Dollarmakers.com BLOG

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Atlas Can Shrug

Atlas had waged and lost a ten-year war against the gods of Mount Olympus. As punishment, the gods condemned Atlas to support the earth and the heavens on his back for eternity. He had grown weary of the task and was only too glad when Hercules offered to take over his burden. In turn, Hercules said he needed help to complete his eleventh labor, fetching the Golden Apples, which were closely guarded by nymphs called the Hesperides. Prometheus had told Hercules that Atlas could easily complete this labor as he was the nymphs’ father and knew their secrets. When Atlas returned with the apples, Hercules tricked him into resuming the burden of bearing the earth and the heavens on his back for eternity. This statue depicts that never-ending punishment.

Ayn Rand wrote a wonderful book entitled "Atlas Shrugged". You do not have to carry and support leeches, parasites, or scavengers. You should be rewarded for the value you create. Don't work for nothing. You are entitled to choose whom you do business with and associate with. When people take advantage of you, misuse or abuse you, or steal from you, you have the OBLIGATION to shrug them off. Don't be tricked, as Atlas was, into bearing an unfair burden. If you want to ride the horse, you have to feed it. People who reap have to sow - those who reap without sowing are thieves, and they should be shrugged off your back.

When you're not carrying unnecessary weight around, you can move fast. You'll find yourself happier and healthier, richer and wealthier. And because you're happier, you'll attract more winners into your life and less whiners. Rid yourself of the fat. You will become a lean money machine, and you'll have the time and clarity required to find creative solutions and the means to creating more wealth and value. A successful entrepreneur should continually and regularly evaluate his or her relationships and shrug the disloyal detractors and saboteurs off. People are genuinely either for you or against you - never doubt that.

Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com