It’s estimated that, at one point, John D. Rockefeller’s fortune exceeded $300 Billion.
Move over, baby Gates.
In fact, that’s enough to buy Bill Gates AND Warren Buffet several times over.
At 53, Rockefeller controlled most of the world’s oil.
But his health was failing.
He developed alopecia and shed all his hair.
Eyebrows.
Everything.
He could barely eat.
In a matter of months he’d lost 50 pounds from an already thin frame, and cut a gaunt, ghostly figure. His doctors made it clear that if he didn’t retire now, he wouldn’t be around much longer.
See, John D. was a ball of anxiety. He was slowly crumbling under the burden of his enormous wealth. He once said, “I never put my head on the pillow at night without reminding myself I could lose it all tomorrow.”
Imagine the stress that caused.
So here are the instructions his doctor gave him:
1. Never worry about anything. Ever.
2. Always stop eating when you’re still a bit hungry.
3. Spend more time outside engaging in light activity.
Well, John D. took this advice to heart.
The senior Mr. Rockefeller was a different chap.
He never worried again. Even when his life’s work, Standard Oil, was being picked apart by politicians for anti-trust reasons, Rockefeller stayed out of the office.
In his latter years he became the colorful, soundbite-worthy old codger he’s remembered as…the guy who, when asked by his driver why his son tips so much better than he does, replied, “he’s got a rich father.”
Alright, and secret #4 in this longevity protocol?
He started giving all his money away.
Medicine, science, education…so much of the progress we enjoy today can be traced back to Rockefeller’s generosity.
The result?
From one foot in the grave at 53, he lived to be 98.
That’s 45 years on borrowed time.
Not too shabby, wouldn’t you say?
Here’s what I’d like you take away from this.
(1) #’s 1-3 is pretty damn good advice. If more doctors doled that out these days instead of anti-depressants, we’d be a much healthier society.
AND
(2) GIVE. John D. Rockefeller spent the first half of his life trying to get, but wasn’t truly happy until he dedicated himself to giving.
This has everything to do with your fitness program, btw.
And anything else you want out of life.
Tony Robbins famously said, “the reason you’re suffering is you’re focused on yourself.”
Giving shifts your focus away from YOU.
It allows you to be immersed in what you’re doing, in contribution, without the fears, doubts and anxieties that can tend to inject themselves when you’re overly SELF-conscious.
And most people are so busy trying to GET the result they want, they never fully GIVE themselves to the process involved.
Ask not what your fitness program can do for you, ask what you can do for your fitness program.
Damn.
A lot of value right there.
Hope you caught it.
I just told you WHAT to do.
For more on HOW to do it, go here:
http://www.conorkellypersonaltrainer.com
Live Long and Prosper,
Conor Kelly