Join over The runaway bestseller with more than four million copies in print! You too can change your life with the priceless wisdom of ten ancient scrolls handed down for thousands of years. It is a book to keep at the bedside, or on the living room table—a book to dip into as needed, to browse in now and then, to enjoy in small stimulating portions.
It is a book for the hours and for the years, a book to turn to over and over again, as to a friend, a book of moral, spiritual and ethical guidance, an unfailing source of comfort and inspiration. Bradshaw, Jr. No one who follows these principles will ever fail as a salesman, and no one will ever be truly great without them; but, the author has done more than present the principles—he has woven them into the fabric of one of the most fascinating stories I have ever read.
It is, without doubt, the greatest and the most touching story I have ever read. It is so good that there are two musts that I would attach to it: First, you must not lay it down until you have finished it; and secondly, every individual who sells anything, and that includes us all, must read it.
Hensley, President, Life Insurance Co. It is a book to keep at the. What you are today is not important Mandino is the most widely read inspirational and self-help author in the world. Author of 18 books with total sales of more than 36 million copies sold in 22 languages. In this tradition. Here is the legend of Hafid, a camel boy of two thousand years. A flawless, priceless masterpiece. The amazing new book that unlocks a world of personal happiness and extraordinary achievement!
One of the world's most influential writers shares one of the world's greatest secrets for your personal and financial success. Here are more than 60 of the best articles that have appeared for more than a decade in Success Unlimited magazine. Like the dog, he knows that eventually the. Coughing interrupted Pathros and Hafid sat motionless as the old man gasped for air.
Finally the coughs ceased and Pathros smiled weakly, "Our time together is brief so let us begin. First, remove the small cedar chest which is beneath this bed. He insisted that I had saved his life and wished to reward me although I sought none. Since I had neither a family nor funds he en- joined me to return with him to his home and kin where was accepted as one of his own.
I "One day, after I had grown accustomed to my new life, he introduced me to this chest. Inside were ten leather scrolls, each one numbered. The first contained the secret of learning. The others contained all the secrets and principles necessary to become a great success in the art of selling. For the next year I was tutored each day on the wise words of the scrolls and with the secret of learning from the first scroll I eventually memorized every word on every scroll until they had become a part of my thinking and my life.
They became habit. The sealed letter was not to be opened until my adopted home was out of sight. I bade the family farewell and waited until I had reached the trade route to Palmyra before opening the letter. The contents commanded me to take the gold pieces, apply whathad learned I from the scrolls, and begin a new life. I have remained on watch for this person with a sign for many years and while I watched I applied what I learned from the scrolls to amass a great fortune.
I had almost come to be- lieve that no such person would ever appear before my death until you returned from your trip to Bethlehem. My first inkling that you were the chosen one to receive the scrolls came upon me when you appeared under the bright star that had followed you from Bethlehem. In my heart I have tried to comprehend the meaning of this event but I am resigned not to challenge the actions of the gods. Then when you told me of giving up the robe, which meant so much to you, something within my heart spoke and told me that my long search was ended.
I had finally found he who was ordained to next receive the chest. Strangely, as soon as I knew I had found the my life's energy began right one, to slowly drain away. Their hands touched and the great salesman inhaled with effort. In the chest is a purse with one hundred gold talents. This will enable you to live and pur- chase a small supply of rugs with which you can enter the business world. I could bestow on you great wealth but this would do you a terrible dis- service.
Far better is it that you become the world's wealthiest and greatest salesman on your own. You see, I have not forgotten your goal. There you will find unlimited oppor- tunities to apply what the scrolls will teach. After you have secured lodging you will open only the scrollmarked One.
You are to read this over and over until you understand fully the secret method which it relates and which you will use in learning the principles of selling success contained on all the other scrolls. My first condition then is that you must swear under oath that you will follow the instructions contained in the scroll marked One. Do you agree? My second condition is you must constantly dispose of half your that earnings to those less fortunate than you.
There must be no deviation from this condition. Will you "Yes, sire. You are forbidden to share the scrolls or the wis- dom they contain with anyone. One day there will appear a person who will transmit to you a sign just as the star and your unselfish actions were the sign I sought.
When this happens you will recog- nize this sign even though the person transmitting itmay be ignorant that he is the chosen person. The letter which I received so long ago com- manded that the third to receive the scrolls could share their message with the world if he so de« sires. Will you promise to carry out this third con- dition? He smiled weaHy and cupped Hafid's face in his bony hands. He rode along the street called Straight with doubts and trepidations and the noise and shoutings from hundreds of bazaars did little to ease his fear.
It was one thing to arrive in a large city with a powerful trade caravan such as that of Fathros; it was another to be unprotected and Street merchants rushed at him from all sides holding up merchandise, each screaming louder than the next He passed cell-like shops and bazaars displaying craftsmanship of coppersmiths, silversmiths, saddlers, weavers, carpenters; and each step of his mule brought him face to face with another vender, hands outstretched, wailing words of self-pity Directly ahead of him, beyond the western wall of the city, rose ML Harmon.
