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I’d say that you are the one confusing success with material wealth. If that is what someone aspires to, then that is fine, I guess—he doesn’t seem to be making any judgments in that way. How did this guy say that your friend or M. Theresa is not a success?

Most people on FR actually believe in free markets, and that if people value motivational speaking and market consulting, why the more power to the motivational speakers and market consultants who fill that niche for them!

I really don’t see how his point to limit exposure to negative mindsets (hmmm...where could I be detecting one about now?) in any way suggests a sick or unemployed wife (or husband) should be ditched.

Finally, it is a very sad thing if most people in society aspire to that which is out of their reach. There is so much of value here right at hand.

Oh come on! What do you think he means by "being successful"? He's a business consultant for goodness sake! There's no talk here of service, or charity, or being satisfied with your lot as a definition of success. In fact in several of his points he clearly expresses derision for such attitudes. The whole thrust of his argument is progression, getting on, building a career, meeting "goals" etc. What else could he be referring to?

Incidentally, his points are the opposite of your last paragraph. I agree with you re the folly of striving for that which you can never achieve at the expense of the wonders that are all around, but he clearly doesn't think that. He is of the mind that anyone can be successful, if only they had the right mindset. But that is unrealistic. Mindset is important sure, but it's going to take more than that.

It is immaterial that most people here believe in Free market economics, because that is not the basis on which I am criticising him. The fact that he is filling a niche that is valued doesn't mean I cannot question whether that niche is a valid one, or whether his services are of any value. After all, a croupier fills a niche that society values. So too does a prostitute, a palm reader, and a drug dealer. Does that mean I can't argue against gambling, sex slavery, charlatinism and cocaine addiction?

His argument re negativity is that he is advocating ditching people whose negativity is dragging you down. The point I was trying to make is that you might be able to do that to friends, but there are folk you can't do that to. Folk who you have a responsibility to. Family for example.

Attempts to induce inadequacy in me because I have the temerity to disagree with a moticational speaker don't work. The times when I would have fallen for that are long past.