There is an ancient proverb that states that:
‘When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul; discretion will preserve you and understanding shall keep you.’
When you combine both wisdom and knowledge you get common sense. But then add to that formula discretion.
Discretion consists of the ability to make sound and wise judgments for your own life.
This is one of the necessary ingredients for a life lived long and a life lived well; a preserved life that rides through the storms, weathers the winds of change and is kept in good shape as one pursues their dreams.
The old proverb tells us that in being discreet we will be preserved. That means that we will be sustained and that we will be kept or saved from harm or destruction.
In this day and age, where there is so much violence, it is something that is of major importance to those of us who have families.
But what are the characteristics of a discreet, successful and wealthy life? What qualities must you develop and what habits must you adopt in order to be preserved from those things that threaten your success on a daily basis?
Here are the five points, at a glance:
- Get the facts
- Find a mentor
- Respect the numbers (the 100-1 Rule)
- Be vigilant
- Make your own decisions
Each one is simple on its own. Together, they form a quiet discipline that separates those who dream from those who build. Let’s look at them one by one.
1. Get the Facts
Never rely on hearsay. Go to the source and find out the facts. This relates to anything that you are involved in. Don’t rely on the reporter. Go to the reported. Whether it is investments, motivational formulas, or anything that you are interested in, make certain that you get as many viewpoints as possible – and then compare notes. Do your own research and never be reliant on the so-called expertise of another without doing your own personal investigation. The reason so many of us make bad judgments is because we have been mentally lazy.
A simple habit fixes this. Before you act on any advice, ask yourself: have I heard the other side? One hour of your own investigation is worth ten hours of borrowed opinions.
2. Find a Mentor
Mentors are available everywhere. You will be amazed how freely information and input is available. People in general are more than willing to share information with those who have a hunger and a willingness to learn. On the Internet there are forums that allow you to ask questions and it certainly provides a platform for you to discover your mentor. Once you have found them, make certain that they walk the talk. By spending time with them you will soon discover the truth behind their words, and through your friendship you will discover fortunes untold.
One word of caution, though. A real mentor will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. If someone only ever praises your ideas, they are a fan, not a mentor.
3. The 100-1 Rule: Success Is a Numbers Game
I don’t know if it is a law or not, but I have come across this principle time and time again. In property investment and development it is true. For from my experience, if you look at 100 properties, put in offers on 10, and try to arrange financing for 3, you may end up buying 1. In another industry they recommended that if you talk to 100 people you would ultimately end up with 1 person who will shine above all the rest. Success is a number’s game. Go through the numbers and you cannot but learn and succeed.
The lesson here is not really about property. It is about persistence. Most people quit after five attempts and call it failure. The numbers tell a different story: every ‘no’ you collect is simply a step in the count toward your one ‘yes’.
4. Be Vigilant
Don’t relax in your success. Guard it wisely. I have seen so many people who have had a taste of success and then they suddenly stop doing what got them success in the first place. They think that once they have it, it will remain forever. Not true. It requires vigilance and diligence. If before you succeeded you read a book 20 minutes a day, then don’t stop. If you attended seminars, then continue doing so. If you talked to a certain number of people each day, then increase it. Whatever it took to get you where you are, then don’t decrease. Multiply your efforts. Work harder. Renew your dream and go for it.
5. Make Your Own Decisions
If you allow others to make decisions for your life, you will wake up one day in a place that you never planned to be. Always, always, always make your own decisions for your own life. Listen to the experts, but don’t let them rule your decisions. Allow them to guide you, but become educated in the area that the experts are operating so that you can then make your own qualified decisions. Again, don’t have a lazy mind. Rather, have a learned mind.
How to Apply These Qualities in Your Daily Life
Reading about these qualities is easy. Living them is another matter. Here is a simple way to start:
This week, choose one decision you have been putting off and make it yourself — after checking the facts, not the opinions.
Set aside 20 minutes a day for your own research and reading. Guard that time the way you guard your income.
Reach out to one person you admire and ask a single, thoughtful question. That is how most mentorships begin.
Track your own numbers: how many offers, conversations, or attempts you make each week. What gets counted gets improved.
Review your goals every Sunday evening and ask one question: am I still doing what got me here?
Small, repeated actions. That is the whole secret.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important quality of wealthy people?
If you had to choose one, it would be discretion — the ability to make sound, wise judgments for your own life. The other four qualities on this list are really discretion in action: checking facts, choosing mentors carefully, respecting the numbers, and deciding for yourself.
Can anyone develop these qualities?
Yes. None of these five require talent, capital, or connections. They require habits — and habits can be built by anyone willing to start small and stay consistent.
How long before I see results?
Faster than you might expect in your thinking, slower than you might like in your bank account. The 100-1 Rule applies here too: the more attempts you make, the sooner your one ‘yes’ arrives.
Final Thoughts: Preserve Your Freedom to Succeed
These five discretionary success qualities will assist you in the preservation and the sustainment of a successful and wealthy life. Apply them today and preserve your freedom to succeed.
And here is a thought to leave you with: wealth is not first built in banks or property markets. It is built in the mind — in the facts you check, the mentors you choose, the numbers you respect, and the decisions you refuse to hand over to anyone else. Which of the five qualities do you need to work on most? Start there. Today.