I asked a self-made billionaire for some life advice
The suburb right next to where I live has the beach as its neighbour on one side and has a lot of aspirational homes. It is not where the yuppies live, but where the ones who do not wear their dollar up their shirts, live.
On my walks or as I wait for a “Long Black with a dash of skinny hot milk” at Elliot’s cafe, I have conversations. I met Scott on one of those days.
Baseball cap, knee length shorts, round spectacles, thick jaw, curious eyes, tall with a slight hunch that comes with age, Scott looks more like a retired army man.
After the customary G’day and a short chat, he walked away.
The girl at the cafe later told me, “In case you did not know, who you just spoke to is a billionaire, a self-made one. A first generation migrant, he lost his parents at high school and he worked his way up”.
Wow. Interesting life story.
The next day I met Scott, I asked him for a few minutes. One chat led to another and over a period of time, we were morning-walk-buddies.
One day I asked him, “So Scott, what makes you a billionaire? If you were to give the world one tip, what would that be?”
Scott laughed at first. Then he became quiet. He pondered. He continued to walk with me. His eyes narrowed as if rewinding a life.
“Rituals. If there was one thing that surfaces up when I reflect on 89 years of my life, it would be rituals. I am sure there may be other stuff, but they do not seem to matter now”.
Tell me more, I prodded along.
“I would break this up into three rituals I have done from probably 55 years at a stretch. Every single day”, continued Scott.
- Start the day with an intention.
“I used to take the train to work those days. A quick 15 minute ride. People used to be with their newspapers or books. I would have my small, little notebook and would write the one big thing I wanted to achieve that day. I would think about it as if it is done.”
2. End the day with gratitude
“In my younger days I was cocky — very cocky and arrogant. A few trips to The School of Hard Knocks and I softened up. What started off as prayers seeking help moulded themselves into an act of reflection and gratitude for what has gone well. The day could have ended worse in a hundred different ways. Over a period of time, I saw that whatever I was thankful for, grew in my life.”
3. You are what you do daily
“A baker is a great baker, because he bakes every single day. What you are every day defines you. So the best way to become something is to make a start one day and stick to it for the rest of your life. Find a place for it in your life.”
Scott moved on. His gait, at 89, still was grounded and showed purpose. There I was, still finding my feet.
