This kind of fool can get lucky, but mostly he gets bupkis
Wise, Wealthy Work
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The one who is lazy becomes poor,
but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.
The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son,
but the one who sleeps during harvest is a shameful son.
Proverbs 10:4-5 (NET)
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I’ve read a chapter of Proverbs every day for almost ten years.
I started in my late 20’s because I saw that I needed a ton of wisdom.
After nearly a decade, I still need a ton of wisdom!
Of course I’ve learned a lot, but the well for drawing the water of wisdom is deep.
These two verses are pretty surface level and quite practical.
Basically, diligent work is hard work on the right things at the right time. While laziness is ignoring the work when it’s time to do the work.
Timing is critical.
In farming, there is a specific window of opportunity for planting and harvesting. If you miss the window, you don’t get to just try and make it up as quickly as you can.
Nope.
You miss the window and it probably won’t come around for another year.
Maybe worse if a drought begins.
People like to talk about the importance of hard work, and I agree it’s important, but also remember how important timing is.
I see it a lot in trading & investing: there’s a window of opportunity and the wise people get their “seeds” planted when the window is open. That’s what can lead to wealth.
Laziness relies on luck alone.
Sure, sometimes you get lucky. But most of the time, you get bupkis.
This is a lesson I’ve had to learn the hard way. It’d be better to immediately apply the Proverb.
Alas, I’m a stubborn, lazy man at heart; wise, wealthy work takes hard effort for me.
I’m getting better though.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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