot: The person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about. This definition also accurately describes a politician. Let’s review a few more definitions… Technician: Someone who knows a great deal about something, but is not very good at talking about it. Educator: Someone who knows a great deal about something and is also good at sharing his knowledge with others. Politician: Someone who is good at public speaking but usually knows not what he is talking about. Conformist: Someone who knows nothing and says nothing. Conformity: The natural instinct to passively yield to that vague something recognized as authority.
Unexpected money is a delight. The same sum is a bitterness when you expect more. This principal results from the expectations of entitlement. When a person feels he is entitled to something, rarely is the proposed settlement adequate. If on the other hand his mindset is free from the delusion of entitlement, this person will often find joy in even the simplest of things. “Fat, dumb, and happy…” A lifestyle commonly envied by educated people immersed in the business world. But why? Because the mindset of entitlement is usually absent in the person labeled as fat, dumb, and happy. Remove greed from the equation as well and most people can find happiness in even the simple things and in whatever money they are able to earn and save.
In certain trying circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity furnishes a relief denied even to prayer. Profanity often has its place, even in business. But profanity must be used sparingly… very sparingly. And profanity should never be used in the context of insulting someone. It should only be used when addressing a situation or circumstance, not people. You don’t call someone a f***ing a**hole, even if indeed they are. Address the situation and/or the behavior instead. Say… “What the f*** just happened here!” And then look around for someone to step forward to take responsibility rather than immediately attack the one clearly responsible.
Life is short, break the rules. Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that makes you smile. Some people also say… “Slow down and take the time to smell the flowers.” But this so often very hard to do when the time pressures of everyday life always seem to take precedence. But as you go through work, life, career, and marriage, do take the time to occasionally slow down and regroup. This is what vacations are for. Work hard, play hard, and always prioritize your health above all else. For once your health becomes compromised, most everything else no longer matters.
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on. This is because everybody seems to be quickly drawn to bad news. Just turn on the evening news and keep track of how many good news stories are told, and how many stories are bad news. The bad news stories clearly dominate. So, go find some bad news and develop a good story around it and watch it spread… This also happens to be the first rule of journalism. Because bad news sells. Just look at all the tabloids that routinely spread bad news and fake news as well. Because it sells. Human nature, I guess. So, if you wish to greatly improve your outlook on life, skip the evening news and focus on self-development activities instead. You’ll be happier and more productive in the long run.
I have found out that their ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. Also true is to live with them... This too becomes good advice for a young couple contemplating marriage. My wife and I have been married for over thirty years and we lived with one another first; for a little over 10 years before we finally got married. We learned a lot about each other during those ten years but most importantly, we learned to deeply respect one other’s independence and individuality. To this day, I am convinced that the years we lived together before marriage gave us the mindset we needed for a successful lifetime of marriage and responsible parenting. Neither of us had ever developed a sense of entitlement, and neither of us ever tried to exploit the other. Instead, we always worked together to strengthen our marriage and to set an excellent example for our children.
Loyalty to country; always. Loyal to government; only when it deserves it. During the mid to late 1800’s, patriotism was strongly prevalent in American society as would be expected. But with today’s information overload and the ease and speed at which information can be dispersed, it now seems that every special interest group wants to be politically acknowledged and recognized center stage. As a result, patriotism has seemingly taken a back seat and is not as prevalent as it once was. Our political parties now must routinely deal with special interest groups and they do so in their own special way to the extent that it will support their political agenda. So today, it becomes very difficult to support a given political party when it is so difficult for the average voter to clearly determine what principles their chosen party stands for. The distractions caused by special interest groups often cloud the more-important issues of political importance and as a result, decisions are made and laws are passed that may not benefit the majority. I don’t have a good answer to this dilemma except to say that the government should not spend more money than it takes in, and that lowering the public debt should be a main priority of each and every responsible public official.
