In the course of performing our everyday duties, something or someone may come along that may change the course of our lives. Dining one day with Baron James Rothschild, Eugene Delacroix, the famous French artist, confessed that during some time past, he had vainly sought for a head to serve as a model for that of a beggar in a picture which he was painting; and that, as he gazed at his host's features, the idea suddenly occurred to him that the very head he desired was before him. Rothschild, being a great lover of art, readily consented to sit as the beggar.

The next day, at the studio, Delacroix placed a tunic around the baron's shoulders, put a stout staff in his hand, and made him pose as if he were resting on the steps of an ancient Roman temple. In this attitude he was found by one of the artist's favorite pupils, in a brief absence of the master from the room. The youth naturally concluded that the beggar had just been brought in, and with a sympathetic look quietly slipped a piece of money into his hand. Rothschild thanked him simply, pocketed the money, and the student left.

Rothschild then inquired of the master, and found that the young man had talent, but very slender means. Soon after, the youth received a letter stating that charity bears interest, and that the accumulated interest on the amount he had given to one he supposed to be a beggar was represented by the sum of ten thousand francs, which was awaiting his claim at the Rothschild office. This illustrates well the art of cheerful amusement even if one has great business cares--the entertainment of the artist, the personation of a beggar, and an act of beneficence toward a worthy student which changed his life.

It illustrates, too, what was said by Wilhelm von Humboldt, that "it is worthy of special remark that when we are not too anxious about happiness and unhappiness, but devote ourselves to the strict and unsparing performance of duty, then happiness comes of itself." We carry each day nobly, doing the duty or enjoying the privilege of the moment, without thinking whether or not it will make us happy. This is quite in accord with the saying of George Herbert, "The consciousness of duty performed gives us music at midnight."

In networking with others today, the philosophical rule to follow is this: We can have everything in life that we want if we will just help enough other people get what they want.* The more we teach, encourage and assist other people, the more successful we will be. Our duties must be performed on a consistent basis everyday to have the results that we dream about.

By showing up in our life everyday alert for possible treasures, we can enjoy happiness, good health, prosperity, friends, good family relationships and the comfort of knowing that the future is going to be brighter. We can follow this philosophy to change the course of our lives.

Works cited: Network Marketing for Dummies