A few days before Christmas, I heard that Jerry Gillies had died.
Jerry was 75, and the news was sudden and surprising.
You might know Jerry only because I’ve promoted his latest book, Moneylove 3.0, for the last few months.
Or maybe you know him because, for four decades, he was the best teacher-trainer of what’s called “prosperity consciousness” EVER.
Many, many years back, I heard Jerry say something so provocative that I’ve quoted it often, and even used it in one of my eBooks (giving credit to Mr. Gillies, of course).
I was attending one of Jerry’s workshops — I think it was in Pasadena, California — and he said that “loafing is one of the most creative, money-producing things you can do.”
At the time, I was sunk up to my neck in corporate claptrap, busting my ass to keep ahead. (Actually, I was busting my ass just to stay even, but I wouldn’t admit that even to myself.)
So at the time, I thought Jerry was full of shit.
But after my corporate job went bye-bye, I became a believer. I started to understand that loafing…
…frees up time to “sit for ideas.” Napoleon Hill wrote about teacher and prolific inventor Elmer Gates, who made a habit of “sitting for ideas.” What resulted were such inventions as the foam fire extinguisher, an improved electric iron, and many other mechanical, scientific, and educational devices.
…allows time for self-education. Anyone benefits from dipping regularly into positive, motivational, inspirational, and instructional books and recordings, during both good and bad economic times.
…is vital to your spirituality. Chinese scholar Lin Yutang wrote an entire chapter on “The Importance of Loafing” for his book The Importance of Living (1937). He wrote that we “are so cramped in our life that we cannot enjoy a free perspective of the beauties of our spiritual life.” Lin Yutang argued that too many people cheat themselves of “many a good, idle, and beautiful afternoon,” and suggested that we should claim our “inalienable right of loafing” and learn to be idle.
I knew Jerry Gillies only slightly. I had met him at the workshop I mentioned before, and we exchanged emails over the last six years.
But Jerry’s wisdom — whether delivered in his books, recordings, or brief personal exchanges — have always been valuable to me.
Goodbye, Jerry. I’ll miss you.
