A Secret and A Formula For Success

Are you looking for the secret or magical formula for
success? Do you think it’s a well-guarded,
password-protected valuable locked away in a private vault?
Good news! In this article I open the vault wide.

Here's The Secret...

The secret to success is having a strong vision and the will
to overcome whatever obstacles get in your way. Not what
you wanted to hear? Read on.

When Amadeo Peter Giannini (better known as A.P.) was only
7, his father died in a fight over one dollar. Times got
real hard. Eventually A.P.’s mother married a man in the
produce business. At age 14 A.P. quit school to work with
his stepfather. By 19 he was a partner in their thriving
enterprise. It was here that A.P. built his reputation for
integrity and honesty. At 31 years of age he had all the
money he needed or wanted, and announced his retirement.

At 32, A.P’s real career started when he was asked to join
the board of the Columbus Savings & Loan society. It wasn't
long before A.P found himself at odds with the other
directors. He wanted the bank to loan money to hard-working
immigrants, but at that time banks catered only to business
men and the wealthy. His ideas of loaning money to the
working class were scoffed at.

But A.P. had the vision and the will. He raised $150,000,
and bought a converted saloon across the street from the
Columbus S&L. A. P. kept the bartender on as an assistant
teller, and opened the Bank of Italy.

It was considered improper and uncouth, but A.P. began
ringing doorbells and talking to everyone he could about his
bank. He advertised. He kept the bank open longer hours and
on weekends to fit into working people's schedules. Business
boomed.

But making money wasn’t A.P.’s sole measurement of success.
He believed in making other people's dreams come true, too.
He helped the California Wine Industry get started. He
bankrolled Hollywood when they were trying to make movies
popular. When Walt Disney ran $2 million dollars over budget
on Snow White, he stepped in with a loan.

A.P.'s story exemplifies the secret to success -- a strong
vision and the will to overcome obstacles thrown your way.


OK, I Gave Away The Secret -- Now Here's The Formula

Integrity combined with "giving back" is the formula for
success. This was A.P.’s success formula. What began in 1904
as the Bank of Italy is now the Bank of America – the
world's largest bank.

And what about A.P.? Did he die a billionaire?

When he passed away at age 79, A.P.’s estate was worth less
than $500,000. This was purely by choice. A.P. looked down
on great wealth. He believed it would make him lose touch
with the people he wanted to serve. He worked without pay
for years. One year he was given a surprise $1.5 million
bonus and promptly gave it to the University of California.

It's a winning formula -- integrity plus "giving back."


There’s One More Thing…

By every standard, Amadeo Peter Giannini was a success. But
his true measure of success was making a difference every
day of his life. I hope that will be your measuring stick as
well. To achieve success, you’ve got to have a strong
vision, and the will to overcome the obstacles that will
come your way permeated with integrity. Add to that giving
back to your community and you’ll be successful indeed!

About the Author

Ginny Dye is the CEO and founder of several companies, a published author, owns her own publishing company, has 20 years in sales and marketing management, has designed internet marketing systems and developed corporate training materials. But her greatest passion is helping others reach their dreams. Visit http://www.DailySecretsForSuccess.com.

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