Today is a slow news day so I decided to make a book recommendation instead.
I have read a number of startup motivation books. Some of my favorites include Shoe Dog, Founders at Work, Zero to One and Hard Things about Hard Things. But I believe I finally found THE ultimate startup motivation book: The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son. I can’t believe this book was written more than 100 years ago. It’s still so relevant. I believe I read this book in my 20s but it didn’t make an impression on me. Now, I am much older. I can appreciate.
Some people might find some of the content culturally inappropriate but since these letters were not meant to be shared publicly, it only makes these letters more authentic. As a struggling entrepreneur, I appreciate Mr. Rockefeller’s insights of life and business so much. Here are a few passages that deeply resonate with me (I paraphrase the quotes a bit from my memory) :
Many people focus on what they don’t have but people should instead focus on what they do have to succeed. Life is hard and most of the time people don’t have all the elements to make it work. People who achieve their goals maximize what they have to compensate for things they don’t have.
Most businesses fail not because of the mistakes founders make. They fail because of the lack of dedication from the founders.
Money is not the root of all evil. Loving money is the root of all evil. Money is a tool to make people’s lives better. Money for money’s sake is dangerous.
A lot of people try to eat healthy and avoid junk food. That’s great. But it’s even more important to nurture our mind with clean spiritual thoughts and avoid junk thoughts as our mind determines our choices and actions. Good mind results in good choices and actions. Junk mind results in junk choices and actions.
I am merely scratching the surface here. There are 38 amazing letters!! These letters help lift my spirits and re-energize me to keep grinding. I am so grateful that these letters are published. May I suggest that you stop reading this blog and go read this book instead? It’s available on Kindle.