Success taught me about success 3. Vladimir Vilde, 51, a self-made multimillionaire who
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Honor your promises.
Patrick Ghidirim
also transform our minds, Ghidirim said he carefully weighs his use of time. “The older you get, the more each minute of your time becomes truly valuable,” he said. “As somebody said, there is one single, truly irreplaceable resource in life that we don’t appreciate. This is time, our own time. I want every moment of my time to matter.” Lesson learned: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20).
surreptitiously printed prohibited religious literature in Soviet times, builds $15 million palatial villas for the fabulously wealthy. I asked him how he manages to be successful without resorting to bribery and the other forms of corruption common in the business world. “The answer is easy,” he said. “You must be professional under all circumstances, under any regime. When you’re living in an economy like ours, you must be very professional and always fulfill exactly what you promise. If you promise to hammer a nail into the wall and you hammer it well, you will be known as an independent, highly professional craftsman, wanted by many and able to command a good salary. You Vladimir Vilde can build palatial villas, as I do. But I got this far only through small steps, each of which was fulfilled with professionalism and predictability. Other people must know that what I promise will really happen.” Lesson learned: “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? . . . He who swears to his own hurt and does not change” (Ps. 15:1-4).
August 2013 | Adventist World
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