Although the season was summer, its top was still capped with white and seemed to look down on the cacoph- it ony of the market place with tolerance and forbearance. Eventually Hafid turned off the fa- mous street and inquired about lodging which he had no difficulty finding in an inn called Moscha. His room was clean and he paid his rent for a month in advance which immediately established his standing with Antonine, the owner.
Then he stabled his animal behind the inn, bathed himself in the waters of the Barada and returned to his room. He placed the small cedar chest at the foot of his cot and proceeded to unroll the leather strap- pings. The cover opened easily and he gazed down at the leather scrolls. Finally he reached inside and touched the leather. He arose and stepped toward the latticed window through which sounds poured from the noisy market place nearly half a mile distant Fear and doubt returned again as he looked in the direction of the muffled voices and he felt his con- fidence waning.
He closed his eyes, leaned his head against the wall, and cried aloud, "How fool- ish I am to dream that I, a mere camel boy, will one day be acclaimed as the greatest salesman in the world when I have not even the courage to ride through the stalls of the hawkers in the street Today mine eyes have witnessed hundreds of sales- men, all far better equipped for their profession than I.
All seemed equipped to survive in the jungle of the market. How stupid and presumptuous to think I can compete with and surpass them. Pathros, my Pathros, I fear that I will fail you again. Even before he opened his eyes he heard the chirp. Then he sat up and stared in disbelief at the sparrow perched on the open cover of the chest containing the scrolls.
He ran to the window. As he watched, some landed on the window ledge but quickly flewaway when Hafid moved even slight- ly. Then he turned and looked at the chest again.
His feathered visitor cocked its head and stared back at the youth. Hafid walked slowly to the chest, his hand ex- tended. The bird leaped into his palm. But you had the courage to come through the window. He broke off chunks and placed them beside his small friend who began to eat A thought came to Hafid and he returned to the window.
He rubbed his hand against the open- ings in the lattice. They were so small that it seemed almost impossible for the sparrow to have entered. Then he remembered the voice of Pathros and he repeated the words aloud, "Failure will never overtake you if your determination to suc- ceed is strong enough.
One leather scroll was more worn than the rest. Then he looked toward the sparrow. He too was gone. Only crumbs of bread and cheese remained as evidence of his visit from the little bird with courage. Hafid glanced down at the scroll. Its heading read The Scroll Marked I. He began to read. Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity. Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard where there is fruit for all.
The career I have chosen is laden with oppor- tunity yet it is fraught with heartbreak and de- spair and the bodies of those who have failed, were they piled one atop another, would cast its shadow down upon all the pyramids of the earth. Yet I will not fail, as the others, for in my hands I now hold the charts which will guide me through perilous waters to shores which only yesterday seemed but a dream.
Failure no longer will be my payment for struggle. Just as nature made no provision for my body to tolerate pain neither has it made any provi- sion for my life to suffer failure. Failure, like pain, is alien to my life. In the past I accepted it as I ac- cepted pain. Now I reject it and I am prepared for wisdom and principles which will guide me out of the shadows into the sunlight of wealth, position, and happiness far beyond my most extravagant dreams until even the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides will seem no more than my just reward.
Yet, within my allotted time I must practice the art of patience for nature acts never in haste. To create the olive, king of all trees, a hundred years is required. An onion plant is old in nine weeks. I have lived as an onion plant.
It has not pleased me. Now I wouldst become the greatest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesmen. And how will this be accomplished?
For I have neither the knowledge nor the experience to achieve greatness and already I have stumbled in ignorance and fallen into pools of self-pity. The answer is simple. I will commence my journey un- encumbered with either the weight of unnecessary knowledge or the handicap of meaningless experi- ence. Nature already has supplied me with knowl- edge and instinct far greater than any beast in the forest and the value of experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly.
In truth, experience teaches thoroughly yet her course of instruction devours men's years so the value of her lessons diminishes with the time necessary to acquire her special wisdom. The end finds it wasted on dead men. What they will teach me more to prevent failure than to gain is success, for what is success other than a state of mind? Which two, among a thousand wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way.
Failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they maybe. In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey, which precedeth all others is—I will form good habits and become their slaves.
As a child I was slave to my impulses; now I am slave to my habits, as are all grown men. I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumu- lated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to im- prison my future.
My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. And how will I accomplish this difficult feat? Through these scrolls, it will be done, for each scroll contains a principle which will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which will bring me closer to success. For it is another of nature's laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. So, in order for these written words to per- form their chosen task, I must discipline myself with the first of my new habits which is as follows: I iviU read each scroll for thirty days in this prescribed manner, before I proceed to the next scroll.
First, I will read the words in silence when I arise. Then, I will read the words in silence after I have partaken of my midday meal. On the next day I will repeat this procedure, and I will continue in like manner for thirty days. Then, I will turn to the next scroll and repeat this procedure for another thirty days.
I will con- tinue in this manner until I have lived with each scroll for thirty days and my reading has become habit. And what will be accomplished with this habit? As t repeat the words daily they will soon become a part of my active mind, but more important, they will also seep into my other mind, that mysterious source which never sleeps, which creates my dreams, and often makes me act in ways I do not comprehend.
