Step right up!  Get yer tickets here!  Fer one day and one day only, you my lucky friend have an amazing opportunity to make MILLIONS!  Dat’s right!  You heard me correct-like – MILLIONS!

Whose gonna take dis offer?  You der!  You!  Poyfect.  Step right up here and let me show you how dis woyks.

It’s like dis.  You choose yer destiny.  How you like it so far?  Dat’s right – you choose yer destiny.

Choice #1 – you come back to dis very spot right here where I’m standin – correction, where yer standin.  You come back here in 30 days and you my friend will receive a lump sum payout of $1 Million.  Oh, my – dat’s a whole lotta change.

OR

Choice #2 – I will give you 1 red cent – that’s $0.01 today and today only!  Have you made up yer mind?  Not so fast my friend – you see ders more!  Tomorrow, you come right back the spot where yer standin I am gonna double yer money.  Tomorrow you der will have yerself $0.02!  Now hold on before you get all hot in the pants ready to take the $1M – ders more.  Yer gonna show up here each and EVERY day to this xact spot and I’m gonna keep doubling yer money all the way up to day 30!

So, what’s it gonna be?  I need yer answer in 5…4…3…2…1…alright, times up!  Which is it? $1M and no hassle or 1 penny doubled for 30 days?

So, what happens if you take a stupid risk and take the penny?  Let’s see…

 
So, what’s the lesson of the Penny Principle? The lesson is this: the quick payout is not always the best and sometimes, even though you see the power of the penny, others will doubt you, throw up roadblocks and beat you down as ignorant. It is up to you to know the value of the Penny Principle in anything you do in life.

Note, this is a financial example because it is easily measureable. The Penny Principle works in any area of yer - I mean your - life and the reward may actually be monetary, but it more likely may be pride in accomplishment, the reward of lifting others up or the magnificent power of teaching others.

So, go out into the world and make money, teach others, lift others up, but follow your own principles and your value will double every day. It may not seem like you are impacting the world immediately, but stay in it for the final payout and your lasting legacy and reward will be more powerful than those who took the easy payout and hoped to just show up at the end and cash out.

Author | Dave Darby

Dave Darby is a husband, father of 5, son, entrepreneur, speaker and well, a renaissance man who frequently needs to dump his brain on thoughts about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.