Great read from the Canadian Business magazine reviewing a new book titled: Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive. I loved the proverbs mentioned. If only people had lived by them, the world would not be in the present financial mess we are wading through.
Here’s some business advice from a venerable old leader “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” It’s a simple principle, and one almost universally acknowledged. More advice from the same guy: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.” It makes sense: your name, or your brand, is everything. Here’s one more tip from King Solomon: “The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns.” Can’t you just see it on one of those workplace motivational posters?
“I wish I could memorize the whole book of Proverbs,” says one Amish businessman about the Bible book from which the above verses are taken. “There’s a lot of truth in there, about business and about making money, and about using money, and handling people.” He calls it the ultimate guide to marketing. And fair enough; between the bits about avoiding “harlots” and “whorish women,” Solomon offers plenty of useful bullet points. But the question of why anybody in the secular world would turn to the Amish for business advice in the first place is answered right off the top in Erik Wesner’s Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive (Jossey-Bass). ...
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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A fellow went to an Amish community to raise funds for a Christian mission overseas. The fellow sat on the stage as the Amish folks filled the church. Women on one side men on the other of a false wall. After a few moments of pregnant silence the fellow realized he was not going to be introduced so he began his talk. At the end of his talk silence ensued until a few of the men began to pass their hats around the church. A large sum of money was then given to the speaker who asked for someone to help him count it so he could keep everything on the up and up. He got a few puzzled looks and was told that the Amish didn't want to know how much they had given and since they had trusted the speaker enough to give him the money it was between the speaker and God what happened to the money.
ReplyDeleteOne of the successes of the Amish is that money is not an end in itself. It is the by product of a life well lived.
Thanks for picking up the review of my book. The Amish approach to money is refreshing. I spoke with some local bankers recently in Lancaster County about the fact that their Amish clients are making payments, even if it means stretching and working out a way. There is an aversion to bankruptcy that serves Amish society well.
ReplyDeleteNo, THANK YOU. There is so much we don't know about this community and to learn that they are so self-sufficient should be a lesson to many of us who have become so reliant on a variety of things the Amish have never even heard of or want to.
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