Following Forbes
Success, happiness, and contentment are not a matter of discovering a new path to the top of the mountain, but instead, they are a matter of finding someone already on the right path and following the leader. A bit of success as an author, movie producer, TV and radio personality, columnist, and public speaker has given me many wonderful benefits in my life— among them is the opportunity to meet, associate with, and learn from some of the greatest people in the 20th and now the 21st century.
Many years ago, I stopped measuring my wealth based on how much money I have, but instead, I base it upon the character and caliber of my friends. I can honestly say I am a wealthier person because Steve Forbes is my friend. I met Mr. Forbes in early 2000. He was compiling a book entitled, Forbes Great Success Stories: Twelve Tales of Victory Wrested from Defeat. He asked me to be one of the 12 entrepreneurs featured in that book, and that was the beginning of our relationship.
Since then, he has written the foreword for one of my books, provided endorsements for others, and made a cameo appearance in one of my movies entitled, The Lamp. Steve Forbes is, arguably, one of the greatest financial and political minds on the planet today, but acting in a movie was certainly not in his comfort zone, so I remain grateful to him for being a part of The Lamp.
I am convinced that we become like the people with whom we associate. With that in mind, those of you who would like to connect with Steve Forbes and me can avail yourselves of an online opportunity later this month hosted by The Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship and organized and presented by Tulsa Town Hall. I will be introducing Steve Forbes and facilitating a dialogue between us. You can access this discussion by 10:00 a.m. Central on June 26 via tulsatownhall.com. It will remain active until July 22. If you have questions for Steve Forbes or me, please submit them to info@tulsatownhall.com by June 19.
This was originally scheduled to be a live event in my hometown, but due to the pandemic it has become a virtual townhall gathering. If you read these weekly Winners’ Wisdom columns in a newspaper or magazine anywhere around the world, you can now be a part of it.
In addition to being Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine and a two-time presidential candidate, Steve Forbes is one of the true proponents and cheerleaders for capitalism. Steve Forbes’ grandfather, who founded their company, was fond of saying, “The true purpose of business is to create happiness, not to pile up money.”
Steve Forbes has created happiness not only for himself and his family but for countless people around the world as he teaches business, free enterprise, capitalism, and engages in philanthropy. When you really understand the dynamic, it becomes clear that everyone is an entrepreneur or works for one either directly or indirectly. Since capitalism is the lifeblood of success and happiness, we need to learn how it works and how to do it well.
As you go through your day today, determine who has been where you want to go, and follow the leader.
Today’s the day!