Never marry a woman who has sex with her own ego, for it will always take precedence over you. What we’re describing here is a woman consumed by her own vanity. The self-absorbed woman is usually one of low self-esteem and in her own eyes, her appearance never seems to be good enough. She thinks her boobs are too small, her butt is too big, and her lips are too thin. She also thinks that she may be a little plump around the waist. She’s just not the perfect being in her own assessment of herself. Truth is, there is no such thing as the perfect woman, just as in pedigree purebred dogs… there’s no such thing as the perfect dog. So, in dog shows, dogs are measured against a breed standard and the one who comes closest to the breed standard wins. Gee, I wonder what the breed standard is for a woman? The correct answer is different for every woman, and should also be whatever her man finds appealing. Thus, the woman who goes to great lengths to fix her perceived shortcomings with facelifts, boob enhancements, and plastic surgery has in her own mind what needs to be done. Her man's opinion usually doesn’t matter. So, when a woman takes the initiative to do these things to her body on her own and without the input from her significant other, then she in clearly in love with herself more than she will probably ever be in love with you. Be cautious in your relationship with a woman of this type. For the one thing that you simply cannot give to her is her self-esteem. She has to learn to get her own self-esteem all by herself, and through whatever devices she thinks are appropriate. So, when her approach to improving her self-esteem is to become artificially enhanced and/or inflated to the point of resembling a blow-up doll, these devices usually do not require your input, opinions, or participation, and you will probably never mean anything more to her then perhaps a way to finance her own distorted perceptions of herself.
After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about eve in the beginning; it is indeed better to live outside the garden with her than inside it without her. Women are not perfect. And for that matter, neither are men. There will always be some degree of conflict and disagreement between the sexes, and this is simply because men and women think differently. Especially in their approach to raising children. Children need both a mother and a father to grow up properly, and not surprisingly, children deprived of one or the other in their formative years often have difficulty in adulthood with their relationships with the opposite sex. This is because humans are social animals and people need other people. A man needs a woman just as much as a woman needs a man. People usually do not do very well if they are forced to live alone. So, no matter how much better you think things will be if you divorce your significant other, your life may become very lonely and empty if you do. As a preferred alternative to divorce, make every effort to communicate with your spouse and exhaust all possible means to solve your problems together. Because if you are hastily quick to abandon your marriage commitment, there will more than likely come a time that you realize that separating from one another was a big mistake.
Human pride is not worthwhile, there is always something lying in wait to take the wind out of it. In business as in sports, you’re only as good as your last performance. And just so long as you are still winning, you will remain in the limelight and in the forefront of conversation. But everyone’s time in the limelight is limited as there will always be newcomers to take your place. You then fade out of current news and settle into an ordinary life. For some, the thought of losing their popularity is unbearable. Think about how many people in the music and entertainment business became depressed and suicidal when their careers had reached the end. So, enjoy your successes as they occur, and reflect on them as fond memories when your time in the spotlight has passed. Don’t dwell on the fact that you are now a “has-been.” Support the next generation of high-achievers instead and strive to make them even greater than you once were.
When in doubt, tell the truth. By telling the truth, you won’t have to think very hard to make up a false story. Telling the truth is always a good policy, and as fate would have it, the truth eventually comes out in the end anyway.
By trying, we can easily learn to endure adversity. This is because adversity is a perception, and by trying, we can usually figure out how to do things and overcome adversity. Remember, the only difference between a crisis and an inconvenience is one’s perception of the event. A man who knows how to change a flat tire on the side of the road experiences an inconvenience while the man who has never learned how to use a jack and a lug wrench experiences a crisis. In conclusion, the ability to find solutions to life’s challenges is what makes us grow as a person.
The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up. Remember, no matter how bad you think you may have it, there’s always someone else out there who is experiencing tougher times than you. So, when your spirits could use a lift, stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. You’ll begin to feel better in no time.
