There may be some "luck" in a stock purchase, but you're more likely to have luck on some fortunate upswing in value if you had previously prepared your mind to know which companies were which, what processes were better than others, how the market works, etc.
In our business here at 490 Outreach, we see a similar phenomena. Where fortune favors the sober mind. And it does. As I just told someone early today, "You've already got a job and a place. While some have to go through hell for that, you need only 'not drink'. 'Not drinking' is literally all you have to do."
That person was the guest who came in five minutes after curfew last night and had been drinking. He spoke to me of his various relapses this past month. I interrupted him. I said, "Yeah, you can't actually have had three or more relapses in a month. That frequently means you just had one relapse last month, and have been an active alcoholic ever since."
That he also gambles and picks up women of questionable virtue doesn't help, either.
Now his job is about to fire him, and if I had to bet, I'll be having him leave before Friday. Do not misunderstand - I hope he makes it. He's certainly been gave every opportunity to. Perhaps more than he should have had. But I know that if and when he has to leave, he'll be upset all the same.
And even if he's not mad at me - though he likely will be - he'll be mad at the situation and figure life is conspiring against him, that society, that our culture, that America, that the world, that it all sucks, because he's not getting the right breaks.
Oh, and I'm not picking on him - any in his situation are like that. Until they can simply "not drink". Until they get the "sober mind" that fortune really does favor.
They look at me when I share this stuff with them, him or any in the past, and the look is that they're having to listen to an idiot. That I'm some fundy Christian dullard, talking spiritual crap, and they're supposed to take me on faith. Just "not drink"! Yeah, right, they think. Like that will work.
Well, we don't get many who actually give a crap to be better, but given how many we've aided, we're bound to get some in now and then who are serious about sobriety. We're blessed with two now.
They're succeeding, and will succeed, and it won't be because of Katie or I. It'll be because they're sober, and that makes all the difference. Oh, sure, it's not magic, there's more to success than being sober, but sobriety is a key element.
Consider the first one. Call him John Smith. John had been here before, but had to finish doing some time in prison for an old charge. But instead of running, he got himself a lawyer, worked out the best plea he could, did his time manfully, and kept in touch with me.
When he got out of Dixon, I was right there to pick him up and drive him back down here to Springfield. He was on ankle monitor, but determined to make a better go of life. He got a job in two days, just a block from here. Kitchen help.
That was then, last year. Now instead of part time kitchen help he's their full time cook. Instead of walking or biking, he has his own vehicle, a good used one, frankly nicer than some people's!
He didn't try and 13th step - date someone as bad off as he - from the get go, in fact, he freed himself from a girl who I really hadn't figured was very good for him. He made the bold choice - bold for a man in his twenties - to just work and save and not worry about girlfriends for awhile.
Now he has a nice girlfriend. Not some quick pick up at a bar. Someone on the same right path.
Some of this was that he's a good guy. Some that he's a good worker. But all is because he's not drinking, drugging, partying and such. He's prepared for opportunities - and after all he's been through, there are still opportunities available!
And he thus got them!
Second case, call him Jim Doe. He was in prison already when I learned of him, and when he got out - Litchfield - I was there to pick him up. He also had to be on an ankle monitor for a bit. Still is on one, in fact.
But he also got a job, and within a week. I compare this to those who with no monitor and no recent prison time, insist there are "no jobs". Oh, there are jobs. They may not be glamorous ones that get you sports cars and loose women, but there are jobs. Never been in a town yet, or ate at a restaurant, that didn't need a dishwasher!
He got one at a nearby fast food restaurant. He's a very special case. He literally owned a business before going in to prison. A business that owned other businesses. This job would be the rough equivalent of Bill Gates working data entry for some mom and pop appliance repair shop.
However, the hallmark of men who succeed in business is that they know the wisdom of what a Russian philosopher once said, "There are no small jobs, only small men who don't care to do them well."
Well, Ayn Rand spoke true. Any job that is worth someone paying you for is worth doing well. I talked to him about how jarring this might be. Even more jarring than the part of living in a tiny house of mine instead of the fancy houses he used to live in. He was up for it. So he said and so he was.
I told him that he'd not have to worry about it just being part time. Or they starting him way down there. I said to him, "You're going to shine like a diamond in the rough compared to their usual help. Don't be surprised if you don't get offered management soon."
That was a month ago. They are offering him management now. And none of this "second assistant third shift fry supervisor" bogus title nonsense, but being an actual assistant manager. Is that much? Well, perhaps not as the big boys in big business might reckon things.
But for an ex-con only six weeks out? While others are whining about "no opportunities", sitting on their butts smoking "medical marijuana" or drinking 40 ouncers?
Yeah, that's much. Full time, real responsibility - and let's not kid ourselves, of all the things to manage, could there be much harder things to manage than a fast food place where no employee at all wants to be there and half are kids living at home and half are old folks waiting to die? Heck, try to get any of them to give even 100%, let alone the 150% needed for that kind of business!
I'd rather manage anything besides fast food!
His secret? Well, some his innate work ethic. Some his personality. And all that he's sober and serious and willing to do what it takes. He told me once, "It has helped me to learn humility, being in prison, then having to live here." I reminded myself that his former house had been larger than both our houses combined.
So we're looking at two upcoming success stories! "John Smith" will probably be leaving within six months. "Jim Doe" maybe even sooner, hard to say. Each will be able to - with full time work and vehicle - get their own place. A place far nicer, as it won't have to be shared with three other strangers and me popping in and out!
In some cases, there'd be a chance of "relapse" at that point, but in the case of both of these men, one around 25, the other around 50, I don't think there'll be any worries on that score. They both got hit hard, but they both then manned up, stepped up, and are ready to do it right, and frankly, they each seem to be the stronger for it.
Fortune favors the sober mind. It favored me. It's good when I see it favor others.
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