http://www.ispeech.org/text.to.speech
What can happen to one man can happen to all.”
Publilius Syrus
Motivation Monday - Richard's Insight
This is a quotation from Publilius Syrus, a former slave in the Roman Empire, which I saw quoted in a book written by the philosopher Seneca.
I think it timely right now for a few reasons. First it is the time of year when many are thinking of family & friends. Second, we start to make plans for another year ahead. Third, perhaps more subtly, we often overlook some things that happen to others and believe we are immune from them.
The quote can, of course, be read in at least two distinctive ways.
First, in a positive, rally call way - as in: if he or she can, then so too can I!
Second, in a cautionary type of way - well if such a thing can happen to them, then so too could it happen to me if I am not careful.
Both interpretations are valid I think.
I wonder if Publilius himself may have seen the dual interpretation given that he was a free man, who was sold into slavery and then set free again by his Roman master...I suspect so.
However, why share this particular quote, which is not even one of Publilius' best known? Well, it is to remind us that we don't always have to be pioneers or the first to suffer something for it to happen to us also.
We can observe the outcomes, successes and achievements of others and emulate these ourselves. This is a positive role-model based motivator that we can adopt. If he can do it, then so too can I. Therefore, seek out those who have trodden the path that you wish to follow and follow in their footsteps.
We can equally observe the hardship, ill-fortune and disasters of others and strive to avoid them too. We may not be in fear of slavery, however, look around and you will see stories of people that have gone bankrupt, been tricked, defrauded or scammed and worked so hard that they have lost sight of life's meaning altogether. We would do well to study the reasons why some suffered such ill fortune and be wise to adopt steps to avoid falling into the same traps, therefore.
Finally, the subtle point I referred to...the ill fate of others and how that too could creep up into our own lives if we are not careful. Some examples that may help illustrate the point follow. How about people that have found themselves homeless and in dire need, such as the couple that recently took their own lives when they found themselves in abject poverty. Or the large swathes of migrants that risk their lives to flee countries torn apart by civil war, as in Syria. Or even those that suffer from health and relationship problems as a result of too much stress in their lives.
This final point is both a warning of how changes in our society can lead to big problems for others and potentially for us too. It can also be a warning sign for problems in our personal lives directly.
So, let's take some advice from a former slave, who then found freedom and...
- Seek out those positive role models that we can imitate to achieve similar results
- Consider those who have suffered ill fortune in our chosen field (property investing) and learn from their mistakes
- Finally, keep in mind that we are all ultimately connected and what affects one, whether on the other side of the world or the other side of the room, can affect us too...we are not isolated from one another...
'What can happen to one man [or woman] can happen to all".