Acres of Diamonds
One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman.
One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but could not afford the expense. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving, students. He did have a challenge, however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with real purpose in life, nothing could stand in the way of his goal.
Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story - with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to mine diamonds. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.
Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, 'The whole farm is covered with them' - and sure enough it was.
The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine . . . the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on 'Acres of Diamonds' until he sold his farm.
Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach it's moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own 'Acre of Diamonds', if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures. Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting colleges and six other schools.
When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own 'Acre of Diamonds', he meant it. This story does not get old . . . it will be true forever . . .
Opportunity does not just come along, it is there all the time - we just have to see it.
Written by Earl Nightingale
Author & Motivational Speaker
Terry is a sought after speaker who believes in the power of a story to motivate, inspire, and help others lead their uncommon and extraordinary lives. By combining his eleven-year cancer journey with his diverse business, athletic coaching, and hostage negotiating expertise, he delivers compelling yet relatable presentations for conferences, on-line events, panels, meetings, and seminars.
Mmoja wa watu mashuhuri zaidi wa Amerika katika karne ya 19 alikuwa Russell Herman Conwell. Alizaliwa mwaka 1843 na aliishi hadi 1925. Alikuwa mwanasheria kwa miaka kumi na mitano hivi hadi alipokuwa kasisi. Siku moja kijana mmoja alimwendea na kumwambia kwamba alitaka kwenda chuo kikuu lakini hakuweza kumudu gharama. Dakt. Conwell aliamua, wakati huo, kujenga chuo kikuu kwa ajili ya wanafunzi wasio na bahati, lakini wanaostahili. Hata hivyo, alikuwa na tatizo. Angehitaji dola milioni chache kujenga chuo kikuu hicho. Kwa Dr. Conwell, na mtu yeyote mwenye kusudi la kweli maishani, hakuna kinachoweza kumzuia afikie lengo lake. Miaka kadhaa kabla ya tukio hilo, Dakt. Conwell alivutiwa sana na hadithi ya kweli - yenye maadili yasiyo na mwisho. Mkulima mmoja wa Afrika aliwahi kumwona mgeni mmoja akimtafuta almasi. Alama za almasi zilipatikana katika bara la Afrika na wakulima hao walifurahi sana na wazo la kupata almasi zenye thamani ya mamilioni ya dola, na hivyo wakauza shamba lao ili kwenda kuondoa almasi. Alitembea-tembea barani kote, kadiri miaka ilivyopita, akitafuta almasi daima, ambazo hakupata kamwe. Mwishowe alipoteza pesa kabisa na kujiingiza katika mto na kuzama. Wakati huo huo, mmiliki mpya wa shamba lake alichukua jiwe lisilo la kawaida, lenye ukubwa wa yai la mashambani, na kulitia juu ya mto wake kama aina ya udadisi. Mgeni mmoja alisimama na wakati wa kutazama mwamba huo karibu akaanza kuugua. Aliwaambia wamiliki wa shamba hilo kwamba jiwe hilo lenye umbo la ajabu lililokuwa kwenye mto wake lilikuwa kama almasi kubwa zaidi iliyowahi kupatikana. Mmiliki mpya wa shamba alisema, 'Shamba lote limefunikwa na wao' - na kwa kweli ilikuwa hivyo. Shamba hilo lilitambuliwa kuwa Mgodi wa Almasi wa Kimberly. . . tajiri zaidi ambayo ulimwengu umewahi kuona. Mkulima wa awali alikuwa amesimama kihalisi juu ya 'Ares of Diamonds' mpaka alipouza shamba lake. Conwell alisoma hadithi ya mkulima na akaendelea kufundisha maadili yake. Kila mmoja wetu yuko katikati ya 'Aka ya Almasi' yake mwenyewe, ikiwa tu tutafahamu na kuendeleza ardhi ambayo tunasimama kabla ya kuendesha nje kutafuta malisho ya kijani kibichi. Dakt. Conwell alisimulia hadithi hii mara nyingi na kuvutia watazamaji wengi sana. Alieleza hadithi hiyo kwa muda mrefu vya kutosha kukusanya pesa za kuanzisha chuo hicho kwa ajili ya wanafunzi wenye sifa za hali ya chini. Kwa kweli, alikusanya karibu dola milioni sita na chuo kikuu alichokianzisha, Chuo Kikuu cha Temple huko Philadelphia, kina angalau vyuo kumi vya kutoa digrii na shule nyingine sita. Daktari Russell H. Conwell aliposema kwamba kila mmoja wetu yuko katika 'Aka yetu ya Almasi,' alikuwa akimaanisha hivyo. Hadithi hii haizidi kuwa ya zamani. . . itakuwa kweli milele. . . Fursa hazitokei tu, zipo wakati wote - tunapaswa tu kuziona. "Terry ni msemaji anayetafutwa ambaye anaamini katika nguvu ya hadithi ya kuhamasisha, kuhamasisha, na kusaidia wengine kuongoza maisha yao ya kawaida na ya ajabu. """ Kwa kuchanganya safari yake ya miaka kumi na moja ya saratani na biashara yake mbalimbali, mafunzo ya michezo, na utaalam wa kujadili mateka, anatoa maonyesho ya kuvutia lakini ya kuhusiana kwa mikutano, matukio ya mtandaoni, paneli, mikutano na semina.