By P Chong     3 March 2011

Life insurance agents & sales executives would have heard the story of “Acres of Diamonds” many a time. Personally, I must have repeated it hundreds of times to my team of sales force when sales volume needed boosting. It’s a powerful motivational story, simple to relate . . . mind to stir . . . hearts to fill & desire to arouse!

“Acres of Diamonds”, an American rhetoric, originated as a speech which Russell Conwell delivered over 6,000 times around the world. It was first published in 1890 by the John Y. Huber Company of Philadelphia.

The crux of the matter is that one need not look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement, or fortune – the resources to achieve all good things are present in one’s own backyard or community. Yonder field is not necessarily greener.

This theme is developed by an introductory anecdote, told to Russell Conwell by an Arab guide, about a man who wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for them; the new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located right there on the property.

The theme could be motivationally told through examples of success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary folks in the audience: “dig in your own back-yard!”

This story alone helped Russell Conwell to establish Temple University & his other civic projects . . . with income derived largely from his “Acres of Diamonds”speech. It could do the same for you . . . help you sell more life insurance policies, sell more real estate, keep on building up your clientele & never run out of prospects!

Let us remember there is not a poor person who was not made poor by his own shortcomings . . .