No civilization can be perfect until the exact equality between men and women is included. The leaders of some middle-eastern countries can take a lesson from this one... In cultures where women are denied the right to vote, become educated, drive a car, socialize, and dress as they see fit, oppression is at the heart of their fundamental ruling party. These cultures are also stagnantly behind the times of modern civilization and govern themselves through oppressive dictatorships and martial law. Definitely, not the place where I would care to live. Only by acknowledging equality between men and women and emerging from the dark ages of mediaeval rule will oppressive countries be able to participate in the world marketplace and be competitive in the global economy.
The man who is a pessimist before age 48 knows too much. If he is an optimist after age 48, he knows too little. This quote provides us with an insight into obtaining wisdom. Indeed, most young people are optimistic about life and about their future. But as they age, they eventually encounter the many hard realities and lessons of life, and some of those realities are not necessarily pleasant. Especially if they had to learn one or more of those lessons the hard way. The more one travels down the path of life, the more one also learns about society’s ills and shortcomings. This can often be depressing and in extreme cases where life has delivered a significant blow to the individual, he may become reserved, withdrawn, cynical, or depressed. So, to prevent one’s self from falling into a black hole of despair, it’s always best to learn to see the glass half full rather than half empty.
An honest man in politics shines more than he would elsewhere. This is because the voting public prefers honesty to empty political promises and lies. Honesty in politics is also commonly rewarded with favorable attention, commendations, reward ceremonies, and continued support from the general public. Deception and lies on the other hand are quickly discredited by the political opposition making the offending politician’s continued tenure in office highly uncertain.
To be busy is man’s only happiness. Being busy may not necessarily be man’s only happiness, but keeping busy can certainly make most men feel useful and productive.
No real gentlemen will tell the naked truth in the presence of the ladies. I guess this one too is a classic example of vintage southern hospitality. Even in our modern world, no real gentlemen should state the naked truth publicly or in a social setting. Sensitive matters of a personal nature are best discussed privately, if at all.
Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many. Despite the aches and pains commonly associated with growing old, my own mother would often say, “It’s a privilege to be alive.” And indeed, she was right. And if only we could convince all the young people in our society of this wisdom and how blessed they truly are to have been given the gift of life, the soundness of mind, and the opportunity to make a difference in the world… Then there would probably be little or no illicit drug use, no poverty, and no despair. The future is in the hands of the young, so it is our duty as their elders to optimistically teach them all that we know, and all that we have learned through our own life experiences.
It is the little conveniences that make the real comfort of life. Learn to be happy with the little things in life. And know when good enough will suffice. Not everything in life has to be the best in order to gain pleasure from it. In fact, it disturbs me to no end whenever I see the Mercedes Benz car commercial that promotes… “The best or nothing.” Is this really the value system that they are trying to instill on their potential customers? Buy a Mercedes Benz or simply don’t drive? What kind of shallow people would buy into this sort of thinking and buy a Mercedes Benz in response to this commercial? Who are they are marketing their cars toward? People with an abundance of money but no brains? Apparently so, and I guess that’s why I didn’t go into marketing. Having said all this, I have little respect for people who place an over-emphasis on owning extravagant material possessions like fancy cars and Rolex watches. But these sorts of people do exist. I can also tell you that I am probably happier driving my economical shiny new Toyota C-HR than they are driving their over-priced Mercedes Benz. Besides, I know how to change my own tire if the need arises. I bet most Mercedes Benz owners don’t even know if their car even has a spare tire. Remember, not everybody can afford the best. And by no means does this make them lesser of a person as the Mercedes Benz car commercial would otherwise tend to suggest.
