Dig Your Wells

Dig my wells? I thought. What exactly does that mean? This was a statement made by a mentor, someone who serves as a father figure in my life. I met him at 15 and that phrase kept coming up and still does in every conversation with him.

Normally, I would inquire, “Sir, what are the success principles? Given the limited time in a day, how do I make time and accomplish so much? How can I stay focused on my goals while avoiding distractions? Can I succeed if I follow your principles?” He never changed his answers to my questions. He would call out my name and say, “Dig your Wells.”

I was only familiar with physical Wells, which are structures created by digging or drilling that provide access to underground water and are drilled by well-diggers. So I wondered how I could find answers to my practical questions by digging a physical well. Finally, I decided to request a more detailed explanation of that phrase from him.

It was another day of meeting him, and of course, I had questions for him, as I always did, and in response to my question, he said, “Dig your wells.” So I inquired, Sir, what exactly does that mean? I have heard you say that several times, but I’m not sure what it means. He smiled and said, “In modern day parlance, it is similar to knowing your onions, however with a slight difference.”

“Digging your Wells” means putting yourself, your mind, and your will under the discipline, self-control, and continuous learning required for a bigger picture of what success looks like. He went on to say, “Knowing you can’t afford to be mediocre would motivate you to dig your Wells. It would push you to strive for excellence and to base your life on the values required for the common good of all.”

I was taken aback. That phrase appeared in all of his responses. With the meaning in mind, I was able to look back at my questions and see how each lied in digging my wells. I had always assumed that great and successful men had some wealth principles passed down to them; that is, something they knew that no one else did.

I have learned my lesson. That learning process takes them through a refining moment, as they dig their wells, their attitudes are cultivated and their life endeavors shaped by values that produce wealth. Of course, this can be viewed as principles that not everyone was aware of, but principles that anyone who was willing, could learn.

My interactions with that mentor have ever since evolved. My conversations are more robust and laced with in-depth knowledge on a variety of topics. I am still learning, and digging my wells is still an answer to some questions. I have learned to keep digging as I have recorded astounding results by it. The process never ends because we can become better versions of ourselves and so, I tell today’s readers, Dig your wells.