The Invisible Mentor

Review of Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell

October 29th, 2009 |

Russell Herman Conwell, a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman, relates a story told to him by an Arab guide. The story intrigued Conwell so much, that he subsequently used the theme as a basis for his many speeches.

According to the story, as told by the guide, while Conwell was travelling down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers with a party of English travelers, there was a farmer, Ali Hafed, from ancient Persia now known as Iran. Ali Hafed was very wealthy. He owned a very large farm with orchards, grain-fields, and gardens. He was wealthy and contented.

One day, a Buddhist priest visited Ali Hafed. During the conversation, this wise priest from the East told Hafed about diamonds. The priest told Ali Hafed that if “he had one diamond the size of his thumb, he could purchase the county, and if he had a mine of diamonds he could place his children upon thrones through the influence of their great wealth.” Ali Hafed heard all about diamonds, and how much they were worth. Though Hafed’s situation hadn’t changed, he went to his bed that night feeling poor and discontented because of envy and greed.

Ali Hafed decided that he wanted a diamond mine, and the next day he rushed to see the priest and asked where he could find diamonds. He explained to the priest that he wanted to be immensely rich. Hafed sold his farm, collected the money, left his neighbour to take care of his family, and went off in search of diamonds.

Hafed wandered around Palestine and Europe until he ran out of money. He was in rags, feeling wretched and now truly poor. He stood on the shore of a bay in Barcelona, Spain and when a great tidal wave came rolling in, he threw himself in, and was never seen again.

Meanwhile back at the farm, one day the new owner picked up an unusual rock about the size of an egg and placed it on his mantle. A few days later, the same old priest visited the farm and immediately realized that the unusual rock was indeed a diamond. The priest and the new owner rushed outside to the place where the owner found the unusual rock. That day, they discovered the diamond mines of Golconda.

Ali Hafed had been standing on his own “Acres of Diamonds” until he sold his farm.

In Acres of Diamonds, Conwell relates countless stories of people who went in search of what they already had. For example, a farmer in Pennsylvania sold his farm for $833 and went to work for his cousin in Canada, collecting oil. Shortly after, the man who purchased the farm found oil worth millions of dollars.

Common Sense Ideas

Each of us is right in the middle of our own Acres of Diamonds, if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures
Opportunity does not just come along – it is there all the time – we just have to see it
In life, when we go searching for “something,” we should know what that “something” looks, smells and tastes like so that we can recognize it when we find it
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side
Before we give up what we already have, make sure that what we’re getting is better than what we already have
Your family comes first, they are part of your support structure and will help you through the most difficult times

Whenever I read Acres of Diamonds, for some reason I am reminded of the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son. The Prodigal Son was much wiser because he at least had the common sense to return home and beg forgiveness.Your diamonds are not in far-away mountains or in distant seas; they are usually in your own back yard if you will take the time to look for them.”

What are your feelings toward Ali Hafed? Do you sympathize with him? How might you apply this story to business? We always think that the grass is greener on the other side, but it is seldom that case. In what instances could the grass be greener on the other side? I have thinking about this question for some time, but in the context of problem solving, so look out for a post that deals with that.

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Click on the links below for electronic complimentary copies of Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell. I recommend Acres of Diamonds because of its timeless moral.

http://emotional-literacy-education.com/classic-books-online-c/acrdi10.htm

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rconwellacresofdiamonds.htm

Photo Credit: Flickr “Dreaming of Diamonds” via Apture