"Words do not make flour." Italian proverb There are endless ads to sell you prosperity. And, these ads work. Otherwise, they would not be continually repeated. Yes, there is an ongoing stream of newly discovered effortless secrets to fame and fortune that you can buy. Not surprising, these “Elmer Gantry’s” of the get rich without-work industry have discovered spam and your e-mail address. These hucksters tell you, your possibilities are limitless. They tell you that you can get rich by jumping on a “newly” started chain letter; you can recruit you family, and friends who will make you rich by selling some questionable product no one wants. You can trade stocks, you can buy real estate, you can get in on the ground floor of the newest and fastest growing distributorships in American, and you can find out what only a select group of rich folks know. Oh yes, and so on. Moreover, it is not only the e-mail peddlers go to any major bookstore and you will find enough “rags to riches without-effort” publications to fill a shopping cart. You will discover books on selling, leadership, one-minute managing, applying the techniques of ancient warriors, calling on the mysticism of the Orient, or the latest self-help therapy to get what you want. And if you don’t care to read about “getting rich,” late night cable television will tempt you with success commercials. For thirty minutes to an hour, you can witness countless stories of remarkable transformations from poverty to yachts and mansions; documented with large blowup copies of canceled checks made out to the newly rich. All you need do is call the number on your screen and order the secret guides to a new and fabulous life. And if not satisfied with your new wealth, you may return the “secrets” and get your money back. If you need personal guidance, don't overlook the full-page ads in the success magazines, where the author, for a fee, is willing to share his or her secret of success. I do not wish to be cynical but I always wonder why a person so successful needs to sell the "secret?" And if self-help materials are not enough, discover how riches and romance are yours through astrology and psychic readings. Again, success with no effort. As to be expected, there are enough gullible people so yearning for the secret of instant success they believe possible from reading or listening to a set of instructions, that these promoters of the Midas touch keep producing new material earning them hefty profits. Unfortunately, there are poor souls who lose their money because they jump into a speculative or ill-conceived venture while under the influence of these wizards promoting false hope and impossible prosperity. After all, the material is written and produced to make the author and not you rich. Now, that I have taken a swipe of all this wonderful advice for a buck, here is some sound thinking from the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa. After years of ongoing research, they found successful entrepreneurs are guys and gals who are action oriented- not dreamers of instant success- and share the following traits: 1. Self-confidence: The ability to overcome fear of failure and inspire the confidence of customers –investors- and associates. 2. Persistence: Maintaining a sense of optimism through difficult times. 3. Resilience: The inner strength to rebound from disappointments and defeat. 4. Vision: The ability to visualize goals. 5. Independence: Inner satisfaction with responsibility of personal actions. 6. Daring: The ability to measure risk and take action without fear. But, if you still want a short cut to success-at least: 1. Be cautious of "instant success" advice. 2. Be wary of all "secrets to wealth" offers. Remember it is the author who is getting rich. 3. Remember the difference between writing and talking about success and true success. 4. Successful entrepreneurs don't gamble, they take calculated risks, and they know the odds. For gambling, there is always the lottery. Copyright 2003 Dr. Paul E Adams, Professor Emeritus Business Administration Ramapo College of New Jersey Author “ Fail Proof Your Business: Beat the Odds and be Successful.” Available Amazon.Com. If you have questions or comments- contact me: drfailproof@earthlink.net