Page 46 - How To Get Rich

others as well. In my business, I can’t take chances. If something is not
quite right with the design or construction of a superstructure, a lot of
people could be injured or killed. I’vegot to know what’s going on. Bottom
line, it will be my responsibility.

People see the finished product. Wow, a skyscraper! What goes into it
is another story. Construction isn’t glamorous. It’s a serious and often
dangerous endeavor. Fortunately, I understood this from my earliest days
in the business, so there’s a certain gravity in my approach to the
construction of any building.
That’s where having learned to do my homework comes in handy. It’s a
necessary requirement, not an extracurricular course to enhance my

productivity. Not only do I have to know exactly what I’m doing, but I’ve
also got to make sure I find contractors who know exactly what they’re
doing as well. That’s why I’m tough on them, and that’s why I’m equally
tough on myself. A lot of lives are at stake in our work. We don’t want any
interesting experiences!
We all know what it’s like to pretend to study. There are some courses

in school that just don’t hold your attention. If you are choosing a career,
keep that in mind. What most holds your attention?
Consider a pyramid. Did you ever notice how large and solid the
foundation is? Did you notice the carefully graduated levels that
eventually lead to the pinnacle? Now turn the pyramid upside down. That’s
a representation of topsy-turvy thinking. You don’t start at the top. You
start with the foundation—the stronger, the better.

The world moves along at such a fast clip that we have little patience
when things are slow, whether it’s the line at a supermarket or Internet
access. We’ve become intolerant of those things that cannot be accelerated
or skipped entirely. I can’t speed up the foundation work for a building,
nor can I expect to play piano like Glenn Gould just because I want to.

Know the limitations as well as the possibilities of everything you do.
Find out as much as you canyourself about what you plan to do, and don’t
expect anyone to act as your favorite grandmother in wanting what’s best
for you. Most people want what’s best forthemselves, not for you. If those
people have already spent a great deal of effort on their homework, why
should they share it with you?

Listen to a Ping-Pong Game