As just observed, the effective manager does not stagnate, and perhaps the theme continues as Solomon now appears to stress the importance of education and training, even for those at the top, individuals who may think that they can relax now that they have “got it made”.

The fool is bored and wearied by his work – the reason being that he takes no interest it, or in finding ways of doing it more efficiently and effectively, has not properly analyzed the operation and come to grips with the subtle complexities of the market and the key factors for success in the business. He may, in fact, be willingly ignorant and not even competent in the very basics of his profession – being typified by Solomon as a country yokel who does not even know the way to town, the place where many thinking people live and new ideas were most likely to be encountered.

The opposite of the fool’s boredom is enthusiasm, which once again is one of the prime qualities of successful people. Enthusiam, Napoleon Hill assures us, is generated by the pursuit of an important and specific goal. The most menial of tasks, it seems, can be made interesting and exciting by the development of personal targets of achievement and a search for better ways of doing things.

Solomon always stresses the critical importance of education, the vital process that imparts skills to personnel and also unleashes their creativity.

Are you bored or enthusiastic at work? Do you identify and analyze interesting problems and come up with creative solutions? Are you progressing in your career? Do you have a goal and a step-by-step plan to make it happen? What steps are you taking to improve your skills, acquire new up-to-date knowledge and make yourself a more valuable commodity in the market place? Such was the attitude of self-made successful man and former British prime-minister, John Major, once commented that no job is easy if you try to do it properly.

Conversely, what measures can management take to stimulate an inept and lackadaisical workforce, to structure work in such a way that it engages the immense innate ability and creativity of every single person? Education has the power to stimulate the mind, dispel boredom and unlock unsuspected human potential, making ongoing training a vital to the success of any enterprize.