Here is another short excerpt from ONO. Remember, wisdom comes with time and experience, however, you can accelerate this process.

As you move into your entrepreneurial career, the biggest ignorant mistake that you could possibly make would be to assume you have all of the wisdom and knowledge you need to succeed. Why? Because it limits your potential. Remember, moving toward ONO means constantly being in a state of growth, which includes your entire being, not just your bank account. It allows you to take control of your destiny, and makes your potential infinite.

I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to constantly be an active participant in creating your own wisdom.

Your brain is like a muscle, and like all the muscles in your body, it will not get into shape unless you work it. Now, if you work your abdominal muscles the right way long enough, you will eventually have a great six-pack to show for it. In the same way, if you work your brain, you will gain wisdom.

Brain exercise can include reading thought-provoking books, attending seminars in arenas that intrigue you, and having deep conversations with people who know more and think differently than you.

Remember, too, “If your lips are flappin’ you’re not learnin’.” In human interaction, the wisest one is often the one listening, not the one speaking.

Developing wisdom takes time and concentration and the process works best in an environment free of distractions where you can think clearly. It is so easy to get sidetracked in the course of your busy life. At home, you have family distractions. At work, you have coworkers and deadlines. Even the entrepreneurial world you have constant distractions. You hear, “Try this,” “Invest in my product,” “Our way is the only way,” or “Make millions in no time at all.” By making time for wisdom-building, you learn to sift out the valuable information from the clutter, and to adapt the gems to help you reach your goals.

When I need a mental recharging session, I go to the one place where I can rid myself of distractions, keep my thoughts focused, and keep my brain stimulated. I get in my car and hit the road.

The road trips I take by myself provide such an awesome atmosphere for thought. It is some of my only quiet time. I'm away from the kids. I'm away from my wife. I'm away from business dealings, my computer, and with one push of a button, I am also away from my cell phone. What I'm able to do is just sit quietly and think.

The best way for me to get into a brainstorming session is to start by listening to audio information on many different topics. I'll get a CD on foreclosures, and then another on public speaking, and then another on the stock market, or whatever topic I’m interested in at the time. Recordings like these are so much more than new information to me. They are a springboard for my imagination. They provide a catalyst for some very productive and creative thought. In fact, parts of this book were written while driving across the high desert.

We all need to separate from our daily routines, to periodically take a “time out” and be quiet. We need to find places where we can escape and focus, where we can think and get outside the confines and demands of our offices. When you find your place, you will be amazed how much more clearly and productively you think and what good decisions you make. Free yourself to learn, brainstorm, and explore.