The average Red Oak tree takes 50 years to produce its first acorn. But it will produce acorns for up to 350 years, before it dies. Conversely, a Cherry tree takes about 4 years to produce sweet cherries but its longevity is short-lived. It will produce cherries for about 20 years before it dies.
Very few get rich quick. According to the National Endowment of Financial Education, about 70% of all lottery winners go broke within a few years. Success, like the mighty Red Oak, takes a long time before it bears fruit. It took the average self-made millionaire in my study 32 years to become rich and successful. The wealth they created, however, will bear fruit for the rest of their lives and leave a legacy of wealth that can benefit future generations.
If your goal is to become successful, you must build a foundation of success. This takes time. But the longer it takes, the more sound the foundation. So, I ask you, which tree will you plant today, a Cherry tree or a Red Oak tree?
About Thomas C. Corley
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