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The Prosperous Peasant: Five Secrets of Fortune & Fulfillment is from the Samurai’s Temple School. The master is HIdeyoshi, a samurai and one of Japan’s great leaders. At his temple school in Nagahama, Hideyoshi teaches the secret of his success to all who care to hear.
Here are the 5 principles that The Prosperous Peasant hopes to convey.
1. Gratitude attracts luck
“Gratitude instills a spirit of sincere and industrious service.”
True luck visits few people in life, but opportunity is a frequent visitor. It is those who learn to act upon opportunity that others believe to be lucky. “Luck” also comes from helping others. When you give your time and resources to help other people achieve their dreams, they’re likely to remember your actions, and to return the favor in the future. This isn’t luck, either, but a form of social capital. The lucky man is not lucky — he seizes opportunity and helps others to achieve their aims.
2. Know your gift
“All men of grateful spirit can achieve success if they work to make the most of their talents.”
Know your strengths and how to use them. If you’re good with people, don’t become trapped in a job where you’re only shuffling paper. The Prosperous Peasant tells the parable of Taro, a boy whose gift is unfailing persistence. Though he has no skill in any particular trade, he’s able to become a master potter by dedicating himself to the craft for ten years.
3. Conceivable means achievable
“We must all begin where beginning is conceivable.”
Napoleon Hill once said, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. When you set and pursue goals, you’re conceiving and achieving the things you desire. Start by setting realistic goals, goals that are conceivable. Success builds upon success.
4. Effort determines results
“Average effort produces average results, but extraordinary effort produces extraordinary results.”
In most cases, the degree of our success is determined by how much effort we put into something. Success doesn’t happen overnight — you are not going to get rich quickly. However, the strength of will and perseverance can usually help us overcome unexpected obstacles in which we all encounter. Success is a result of extended effort over months, years, or decades. It requires lots of sacrifice and hard work.
5. Collaboration breeds success
“Everything you accomplish owes to the help of someone else”.
From the day we’re born, we draw our strength from others. Our ability to work with family and friends plays a large role in our success. No one person can be a master of everything. In order to achieve our dreams, we must rely upon other people, to draw upon their skills.
Lastly, The final chapter of The Prosperous Peasant briefly describes the virtues of the Bushido Code: which are Justice, Courage, Benevolence, Politeness, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty, and Character. These traits, and Hideyoshi’s five principles of success, form an excellent foundation for a Successful Life.
