AN OXFORD CLUB PUBLICATION

Loyal reader since October 2020

THE SHORTEST WAY TO A RICH LIFE

Attention, All Busy-men. Take a Break for 5 Minutes to Read This Story

Dr. Mark Skousen, Macroeconomic Strategist, The Oxford Club

"Most people are too busy earning a living to make any money." - Joe Karbo, "The Lazy Man's Way to Riches"

"O wise humanity, terribly wise humanity! How inscrutable is the civilization where men toil and work and worry their hair gray to get a living and forget to play!" - Lin Yutang, "The Importance of Living"

"To be successful, you need leisure." - George Soros ("Maxims of Wall Street," p. 134)

This Friday, the stock market will be closed in honor of Good Friday and Easter weekend. Wall Street is one of the many institutions which still honor Christian holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.

The shortened trading week reminds me of the importance of leisure time.

When I joined the Oxford Club in February, I was delighted to know that the company staff were told to take off a day (Friday) after achieving their financial goals for the month.

I have a group of books on my bookshelf with the same theme: taking a break from the 24-7 rat race.

One of the books is called "The Importance of Living," by Lin Yutang, the great Chinese philosopher (1895-1976) who lived in both the West and the East.

I once wrote on the blackboard before MBA students at Columbia Business School the following quote from Lin Yutang:

"Those who are wise won't be busy, and those who are too busy can't be wise."

It's an extreme statement and my super-busy MBA students were not impressed. But think about it: when do you come up with your best ideas? Is it not in the morning when you are relaxing in bed or taking a walk? You need some time to think straight.

"Lazy Man's Way to Riches"

When I first started out in the business world, I saw an ad for a book entitled, "The Lazy Man's Way to Riches," by Joe Karbo. The price was $10, but on the cover, it said the book was worth $1,000... or more.

His subtitle caught my eye: "Most people are too busy earning a living to make any money."

I ordered the book and, in a few days, it appeared in my mailbox. I anxiously read the book cover to cover to see what his secret formula was for making it big in the business world.

His formula was simple. Do what he did: start a mail-order business!

I've been running a mail-order business for my books ever since, and it has allowed me to break away from the "busy world" and have the free time to play sports, travel with my family, read books, meet often with friends and colleagues, engage in good causes, and enjoy a life of leisure.

That life of Riley also gave me the opportunity to become an adjunct professor at various colleges and universities - from Columbia Business School to Chapman University - and to write "Economic Logic," "The Making of Modern Economics" and "The Maxims of Wall Street."

It also gave me the chance to travel to 81 countries and live in the Bahamas, London, and several states in the US (Florida, New York, and California).

Here is my story about "Easy Living: My Two Years in the Bahamas."

It led to my producing FreedomFest, "the world's largest gathering of free minds," every July in Vegas. It's a for-profit business that has been successful and given me a lot of pleasure over the years fighting for a good cause and meeting dozens of fascinating individuals.

SPONSORED

WATCH NOW: Multimillionaire Trader Wows Thousands With "One Ticker Payouts" Demonstration

Research found that smart investors could have made top gains of...

443% in 11 days
89% in 11 days
543% in nine days
88% in seven days.

All by trading just one ticker every week!

Sound preposterous?

SEE THE PROOF HERE

Getting Too Busy to Do the Important Things in Life

I often think of Joe Karbo's subtitle, "Most people are too busy to…" Fill in the blank: "Spend time with their family... take a vacation... play a musical instrument... read a book... do charitable work... Get involved in a good cause... or attend Investment U, FreedomFest and other worthwhile conferences."

Too many businesspeople only focus on working 24/7 and burning the candle at both ends.

They don't realize that you can be a better business leader and investor by using free time to come up with new ideas or investments.

In my latest 12th edition of "The Maxims of Wall Street," I cite George Soros, who said, "To be successful, you need leisure" (p. 134).

And Robert Prechter, Jr., says, "There's nothing wrong with cash. It gives you time to think."

Finally, I added this somber quotation (p. 23)

We squander health in search of wealth,

We scheme and toil and save,

Then squander wealth in search of health,

And find at last a grave.

- Henry Winn (1913)

My Debate at FreedomFest on the Rat Race

Several years ago, I debated Todd Buchholz, a former professor at Harvard University, at FreedomFest on the topic, "The Rat Race, Good or Bad for Americans?" He defended his new book, "RUSH: Why We Thrive in the Rat Race." It was a fun debate, and it was recorded on C-SPAN Book TV. Watch it here (48 minutes, if you have the time!) Alex Green, chief investment officer of the Oxford Club, was the moderator.

I don't know who won the debate, but it is interesting that years later I met up with Todd Buchholz in London. He was busy as ever, but his latest endeavor surprised me: he produced and wrote along with his daughter a musical on the West End called "Glory Ride," which he saw and enjoyed. Todd seems to be enjoying life to the fullest.

The Story Behind This Special Photograph

For years, Brett Iannuccillo, a long-time subscriber to my newsletter, wanted to come to FreedomFest. It seems that every year he had a conflict. Life was busy and FreedomFest passed by every year.

Well, he finally made it in 2023. He said he had the best time, and on the final day of the 4-day conference, he came up on stage in Memphis for a photograph of all the attendees who bought a silver dollar, our official symbol of liberty and prosperity. It's an annual tradition to be on stage with the celebrity speakers, such as Fox News' Kennedy, our emcee; Steve Forbes and many others.

Brett is the one kneeling between me and Kennedy holding two silver dollars, with everyone else having a great time at FreedomFest.

His wife contacted us afterwards to tell us that a month later Brett died. I was glad he finally got to fulfill his wish to attend our big show.

This year's FreedomFest is July 8-11 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. I suggest you take the time to join us. Use code OXFORD100 to get $100 off. Both Marc Lichtenfeld and I will be there representing the Oxford Club.

Speaking of Leisure Time and Easter Weekend

This Easter weekend reminds that my wife, Jo Ann, has written a popular book called:

She has a chapter telling the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, and individual chapters on all the other women in the bible who were direct ancestors, including Eve, Ruth, and even Bathsheba. She also has a fascinating chapter on Mary Magdelene.

Jo Ann demonstrates what historian Paul Johnson says, "One of the most remarkable facts about the Bible - in some ways the most remarkable fact - is that it is history with the women left in... From the very beginning, women are part of the Bible story, acting, reacting, talking, scheming, suffering and comforting."

Steve Forbes endorsed Jo Ann's book: "Believers and non-believers alike will be fascinated and inspired by the women whose stories are skillfully told here by Jo Ann Skousen. Their trials, triumphs, strengths and shortcomings will speak to both women and men today. Skousen's knowledge of the times in which they lived is particularly impressive."

The reviews on Amazon are exceptional and five star, such as this one from Emma: "This book gave me a profound boost to my self-esteem. I only wish I had fully understood the complete meaning of ezer kenegdo when I was younger and raising my family. It was wonderful to learn more fully about these magnificent women of the bible. I not only loved it but read it thoroughly twice."

Andrew Ooley writes: "When much is revealed from Scripture, she makes their stories compelling and interesting. When little is revealed, she has a talent for credibly 'filling in the gaps' by using a multitude of historical sources and old-fashioned intuitive insight. Having raised children of her own, Jo Ann also has a perspective of seeing things through the eyes of a Mom and applying that wisdom to the challenges these women might have faced. Hard to believe this is her first book- she hit it out of the park!"

Her book would also make a great Mother's Day gift (Sunday, May 10th).

To order an autographed copy for only $22 each (including shipping inside the US), click here.

Good investing, AEIOU,

Dr. Mark Skousen