Did you know that the man some credit with inventing the radio died penniless? According to Art Cashin in one of his recent issues of "Cashin's Comments," in 1902, Nathan B. Stubblefield stood aboard a boat in the Potomac and broadcast his voice to several devices (and about 1,000 onlookers) ashore. He generated a lot of excitement and press with his invention, but his extreme paranoia made him fear his invention would be stolen. Eventually, others improved upon his ideas while Stubblefield continued to tinker, growing more and more reclusive until he died of starvation in 1928, but not before burning all of his plans and prototypes. That all sounds awfully dramatic, doesn't it? Yet, how many of us have wrestled with the scarcity mindset that must have helped fuel Stubblefield's fears? If you follow John Maxwell, you have probably heard him talk about scarcity and abundance mindsets. I've always appreciated his give-it-away mentality. What a terrible way to work and live life! A scarcity mindset will lead us to resent those who experience success, especially if they experience more success than you or me. A scarcity mindset is all about the "take." Yuck! Let's look at the brighter side! An abundance mindset is all about what I can give. Instead of being the well-known inventor of the radio, Nathan Stubblefield is just a footnote in our history. I wonder how his story would have turned out if he'd approached things with an abundance mindset. Thankfully, my story (and yours) isn't complete. How can you live with an abundance mindset today?If I have a scarcity mindset, I:
If I have an abundance mindset, I: