At least three of the people I listen to for insights on success and prosperity, (Jim Rohn, Stephen Covey and Tony Robbins) all three talk about the story of the Goose who laid the golden eggs and preserving the health of the goose in order to keep the eggs coming.

What we've done over the last 30 years has damned near killed the goose. The goose was in intensive care last fall and we managed to keep it from dying. Now we're trying to nurse it back to health. Once we get it back to health, then we have to address what made it sick in the first place.

This excellent essay by Warren Buffett explains this process simply, yet in some detail.

Here's a link to the essay.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/opinion/19buffett.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th