How to Almost Make a Million Dollars
I almost did it. You can almost do it, too!
About the Author
Robert X. Leeds
Robert X. Leeds is a poet, writer, adventurer,
and above all an animal lover. Born in 1927,
he was not an outstanding student and
dropped out of highschool to go to sea. Upon
turning seventeen he was accepted into the
Army Airforce Cadet program. Afraid the war
would end before he could see action,he
obtained a six-month leave of absence under
false pretenses, and shipped out to the South
Pacific with the Merchant Marines. He
returned to his Air Cadet training program and
was honorably discharge in 1945. Following
his discharge Leeds decided to spend seven
years traveling around the world. His
journeys took him to many countrys and two
more wars. At twenty-one he flew with the
Israeli Air Force and later trained and
commanded the first Israeli Airborn Brigade
in the 1947-1948 Middle East War. On July
4th, 1948 he married a Finnish volunteer and
returned to America. They have two
daughters and a son. Robert is still an active
pilot and enjoys aerobatics. If asked what his
greatest adventure was, without hesitating he
will tell you it was operating the American Pet
Motel.
Author: Robert X. Leeds
Publisher: Epic Publishing Company
Date of Publication: 2004
ISBN: 0-9674025-5-7
Number of Pages: 246 pages
The Big Idea
How to Almost Make a Million Dollars recounts the author's
hilarious odyssey towards becoming the successful person and
entrepreneur that he is today. Not only does this book narrate one of
the most exciting financial quests of the century, it also provides a
definitive rebuttal to the “get rich quick” systems and ideas
proliferating in numerous “Become Instant Millionaires” seminars,
books, and infomercials. In addition, the rich reservoir of
entrepreneurial wisdom contained in this book will help you become
better prepared and aware of the many problems that
entrepreneurs need to overcome in life.
Moreover, this is not your typical “How To” book. It does not provide
a financial roadmap towards financial wealth. Rather, the humorous
stories and the 100 proverbs for success that sum up the author's
more than 65 years of entrepreneurship will motivate and
encourage you to maintain a positive disposition in the face of
failures and adversities that you, as a fellow entrepreneur, will
surely encounter. If you are looking for a book that conveys an
infectious air of energy, and which disparages time-worn myths
about instant success and wealth, then this is the book for you.
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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

I. Quitters Never Win

One thing that separates entrepreneurs from other business persons is their
capacity for tenaciousness and courageousness that most ordinary people find
overwhelming. It's not everyday that you find someone willing to put everything in
line to pursue a dream. Take the case of the late Colonel Harland Sanders, the
man behind the world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken.

In 1952, at the age of 62, he traveled the length and breadth of America for two
years looking for a restaurant that will buy his recipe for fried chickens. He finally
succeeded in selling his fried chicken concept on his 1, 010th try. Now, here was
a man who got rejected 1, 009 times, and still he did not think of ever giving up.

By 1964, Col. Sanders had sold more than 600 franchises, and by the time he
retired and sold the company, KFC had already grown to more than 3,500
franchised and company-owned restaurants all over the world. Then by 1982,
KFC restaurants have totaled to almost 32, 500 in more than 100 countries.
Consequently, Col. Harland Sanders was ranked as the second most
recognizable celebrity in the world back in 1976.

Col. Sanders succeeded in his business venture because he didn't give in to

failure. His story, and others like him, testifies to the courage and persistence of
entrepreneurs in the face of challenges and adversities. Remember, it's normal to
fail. People who try at anything will fail at something. However, what will
distinguish you from other people is your ability to pick yourself up and continue
with the fight. Keep in mind that you only become a failure when you decide to
give up.

II. Starting from Scratch

Life wasn't meant to be a spectator sport, and so is entrepreneurship for that
matter. You won't succeed by just sitting in the comforts of your home and by just
waiting for things to happen. You have to go out and make an effort to make your
dreams come true. More importantly, you have to believe in yourself.

Not everyone who tries, though, will succeed. Nevertheless, failing despite your
best efforts is better than not trying at all. You have to take chances and accept
risks. You also have to accept the fact that you will experience failures along the
way. What matters most at the end of the day is that you are still able to pick up
the shattered pieces of your efforts and go on. Remember, no prize awaits those
who don't play the game.

A. The Formula of Success

Being born into a rich family or inheriting wealth will not guarantee you success;
nor will a high IQ or the ability to invent extraordinary stuff assure you of the

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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

same. By and large, it is the desire to succeed against all odds which makes all
the difference in this world.

