Comments on: The Sleeping Fox Catches No Poultry

By: K Ann

K Ann — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:55:57 +0000

This is the sort of fabulous article that keeps me coming back to the Simple Dollar. I’d like to see you choose one of Benjamin Franklins quotes from The Way to Wealth weekly to expound on as you did this one. Way to go!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:38:45 +0000

Just wanted to say a quick thanks. With two small kids I don’t have time to read as much as I’d like, so when I read your summaries, then do my own reading at night, I feel like I’ve doubled my nightly education. Keep up the great work! Eileen

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:56:07 +0000

The Way to Wealth is just about THE best general financial advice I have ever read…even if it is 250 years old! Like Trent, I also refer back to it to refresh my memory and to remember Mr. Franklin’s pithy yet insightful quotes. I tend to shut-up my Tea Party friends with this one:

“Friends,” said he, “the taxes are indeed very heavy, and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly.”

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:44:18 +0000

Your point about being passionate about what you do really hits home for me. This is something I have often struggled with. Growing up I was encouraged to pursue a career that I would enjoy, rather than something that would just make me rich quick. Through college, I watched friends of mine major in whatever would get them a job offer by graduation, and most of them hated what they did. Chasing your passions isn’t easy and at times you feel like you are getting nowhere. But with all things in life, it takes time to see real results. You just have to take action and keep working at it to get up that big hill.

On another note, you say, “If you’re sleeping, you’re letting the world pass you by.” I think it would be interesting to see how the world would function if we didn’t need sleep. What do you think?

By: Little House

Little House — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:40:47 +0000

These are great tips, especially given the fact they’ve spanned over 250 years! I agree with them all, especially being alert and aggressive with opportunities. Too many people sleepwalk through life and end up in a place they don’t recognize. I’m one of those people who has no intention of ending up somewhere “accidentally” because I didn’t commandeer my own ship!

-Little House

By: Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth

Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:01:12 +0000

I frequently ask myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” if I am debating whether or not to be more aggressive. That pushes me over the edge to make my move.

By: David/Yourfinances101

David/Yourfinances101 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:38:26 +0000

Great stuff and all true.

I have learned first hand that it does not matter what the economy is doing or any other external factors or excuses that you want to make.

There is a ton of money out there to be made, and it can be done by following some of these bits of advice mentioned in Trent’s post—don’t miss sales/investment opportunities, follow your passions and be aggressive.

Great stuff!

By: Lenore

Lenore — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:23:52 +0000

If I were a fox (like Megan Fox, for example), I could sleep around and catch plenty of poultry (or diseases). Was that irrelevant? Irreverant? Sorry, must be the Benedryl talking because it’s still allergy season. Ben Franklin rules!

By: Patty

Patty — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:48:04 +0000

Thanks for the historical note….. I truly enjoyed getting an additional link to the reading. It is really inspirational that Ben Franklin penned them.
Again, thanks

By: john deflumeri jr

john deflumeri jr — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:25:09 +0000

Hey, Trent, I like the way you “call it the way you see it”. I have been following your blog for some time now, and I want to link my blog to yours, because your content is always excellent.

John DeFlumeri Jr