An Afterword
On reading the foregoing pages after they have been set up in type,
we are impressed with the idea that in spite of our determination, as
expressed in the first few pages, not to attempt to lay down a code or
rules or a course of conduct which should be considered as an
infallible Guide to Success in spite of our vowed determination not
to pose as a teacher or preacher we have nevertheless managed to do
considerable in the direction of "laying down the law" so far as is
concerned naming of things to be done, or avoided.
However, we feel that the advice given is good, and that the
various examples quoted are calculated to arouse within the mind of
the reader the Spirit that leads to Success. And, with this thought,
we send forth these pages to those who may attract them to themselves,
or who may be attracted to them under the Law of Attraction. But we
feel that we shall not have completed our task unless we, once more,
remind the reader that Success is not to be gained by a blind and
slavish following of anyones rules or advice, our own any more than
any other persons. There is no Royal Road to Success no Patent
Process by which the unsuccessful are to be magically transformed into
Captains of Industry or Magnates of Wall Street. There is nothing more
amusing, or pitiful, according to how one views it, than the bulk of
Success Talk given to the public by self-appointed teachers and
preachers. There is no one who can in a few pages point out to seekers
after Success an infallible method whereby each and everyone may
attain the Success and Attainment that their hearts crave. It is a
cold, hard truth that each and every man must work out his own
salvation in the matter of Success. Rules and advice may greatly
assist and they undoubtedly do this but the individual must
accomplish the real work. He must carve out his own Destiny, and there
is no power above or below that will do the work for him if he refuses
to perform it himself.
The old saying that "God helps him who helps himself" is true in
more senses than one. It is true in the sense that the Higher Aid
seems to refuse to come to the assistance of one who is not willing to
strike out for him and do his best. But it is true in another sense
this Aid does come to one who will throw heart and soul into the task
set before him, and who will do each days work the best he know how,
with hope in his soul, and a confident expectation of better things
right ahead, around the turn of the road. The wise man is the one who
takes courageously the step right ahead of him, planting his foot
firmly and confidently upon it, although he is unable to see further
ahead. To such a one step after step is illuminated as he proceeds,
and he reaches his goal, whereas the shrinking ones, who have feared
to take the obvious step because they could not see beyond it, are
still waiting for something to turn up. This waiting business is a
poor policy as Garfield said:"Dont wait for something to turn up
go out and turn something up. "Take the step before you boldly and
hopefully, and the next step will then appear. The thing to do is that
which lies right before you to be done do it the best you know how,
feeling assured that in its doing you will be making progress toward
the better things for which your heart has been longing. New ideas
come while you are in action in the doing of things comes the
inspiration for the doing of greater things. You can always get a
better "running start" when in action, which will give you an
advantage over the best "standing start" imaginable. Get into action
and motion.
In this little work we have endeavored to call your attention to
something of far greater importance than a mere code of rules and
general advice. We have pointed out to you the glorious fact that
within each of you there is a Something Within, which if once aroused
would give you a greatly increased power and capacity. And so we have
tried to tell you this story of the Something Within, from different
viewpoints, so that you might catch the idea in several ways. We
firmly believe that Success depends most materially upon a recognition
and manifestation of this Something Within we think that a study of
the character and work of all successful men will show you that differ
as they do in personal characteristics, they all manifest that
consciousness of that Something Within them that gives them an
assurance of Inward Power and Strength, from which proceeds Courage
and Self-Confidence. You will find that the majority of successful men
feel that there is a Something helping them back of and behind their
efforts. Some have called this Thing by the name of "Luck" or
"Destiny," or some such term. But it is all a form of the same
recognition of an Inward Power that they are "helped" in some way,
although they are not quite sure of the nature of the helper in
fact, the majority of them do not stop to speculate upon its nature,
they are too busy and are content with the knowledge that It is there.
This Something Within is the Individual the "I" in each of them
the source of the power which men manifest when they express it. And
this little book is written in the hopes that to many it may be the
first step toward the recognition, unfoldment and manifestation of
this Inward Power.
We earnestly urge upon you to cultivate this "I AM" consciousness
that you may realize the Power Within you. And then there will come
naturally to you the correlated consciousness which expresses itself
in the statement, "I CAN and I WILL," one of the grandest affirmations
of Power that man can make. This "I Can and I Will" consciousness is
that expression of the Something Within, which we trust that you will
realize and manifest. We feel that behind all the advice that we can
give you, this one thing is the PRIME FACTOR in the Secret of Success.
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