For example, Dr. Robert Jarvik, the man credited for inventing the world's first
artificial heart, was not your typical medical genius. In fact, his detractors, as well
as many of his friends and teachers, judged him unworthy of the medical
profession. For them, he lacked the necessary skills and aptitude to master the
requisites for a medical doctor. He, however, proved them all wrong.

Thomas Alva Edison, the famous inventor, is another good example. Unlike
Jarvik, this man, however, was a certified genius. Nonetheless, his exceptional
brain power did not always ensure him of success. He, like many other great
men, has experienced the despairing effects of failure. In 1927 up to 1931, for
instance, he worked on developing a substitute for rubber using agricultural
plants. He spent four years and tried 16, 999 different plants before he finally
picked the right kind of plant; namely, plant number 17, 000. Imagine, failing 16,
999 times for four straight years! That's perseverance for you.

What these two examples show is that success is not merely ten percent
inspiration, and ninety percent perspiration. Rather, it is ten percent inspiration,
thirty-five percent perspiration and persistence, and fifty-five percent providence.
More often than not, one's good fortune depends on one's good efforts; and when
logic tells you to give up on your dreams, better give up on logic.

B. The Tale of Ambition, Doubt, Fear, and Failure

Once upon a time, four very close friends, namely, Ambition, Doubt, Fear, and
Failure, sailed out to the ocean. However, misfortune struck and they were left in
the middle of the ocean with no means or tools to get back to shore. Doubt, Fear,
and Failure did nothing except to bemoan their situation and predict their
impending demise. Ambition, on the other hand, instinctively knew there was still
a way to survive.

Later, Ambition fished out of the ocean an ancient oil lamp. Unknown to them,
inside the lamp was a genie. As Ambition rubbed the lamp, the genie appeared
and told them in a loud voice that he would grant each one of them a wish. Doubt,
Fear, and Failure all wished to go back to the comforts of their homes, and
instantly the three vanished from the boat. This made Ambition sad and lonely.
When the genie asked for his wish, he wished for the company of his three
friends, and immediately, the three friends were back.

The moral of the story? Don't surround yourself with people who have negative
attitudes towards life. Instead, form a small circle of real friends who will support
and motivate you in your endeavors, especially during those moments of failure
and despair.

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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

III. On the Road to Success

Different people measure and define success differently. So, there is no use trying
to meet other people's standards of success. What's important is that you stay
true to your main goal.

Moreover, no person can ever claim to be the sole expert on success. Even
though you may be the architect of your own success, the lessons and wisdom
that you can gain from the people who have been where you want to be and have
done what you hope to achieve will be very, very useful.

Approach the right people and seek the right source of information. Someone
may have left a trail of bread crumbs for you to follow. Remember that the wise
learn from their mistakes, while the wisest learn from the mistakes of others.

A. There is more than one road to success

It is the individual who desire and seek success who is the best judge of its varied
dimensions. For example, some people will define success as having a secure
job with a steady income. A born entrepreneur, however, will never be content
with just being an employee of somebody else's company.

Nevertheless, if you feel the need to first gain the experience and acquire the
necessary education which will help you get closer to your dreams of financial
success, then don't hesitate to do so. Just make sure to choose a good company
to work for. Moreover, treat each job as a learning experience. Each new skill that
you learn and acquire is one rung up on the corporate ladder, as well as on the
ladder of life. More importantly, if you feel the need to move on, always move
upward.

However, don't feel too depressed if you get fired from your job. You never know,
that personal experience may just open up the financial opportunity you're looking
for. Plus, being fired helps build character. To say the least, getting fired will teach
you humility and compassion. Most of all, it will reinforce your conviction to be
your own boss.

B. Timing! Timing! Timing!

Location is important in a business, but the timing by which a product or service
appears in the market is also very crucial. For example, many big companies
spend large sums of money on research and development. These companies let
their teams of scientists experiment and develop products and processes that
have no immediate commercial use and value. More often than not, these big
companies will spend their own money to finance individuals or groups who will
develop a marketable use for these products and processes.

Nevertheless, keep abreast of the changing times and needs of people. It would

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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

simply be disastrous if you spent a lot of time and exerted great effort in
developing a commercial use for a product or service which people have no need
of.

C. Think Big! Act Big! Do Big!

One of the surest ways to establish financial security for you and your family is to
start your own business. However, starting a business can be quite risky,
especially for novice entrepreneurs.

In spite of the risks involved, always think big, act big, and do big in all of your
entrepreneurial undertakings. It is not how much you put in or pay that's
important; rather, it's how much you profit! Likewise, keep in mind that the greater
the risk, the greater the reward!

However, make sure that you do a lot of thinking on the type of business you
intend to put up. If you intend to open a unique business, better consider the
possible disadvantages inherent in that kind of business, such as the number of
people who will be willing to buy your business if you do decide to sell it
afterwards.

