Dave Ramsey’s Financial Wisdom From ProverbsSample

Day 9: The Tortoise Wins

I've been blessed to learn from some wildly successful individuals. I love those opportunities, and I always try to make the most of them. I even take a pen and a notepad so I can write down important insights.

The way I see it, you stop growing the moment you stop learning.

One day, I was spending time with a really successful guy. I mean, this guy was a billionaire! Over lunch, I asked him a question I've asked many wealthy folks: "What can I do today that will get me closer to where you are financially and in business?"

Now this was a godly man who had been walking with the Lord for a long time, so his first answer wasn't really a surprise - give generously. Almost every wealthy person I've ever talked to has emphasized generosity, and giving is already one of my favorite things to do. So, that was pretty much a given.

His second suggestion was to read a book that he guaranteed would change my life. I'm a huge reader, so I was really excited about this idea. I had my pen to the paper, ready to write down the name of this transformational book.

"Dave, have you ever read The Tortoise and the Hare?" he asked.

Huh? A fairy tale? What's that got to do with wealth?

Seeing the weird look on my face, my friend said, "Dave, we live in a world full of rabbits. Everybody is running around, hopping here and there without paying attention to where they're going. If you want to succeed, you've got to stay focused and move slow and steady."

Then he leaned in and hit me with the clincher: "Every time I read that book, the tortoise wins."

I think Solomon was making a similar point in Proverbs 21:5. Diligence requires patience and perseverance. It's much more tortoise than hare. It also leads to plenty, while haste and hurry lead to poverty.

Reliable wealth building is really pretty simple - maybe even a little boring. It just takes doing the right things consistently over time. It may be tempting to sprint ahead like a rabbit, but don't fall for that myth. The truth is, building wealth is a marathon, not a sprint. And in this race, the tortoise always wins.