I can go into almost any business and release thousands of dollars of revenue and profit, literally overnight. How can I do this because I tap into ‘The Acres Of Diamonds Principle’ that every business possesses.

What is the ‘Acres Of Diamonds Principle’. It is one of the most powerful unforgettable stories that has impacted my life tremendously. One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman.

One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn’t swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides being a man of cloth – that is. He decided to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving students. He did have a challenge, however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with a real purpose in life, nothing could stand in the way of his dream.

Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story – with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds.

Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, and wealth, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle out of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, “Heck, the whole farm is covered with them” – and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine…the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on an ‘Acres of Diamonds’ until he sold his farm. Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach its’ moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own ‘Acre of Diamonds’ if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures.

Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia. When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own ‘Acre of Diamonds’, he meant it. This story does not get old… it will be true forever… Opportunity does not just come along – it is there all the time – we just have to see it.

I am grateful for Russell Conwell’s vision to make education affordable to individuals (like me) who did not have the money to attend college. What is in your backyard? In today’s economy it cannot be stressed enough now is the time to look for your Acre Of Diamonds.

P.S. On a personal note my Acres of Diamonds #1 raving fan was Edward Winder, who helped me believe anything was possible. This post is in loving memory of Edward Winder whose birthday is today.