THE 30 LIES ABOUT MONEY – Talk is Not Cheap

“Nothing is free” most people say. “There’s always a catch.”

Peter Koenig, author of THE 30 LIES ABOUT MONEY gave me a free ticket to his seminar in Switzerland. He had heard about my prosperity workshops. I knew it would be  worthwhile and entertaining. For example:

 "A banker is a person who lends you an umbrella when the sun shines and asks for it back immediately it starts raining." Mark Twain

"Balance sheets are like bikinis. The most interesting parts are not displayed".
Cyril Northcote Parkinson

"When all experts agree, you need to watch out"-- Bertand Russel

"When you don't have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it's sex. When you have both, it's health." -J.P. Donleavy

 Oh, there was so much I learned that I could incorporate into my own Prosperity Seminars. I asked Peter to please let me pay for his seminar. He said – a bit to my surprise- “You can make a donation.”

 I had no idea what others had paid. It could have been $300 or $3000. Peter wouldn’t tell me. He asked what value it was to me. Anything was welcome. Well, it might have been worth a million, but I didn't have that to donate.

Peter saw I was perplexed about how much to give. “Just meditate on it” he said.Meditate? On a price? It seemed like a silly way to do business.I thought about it a lot. I came up with a great idea. I passed the buck.

I gave him a signed blank check.

 I'm the one who was silly. I headed back home to Miami having no idea what amount that check would be.How would I balance my checkbook? I fought to keep thousands more in the bank because I wouldn't want it to bounce. I was not sure about the exchange rate either.

 Months went by. When I finally got the canceled check I was relieved. So I did something silly too. I gave one of my $100 per person seminars “By Donation Only.”

 I expected about 50 people. Several hundred arrived! They loved it and it was one of the best talks I ever gave. It’s funny, when there’s no “boss” or sponsor I was free to be outrageous. They loved it. Standing ovation. Wow!

 Whoa. Someone stole the donation box. I didn’t earn a cent. I had to pay for the elegant hotel ballroom, all the help, brochures etc. myself.

I did not host another seminar for the next year. Paid gigs, thank you.

 One day an excited attorney called.

“Your seminar changed my life!” I have to see you and thank you.

 (I didn’t tell him how it changed mine.)

 I agreed to meet him at Barnes & Noble for coffee. I wanted to see my new book on display.

 “I won the biggest case – thanks to you “ he said. 

“Why me?” I wondered

“I started painting – thanks to you” his big blue eyes opened wide

“I'm going to Italy for a year – thanks to YOU”  Wish he wasn't leaving so fast. What a hunk.

He gave me a gift wrapped book as we were leaving. He said he "owed his dream" to my truths and was off to Italy to devote his time to his art, rather than litigation.

 I put the book by my bedside. That night I unwrapped it. It was by Benjamin Franklin. One hundred times. The grateful lawyer tithed me $10,000!

?Vivian Greene