The Servant With One Talent: Five Success Principles from the Greatest Parable Ever Told

by Michael V. Ivanov, Jesse Hostetler (Illustrator)

To bring your dreams and desires to fulfillment, you must invest in your talents. This book shows you how to become successful and live with purpose by sharing the secrets hidden in an ancient parable, which holds the universal laws of prosperity.

The Servant With One Talent is an instant classic that holds the key to all you desire and everything you wish to accomplish. Through the story of the unprofitable and lazy servant in ancient Babylon , Michael V. Ivanov provides a unique perspective on the classic parable of the talents. This book provides concrete advice for creating a successful and purposeful life while fulfilling your destiny and becoming the person you were created to be. While many people are burying their dreams, talents, skills and abilities in the desert, like the unprofitable servant did at the beginning of this story, the successful are investing into their skills, talents, and abilities.

The Five success principles covered in this book
Find "The Mount of 11 Declarations to an extraordinary life," Michael V. Ivanov's first book, and "The Traveler's Ancient proverbs for better living," Michael V. Ivanov's second book to see the praise for his work.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2021

About the author

Michael is a Game-Changing speaker and Best-Selling author who has impacted millions with his message of resilience. He motivates readers and audiences of all ages and backgrounds to take personal responsibility for their lives, reconnect to their purpose, and cultivate success in every aspect of their lives. As a child, he immigrated to the United States just before the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War and is the grandson of a ‘Siege of Leningrad’ and Dachau camp survivor. Michael's talent for story-telling and his success principles motivate and empower readers and audiences to smash fears, limitations, and passive, excuse-oriented mindsets. He reveals how the personal choices we make, the attitudes we carry, and the principles we choose to live by, determine the success & quality of our lives.

He is writer and a motivational speaker on a mission to helping people stay alive all their lives!

Reviews

[Ruman Bashir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of how these authors feel the need necessarily to write these particular books where we r taught so many life lessons through ones experience. These r much more relatable and influential than self -help category (which I personally despise coz all they tell you is so to quote "u r allowed to feel certain way sweety". I mean yeah true but what next?). Learning from these age old parables is such an interesting way to development.
Sometimes or the other we hv all been there, facing any situation where either we can't find an exit nor do we have any insight of how to cope up. All these parables and stories enlighten us on how to find ways rather than telling us its ok(which I mean come on , what r u even saying).
I find these books much more capturing and rewarding to be honest. U don't know wt r u going in for, but truthfully u come out with much more understanding of self , and certain amount of wisdom.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these parables! It opens up the bible in a different way. I love the book's inspiration, especially the "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." I tend to try and figure out why people lie, steal, perform bad deeds, and I am wasting my energy. It is more productive to become proactive for oneself and not obsess about the person who does not wish to help him/herself. Thank you, Michael, for writing this insightful book.

[Jerrica Perfect · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this based on the recommendation of a family member! It’s an interesting story line — essentially what if the servant who buried his talent, in the parable of the talents, was given the chance to learn financial knowledge?

It had some wonderful life lessons and values about how to manage money well, not compare yourself to others, work toward your dreams, and use your life to the fullest. However, it did seem overly simplistic in its general “work harder, get richer — you only stay poor if you’re lazy” mentality. The capitalist ideology in it is just a little too ignorant of the many nuances of systemic poverty. I also would’ve appreciated more development of the spiritual aspect of this — how do we use our lives, not only our money, to honor God to the very best of our abilities?

All in all, there are some great lessons in it if you’re able to look past some of the over-simplifications of the economic aspect of things. I’d give it 3.5 stars or so!

[Blanche Konieczka · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend bought me several of his books. While most of them had an interesting back story, I found the unending, repetitive sermons annoying. This book was the one I thought I'd enjoy, I was wrong. The same "lessons" repeated over and over had me putting the book down. At first it was okay but after a few chapters I was thinking does he think we're idiots who can't remember from one page to another? I suppose I wasn't looking for inspiration, just wanted an interesting book to read.

[katherine Gillette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ideas in this book are powerful. and thought provoking.

I felt the book was a little slow in the beginning, but is well worth the time spent in reading it. I will read it again with more clarity as to its purpose. It spoke to my heart

[Gary Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone to become someone

To search, to learn, to apply the principles of these truths, anyone can become a someone, not just an anybody.

[Sam Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Michael! Each of your books has been an inspiration. I had forgotten this parable, but the story that accompanied it was truly inspiring and heart-felt again, thank you and God bless you.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never really understood that parable

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

Such a great read
I love how the author used biblical stories and shared the point of them. Keep sharing

[shannon austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book by Michael Ivanov

Such an uplifting and inspiring story. I have enjoyed every book that I’ve read by this author. I highly recommend.

[Rumi Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book by chance on Kindle Unlimited, and it immediately captivated me during my travels across Belgium. I found myself reading it in parks, trains, buses—anywhere I could steal a spare 15 minutes. Despite its modest length of fewer than 200 pages, the book delivers profound life lessons akin to those found in an encyclopedia.

Recently, I've noticed that whenever I'm in need of guidance or a sign, it somehow appears before me. This phenomenon isn't unique to me; it happens to everyone, although some may overlook these cues while navigating the routines of daily life. I believe this book emerged from such a desire for guidance. Consequently, I wasn't surprised to learn that the author paused work on another book to prioritize this one.

The narrative centers around three main characters and imparts five key principles, which I'll outline here. However, I strongly advise delving into the book for a deeper understanding of the context:

1. To each, according to his abilities.
2. A talent buried is a talent lost.
3. Do not concern yourself with your neighbor's wages
4. The time is now.
5. To those who have, much more will be given, from those who have not, what little they have will be taken from them.

Despite the weightiness of its message, the author's accessible language and engaging storytelling style make for an effortless and enjoyable read. I wholeheartedly award it a five-star rating.