Good books, good friends, and a sleepy conscience; this is the ideal life. This is another quote that reminds me of something that my father would often say to me... “All I ask for is an uncomplicated lifestyle.” And indeed, I never forgot those words as I approach my own retirement. Imagine having a life so complicated where you require an entire staff of people to manage your fundamental existence… It should come as no surprise that there are many people who fall into this category, and perhaps more than you think. For example, when my son was participating in community baseball, I used to sit and watch his baseball practice at 3 o’clock in the afternoon with another father. After some light conversation as to how I was able to attend his afternoon baseball practices when most other parents were hard at work, he then conjectured that I was probably a millionaire. He then told me that he was a billionaire and that he envied my now-simple life. He also basically broke down into tears and confessed that he had lost control of his life and really knew nothing of the family business he inherited from his father and terrified that news could come any day that he was now broke. I sympathized with him and also told him that for all the money in the world, I would not trade places with him if it meant giving up fundamental control of my life.
A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation. This becomes clearly evident when people, especially young people, routinely use profanity in every other word of their daily conversation. Learn to master the spoken and written word with style and grace and you can command great power over others. But mastering effective communication takes considerable training and practice. Commit to this training and be mindful of your words and watch your career soar.
Only children and fools always speak the truth. Children naturally tend to speak the truth. It is only when they get older is when they learn how to lie. So as a person navigates through life, he must be careful as to how much and what type of information to reveal to others. Mark Twain also said… “An intelligent person never shares three things with anyone. Their innermost fears, past regrets, and ultimate excuse for showing up late.” In the last part of his quote, he too is somewhat of an advocate of not always telling the truth. So, indeed there must be times when one must discriminate on just how much information to reveal. But a lie of omission is still a lie, so all people must come to terms with the content and extent of information they are comfortable in revealing without losing credibility.
To change your life, you need to change your priorities. Not much to add to this quote since the message is quite clear. During the mid-1950’s, Earl Nightingale also presented to the world in his famous radio broadcast entitled “The Strangest Secret” in which he concluded… “We become what we think about.” This message has similar implications to the above quote in that if you think about something long enough, then you will become what you think about. For example, if you constantly think about drugs, then you will become a drug addict. If you constantly think about alcohol, then you will become an alcoholic. If you think about crime, then you will become a criminal. On the positive side, if you think about accounting, then you can learn to become an accountant. If you think about medicine, then you can learn to become a doctor. Thus, when you change your priorities to begin thinking about something new on regular daily basis, you will become exactly that and undoubtedly change your life. So, “Fake it until you make it.” Just apply yourself and keep thinking about your goal and keep doing it each and every day. The finish line will eventually come and you too will become what you think about.
The gods offer no rewards for intellect. There was never one yet that showed any interest in it. Let’s just say that most religions rely on faith since it usually doesn’t take any intellect to belong to a given religion. Religion has deep roots in the history of mankind and it was the religious leaders of ancient times who usually made the laws and governed the land. Many doctrines of ancient religion have also found their way into our legal system of today. While the importance of religion in modern society cannot be disputed, the gods of these religions still need a way to control the masses. And they usually do so through “the fear of God” and by discouraging independent thinking. Remember the ancient astronomer Galileo Galilei who committed a horrendous crime over 500 years ago when he profoundly stated the earth was not at the center of the universe, and the earth revolves around the sun. Galileo went to jail for publicly stating such atrocities and eventually died while under house arrest. It wasn’t until after more than 500 years when the Roman catholic church formally absolved Galileo of his crimes, and finally admitted that Galileo was indeed correct. Apparently, the earth really does revolve around the sun, and not the other way around. But for over 500 years, the Roman catholic church simply wasn’t interested in Galileo’s intellect. Go figure.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. A wise old Chinese man (Confucius, I think it was) also said… “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” The wisdom here is that once you get started, your momentum will carry you to the finish line. But some people still never seem to finish what they start while others routinely see their projects through to completion. I have discovered that the secret to completing what you begin is to always do your best possible work, make no compromises, and watch a masterpiece of progress evolve. The satisfaction of doing quality work fuels the continued motivation necessary to finish the job. Conversely, if you do poor quality work at every step, you can quickly become demoralized when a substandard product begins to emerge from a substandard effort. Even the Boy Scout motto says… “Do your best” which enhances motivation in young people so they are able to finish what they start.
