"New Lessons from ole Desert Pete"
By Gary Christensen

There's an old "Kingston Trio" song about a gold prospector named "Desert Pete." The story goes that he had sunk a well, in the middle of a desert. He had hooked up an old water pump to it, but, realizing it would be out in the heat all day, it's "leather" suction fitting would dry out. So, he put a jug of water under a rock nearby. He tied a small can to the handle, and in the can he placed a note.

The note said, "You've got to 'Prime the Pump', you must have faith, and believe! You've got to give of yourself, before you're worthy to receive!" The note told the reader where to find the jug of water, but, it cautioned him "Don't go drinking it first" but, to "give it up", to commit it to Priming the Pump, to "pour it in, then pump like mad, and buddy you'll quench your thirst!"

The reader of the note needed to follow the instructions, to not drink the water first, but to pour the water into the pump, to wet the leather, and to Prime the Pump, then there would be plenty of water, so they could "Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face to your feet, leave the bottle full for others,.. thank ya kindly, Desert Pete!"

However, if the next guy only thought of himself, and his immediate need, and drank the water from the jug, he would leave the jug empty, the message would be meaning less, there would be no water for the next fellow, no "pumping like mad", no one else could drink their fill, no bottle would be left full for those who followed him! Just one guy coming along who DIDN'T obey the instructions, would mess the whole thing up, and everyone else coming along after him would only find a dry pump!

I saw in that story the unique plan of Desert Pete, to be able to supply enough water to anyone who came upon that pump. But, the success of his plan depended upon the wisdom and obedience of all those who followed him!

So, even today, some 30 years after I first heard that song, I am still trying to be careful to:

1) Follow the Instructions of others who have gone before. Many other people have passed this way before me, and many others will come along after me. In the word of Business, I believe I need to learn to do what was done by those who have been successful in Business. I should follow their example; copy their success; and do what they did, in order to succeed! There's no need to make a new road! No need for me to re-invent the wheel! I should use the wheel that another invented. I need to follow the road that another has paved!

2) Understand that my actions can affect others. What I do today, could mean the success or failure of many other people who follow, for years to come. Am I careful in what I do, today? Do I only put MY NEEDS first? Maybe I need to do what I can to help those who will follow along after me! After all, None of us is an Island!

3) To have faith, and make a Commitment. A little faith, not only in myself, but also in the "words of those who went before me." I need to ACT in faith, and to do what others have suggested. I don't have all the answers! I need to "give up" (to commit) some of my money; my time; my energy,.. and to take an actions that will both help myself and those who follow along after me.

4) Give, before I'm Worthy to Receive. Do I really expect to find nuggets of gold, without a little time & effort on my part, to dig, to work, to look for them? Do I think those gold nuggets are laying on top of the ground? People aren't automatically going to come knocking on my door, to buy my products, without my time, investment and work, to get the word out!

Am I willing to "Help others achieve their Dreams", so that, as others wiser than I have said, "Our Dreams will come true in the process!" I should give freely of my time & possessions to help others who need my help,.. because others helped ME when I was just starting out!

The messages of "Desert Pete" have L-O-N-G been with me. I try to always think about the next person. I think about what I can do,.. what I MUST do,.. to insure that everyone gets a chance to "drink his fill!" The whole thing could fall apart if I don't do what I should do! I might be the cause of a lot of pain and suffering by others, if I don't believe,.. if I mess up,.. if I think only of myself and my immediate needs. Because if I don't follow the instructions left by those who have gone before, what I do NOW could affect HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of people!

Don't get me wrong. I'm NOT ALWAYS thinking of others, ALL the time. I am still caring for myself; I wash myself; and work; and eat, to stay alive, to protect my family, because I am important to them and to myself! I do NOT completely "give up" on taking care of myself and meeting my needs. I think what Desert Pete says is that I should try to do what I can, to help others, whenever I am able.

(Above article was written by Gary Christensen, a self-published author of 8 books & over 100 Reports, like this one. Of the 100, 67 Reports are in his "67 Mailorder Trade Secrets" Book, one copy is yours for $18.00! (Or, the full set of 100+ Reports are YOURS for only $28.00). His latest Free Report is "How to sell by using different slants" Gary will circulate your 2 page Article or News Release to 90 Publishers for just $28.00! Write him at: 2601 N.E. Jack London St., #138, Corvallis, OR 97330, or E-Mail him at: Garch6@aol.com )