When One is on Top of the World - who does one look towards for guidance

The following internet mail that I received probably came as a joke. I think anyone can guess that this probably came from a golf enthusiast, cynical that perhaps we should abandon many things, and go and play golf.

I personally took up golf 17 years ago, and today, I am still far cry from my 24 stroke handicap. Nevertheless, I think that joke aside, there is an important lesson to learn from it. Do read the following anecdote circulated in the web world.

In 1923, Who Was:

1. President of the largest steel company?

2. President of the largest gas company?

3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?

4. Greatest wheat speculator?

5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?

6. Great Bear of Wall Street?

These men were considered some of the world's most successful of their days.
Now, 80 years later, the history book asks us, if we know what ultimately became of them.

The Answers:

1. The president of the largest steel company.
Charles Schwab,
died a pauper.

2. The president of the largest gas company,
Edward Hopson,
went insane.

3. The president of the NYSE,
Richard Whitney,
was released from prison to die at home.

4. The greatest wheat speculator,
Arthur Cooger,
died abroad, penniless.

5. The president
of the Bank of International Settlement,
shot himself.

6. The Great Bear of Wall Street,
Cosabee Livermore,
also committed suicide


However, in that same year 1923,
the PGA Champion and the winner of the
most important golf tournament,
the US Open, was Gene Sarazen.
What became of him?

He played golf until he was 92,
died in 1999 at the age of 95.
He was financially secure
at the time of his death.

The Moral:
Abandon work,
Play golf.

While we all may envied these very people for their effort to make it to occupying such top stature assuming great power, position, reputation, happiness and success, it is by no means small feat. But what happened to all of them years later? It it is not what one can attained that is important. I think equally important is to be able to sustain and persevere with whatever we have achieved and at least sustain it if we cannot move on to even greater heights. No one can understand the pain and agonies of such people unless one is in similar situation and it pains to see and know of the fate of such great people. One can only sympathize and hope that we do not fall into the same fate. Let us always be on guard.

Posted by
Ivan