The self-taught man seldom knows anything accurately, and he does not know a tenth as much as he could have known if he had worked under teachers. This quote is not the end of the story and in no way should diminish the value of the self-taught man… We’ve all hear the expression… “He’s a jack of all trades.” Despite the perceived stereotype of not being an expert at anything, the “jack of all trades” is still a very impressive individual since he has demonstrated in many areas that he is capable to learn independently. This individual also has the unlimited potential to become an expert at most anything once he applies himself to expanding his knowledge in those areas of special interest through a formal education. Even in business, a versatile businessman who learns how to use both his mind and is hands is worth a thousand times more to a company compared to the formally-educated man of intellect that doesn’t know which end of a screwdriver to use.
The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time, you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say. The message here is that effective written communication (like this one) evolves through a series of many rough drafts. As an author of many written publications and books, I too can confirm this to be true. Rarely does an author get it tight on the first pass. Proofreading is also essential, and whenever final-proofreading an important document, always proofread from a printed copy, and never from a computer screen. You’ll be surprised as to how many more errors of punctuation and grammar you are likely to find.
There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate; when he can’t afford it, and when he can. Many people have difficulty in understanding the dual message of this quote. But there is really only principal piece of advice offered here, and that is to be conservative and not to gamble. Whether you can afford to gamble or not doesn’t matter; people should never gamble or take risks that have the potential for catastrophic loss. Instead, important decisions need to be carefully researched and based on the most reliable information available. In the second part of this quote, the implied message here is not to put your investment principal at risk. Benjamin Graham, the famous author of the holy grail book on investing entitled “The Intelligent Investor” expands on the topic of risk and cites that while a wealthy investor may be financially able to absorb certain investment losses, no one should ever put their investment principal at risk as this violates the most fundamental principal of preserving wealth. The tricky part here is to determine what is genuinely risky and what is not. According to Mr. Graham, if one is to never put their investment principal at risk, their wealth is certain to grow over time. This is because whenever money is invested in a venture that involves even the slightest amount of risk, there’s an 80% chance of losing 90% of your investment if you stay invested in that venture over the long term. And once your investment principal is gone, it’s gone for good. And you most certainly don’t want to go through life having to earn your money twice. So, for those that may still have an appetite for investment risk, let’s just say that you should never invest in any risky venture (or stock) unless you also have a very clear plan as to how and when to get out.
What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so. In statistics, this is known as a committing a Type II error; accepting a false reality. In business, Type-II errors commonly result in economic loss and financial liability. And as one goes through life, let’s just say that one would not hope to committing too many Type-II errors as this is often referred to as “learning things the hard way.”
Write without pay until somebody offers to pay. In business, and to really get ahead in your career, you must first deliver on the job and then insist on being compensated for your accomplishments and achievements afterward. It simply doesn’t work the other way around unless you have a wealth of achievements and accomplishments that you can immediately bring to the table. Employees who say “pay me first and then I will perform” rarely get hired and even if they do, rarely do they perform to their employer’s expectations and their tenure within a given company is usually short-lived. High-achievers on the other hand deliver spectacular results in the workplace first, at nominal pay, and then become adequately recognized and compensated for their exceptional performance afterward.
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I leave you with two additional quotes; not from Mark Twain, but rather from my own mother and father. My mother always said… “God helps those who help themselves.” And my father always said… “If it is to be, then it is up to me.” These special words of wisdom were spoken to me many times as a child, and I have no doubt they were instrumental to my own success in becoming as an executive accountant and in living a happy and productive adult life. So, to my parents… I am eternally grateful for your support and for guiding me into the magical world of accounting and finance. Thank you, mom and dad.
Andrew S. Rosz, CPA, Instructor
South Florida CPA Review Program
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