A huge sofa filled the sidewalk in front of a home. Evidently the sofa had been taken out to the curb by the owner for trash collection. Since the sofa was in pretty good shape, a lot of people driving by slowed down for a closer look. But when they saw how big it was, they'd pass on by without stopping. Eventually a compact car pulled up, and two men got out. They removed all the cushions, turned the sofa upside down, and shook it hard. Then they picked up all the coins that tumbled out of the sofa, jumped back into their car and drove away. Have you ever noticed that some people have a gift for making money? It seems like everything they touch turns to gold.

Then there are other people who have missed out altogether on that gift and have no such luck. If money were a highly contagious a…