Apples and Oranges . . . Your Window To The World

Christmas is almost upon us yet again and it seems the older we get the quicker the years fly by.

The 1940's was a devastating period in history with WWII creating havoc and hardship for all. The 1950's and early 1960's were equally tough times and was the period of my childhood.

Luxury goods were not only hard to get, they were the stuff of dreams for most. Christmas for my younger siblings and I was always made enjoyable with the love of my parents and relatives but we were lucky if the sum total of our gifts included more than a stocking apiece hung from the mantelpiece, and crammed full with goodies such as an apple, orange, assorted hard nuts, a few sweets or small selection box of chocolate bars, and maybe a dinky toy. In latter years we would be excited to find a separate 'main' present such as a jigsaw puzzle, small train set, or an action man (doll, in the case of my sister).

Although very harsh those early years of my childhood were some of the fondest and happiest times I recall. Who would have thought that an apple, an orange, and some nuts could bring such a beaming smile to a young child's face.

Fast forward to the present day and children still have an apple and an orange at Christmas, but it's an Apple computer or tablet, and an Orange mobile phone that cost hundreds.

What's the point of this recollection?

Could you ever imagine a humble eating apple or large juicy orange inspiring or enabling you - as a child - to achieve business success? Back in those days there were no computers, no internet, and old fashioned public payphones were the order of the day for most. Yet, incredibly, some came through those hard times to achieve global business success, whilst many more tasted it on a lesser level.

Today's budding entrepreneurs have grown up in the age of the computer and internet, in the age of the mobile/smart phone, and in the age of unlimited opportunity. In other words it's handed to them on a plate, yet many seem oblivious of this.

In an instant you can contact the four corners of the world either verbally by phone, or electronically online. With only the knowledge of a product or service that you have taken the time to acquire, you can have a website, email, blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, forums, and a thousand other ways of telling the whole world what you have to offer. All in an instant. At no other time in history has there been such a vast array of invaluable tools at the disposal of all, enabling anyone to reach out to a truly global marketplace.

So when I hear so many people today complaining that they can't do this and can't do that, a wry smile creeps over my face. I had an apple and an orange that tasted lovely but were soon gone. You have an Apple and an Orange that are your window to the world, and $$$$'s.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a prosperous 2013.