A few months back I received an email from one of the speakers I subscribe to in which he talked about a show called “Gold Rush: Alaska” and how engrossed he was in it.
Having spent quite some time studying gold and its role in the financial world for a few years now it piqued my interest.
It deals with a group of everyday men who have put their hopes and dreams into striking it rich in the Alaskan wilderness.
They are all down on their luck; suffering through what is the worst economic period in America since the 1930s.
While I have no doubt they are getting paid handsomely by the network which the show appears on, I found myself cheering them on.
They have their backs against the wall as they must achieve their goal of hitting pay dirt before the bitter winter cold sets in in just 4 months time.
Only one member in the team has any real mining experience.
And while each of the crew brings a different set of skills to the table some are just out of their depth.
Emotions run high.
The team runs into setback after setback but somehow manages to figure a way to keep going.
The show’s appeal for me is two-fold.
First, it gives me insight into how the financial crisis is affecting people.
Second, I can see so many success principles at work throughout the show.
Here are a few of the principles (or lack thereof) that I noticed.
- Determination
- Time management
- Planning
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Creativity
- Attitude
Watching them put it all on the line each day in a brutal environment gives me a deep respect for what they are trying to achieve – to give their family a better life, which is something we can all identify with.
While the show might not have the entertainment value of “Glee”, the drama of “House” or the determination of “So You Think You Can Dance,” this is still one show I recommend you check out if you have some free time.
Do they make it? You’ll just have to watch it and find out.
Enjoy!
Adrian Shepherd