Acres of Diamonds: Our Every-day Opportunities

Acres of Diamonds originated as a speech which Conwell
delivered over 6,000 times around the world; it was eventually published as
delivered in Conwell's home town, Philadelphia.

The central idea of the work is that one need not look elsewhere for
opportunity, achievement, or fortune -- the resources to achieve all good things
are present in your own community. This theme is developed by an introductory
anecdote, told to Conwell by an Arab guide, about a man who wanted to find
diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for
them; the new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located
right there on the property. Conwell elaborates on the theme through examples of
success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary Americans
contemporary to his audience: "dig in your own back-yard!".

Conwell's capacity to establish Temple University and his other civic
projects largely derived from the income that he earned from this speech.

— Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.