D. Financing your business

Raising the needed start up capital will not be easy. There are many ways by
which you can raise the money to jump start your business. One obvious way
would be to borrow money from a bank. However, most banks require some
collateral before approving any loan. Furthermore, most banks rarely loan money
to start-up ventures.

One alternative available to small businesses is to apply for a Small Business

Administration (SBA) loan. Nevertheless, the SBA requires a broad area of
personal expertise and initial capital investment before they will loan money to
start-up businesses, especially those that face substantial risks.

Another option for you is to approach venture capitalists. The problem with the
majority of venture capitalists out there is that they tend to take control of your
business. If you do decide to invite venture capitalists in, be prepared to have
them tell you how to run your business, or be booted out of your own company.

You could, of course, always tap the resources of your relatives. However, the
odds are, they will be the first ones to give you one hundred and one reasons why
your idea will fail. Or if some relative does loan you money, it might just be the
most expensive money you've ever borrowed, particularly if your business begins
to show signs of growth and success.

Remember, it is a rare partnership that does not contain the seeds of its own

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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

destruction. On top of that, divesting yourself of more than fifty percent of the
interest in your company is one of the surest way to lose your company. As much
as possible, keep the majority shares of your company in your control.

E. Every upside has a downside

Running your own business can be both financially and personally gratifying. Still,
running a business entails taking chances and risks, so expect to experience your
fair share of failures. Moreover, don't be misled into thinking that success will
come to you if you just keep trying different things.

Success is elusive and is seldom achieved by those who readily quits in their
pursuit. To succeed in life and in business, you must first have a dream, and then
pursue it to the utmost of your ability.

F. Beware of the “devil” and his minions

Make sure that you put into writing any offer, promise, or agreement that you
enter into, and make sure that it is signed by all parties. Similarly, there is no such
thing as a verbal purchase order. Remember, good intentions are not always
good currency.

Always make it a point to study the legal ramifications of any agreement or

contract you enter into. Spend a great deal of time to really study each provision
of each contract or agreement that you sign, especially those that you think are
too good to be true, or those that will require you to relinquish more than you can
afford, such as giving up majority control of your company when you have no
intention of selling your business or retiring just yet. More often than not, some
shrewd and unscrupulous lawyer may have slipped in a seemingly harmless
provision which, if left unnoticed, could mean the end to your dreams.

Furthermore, never ever consider matters of great consequence while under the
influence of a mind numbing stimulant; nor accept advice and encouragement
from altered minds. Above all, do not expect to make profit when the person
you're dealing is wanting in honesty and integrity. Remember, when you make a
deal with the devil, expect to get burnt.

IV. The Myth of Getting Rich Quick

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as easy money. Even though
there are many books and seminars that instruct readers and attendees on how
to become instant millionaires, none of these “surefire, get rich quick” ideas or
systems can really guarantee instant success and wealth. In most cases, these
“get rich quick” seminars and “How To” books will only tell you forty-five percent of

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 How to Almost Make a Million Dollars by Robert X. Leeds

the story. Experience, with the help of providence, will teach you the other fifty-
five percent as you go through life trying to make your dream of becoming a
successful businessperson a reality.

Although it is sad that most of these “How To” books and “get rich quick” seminars
are being written and conducted primarily for profit, you cannot really blame the
authors or the organizations that conduct these seminars. There is nothing wrong
or evil about it. Like you, they are merely trying to make their dreams of financial
affluence a reality too.

Nevertheless, if you can learn even just one good idea that you can put to good
use in your business ventures, then consider your money well-spent. Moreover,
these books and seminars often provide a certain rush to those who need to be
motivated from time to time. These books and seminars serve as adrenaline
shots that provide people with that needed boost of energy. They can also
reinforce your desire to succeed, since they usually give confirmation that the
business idea, product, or service you're contemplating can be done.

V. The More Important Things

The world is filled with many opportunities for growth and success. You need not
always think of something new in order to succeed in business. In some
instances, all you have to do is just make some timely and novel improvement on
some ordinary or common-place thing. Also, always keep in mind that there is
more than one road to success, although that path may be long and arduous. You
may not see it at first, but life always gives you an endless array of options to
choose from.

Nonetheless, these opportunities are only available to those who are willing to
take the necessary chances and risks, and try something new or different. You
may not know it yet, but you have a deep reservoir of talent and creativity that you
just have to draw forth and use to your advantage. You only have to believe in
yourself. Most of the time, what may seem impossible is only improbable.
Remember, when there's a will, there's a way.

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