As the words of these scrolls are consumed by my mysterious mind I will begin to awake, each morning, with a vitality I have never known before,, My vigor will increase, my enthusiasm will rise, my desire to meet the world will overcome every fear I once knew at sunrise, and I will be happier than I ever believed it possible to be in this world of strife and sorrow.
Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situationswhich confront me as I was commanded and soon these actions and in the scrolls to react, reactions will become easy to perform, for any act with practice becomes easy. Thus a new and good habit is bom, for when an act becomes easy through constant repetition it becomes a pleasure to perform and if it is a plea- sure to perform it is man's nature to perform it often. When I perform it often it becomes a habit and I become its slave and since it is a good habit this is my will.
Today I begin a new life. And I make a solemn oath to myself that I will lose not a day from these readings for that day cannot be retrieved nor can I substitute another for it. I must not, I will not, break this habit of daily read- ing from these scrolls and, in truth, the few moments spent each day on this new habit are but a small price to pay for the happiness and suc- cess that will be mine. As I read and re-read the words in the scrolls to follow, never will I allow the brevity of each scroll nor the simplicity of its words to cause me to treat the scroll's message lightly.
Thousands of grapes are pressed to fill one jar with wine, and the grapeskin and pulp are tossed to the birds. So it is with these grapes of wisdom from the ages.
Much has been filtered and tossed to the wind. Only the pure truth lies distilled in the words to come. I will drink as instructed and spill not a drop.
And the seed of success I will swallow. Today my old skin has become as dust. I will walk tall among men and they know me will not, for today I am a new man, with a new life. For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.
Muscle can split a shield and even de- stroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. My reasoning they may counter; my speech tibey may distrust; my apparel they may disap- prove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay. I will greet this day with love in my heart And how will I do this?
Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for its cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.
I will wel- come happiness my heart; yet I will for it enlarges endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will ac- knowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge. I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers.
Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criti- cize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs. Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life, I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I act? I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden.
With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souko I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share.
I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace. I wifl greet this day with love in my heart But how will I react to the actions of others?
With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adver- sity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. It will uplift me in mo- ments of despair yet it will calm me in time of become stronger and more pro- exultation. It will tective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.
I will greet this day with love in my heart And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say I Love You. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, un- wrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened And who is there who will say nay to my goods when his heart feels my love?
I will greet this day with love in my heart And most of all I will love myself. For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be at- tracted to eviland despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages.
Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Henceforth will I love all mankind. From this moment all hate is let from my veins for I have not time to hate, only time to love.
From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. With love I will increase my sales a hundredfold and become a great salesman. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world. In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner. Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance.
The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade. I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal.
Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult. Henceforth, I will consider each day's effort as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak. The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third.
Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tum- ble. So itwill be with my efforts of today. I will be liken to the rain drop which washes away the mountain; the ant who devours a tiger; the star which brightens the earth; the slave who builds a pyramid.
I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking. I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the ques- tion, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat; for they are the words of fools, I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair.
I will toil and I will endure. I will ignore the obstacles at my feet and keep mine eyes on the goals above my head, for I know that where dry desert ends, green grass grows.
I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for success at the next attempt Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once. Each obstacle I will consider as a mere detour to my goal and a challenge to my profession. I will persist and de- velop my skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.
I will persist until I succeed Henceforth, I will learn and apply another secret of those who excel in my work. When each day is ended, not regarding whether it has been a success or a failure, I will attempt to achieve one more sale. When my thoughts beckon my tired body homeward I will resist the temptation to depart. I will try again.
I will make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails I will make an- other. Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus will I plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advantage over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time.
When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full I will persist until I succeed. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.
So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist For now I know one of the greatest prin- ciples of success; if I persist long enough I will win. I will persist. I will win. Since the beginning of time never has there been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my hands, my hair, my mouth.
None that came before, none that live today, and none that come tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me. I am a unique crea- ture. I am nature's greatest miracle. Although I am of the animal kingdom, animal rewards alone will not satisfy me. Within me burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I will. I will fan this flame of dissatisfaction and proclaim my uniqueness to the world.
None can duplicate my brush strokes, none can make my chisel marks, none can duplicate my handwriting, none can produce my child, and, in truth, none has the ability to sell exactly as L Henceforth, I will capitalize on this difference for it is an asset to be promoted to the fullest I am nature's greatest miracle.
Vain attempts to imitate others no longer will I make. Instead will I place my uniqueness on dis- play in the market place. I will proclaim it, yea, I will sell it. I will begin now to accent my differ- ences; hide my similarities.
So too will I apply this principle to the goods I sell. Salesman and goods, different from all others, and proud of the differ- ence. I am a unique creature of nature. I am the end product of thousands of years of evolution; therefore, I am better equipped in both mind and body than all the emperors and wise men who preceded me.
But my skills, my mind, my heart, and my body will stagnate, rot, and die lest I put them to good use. I have unlimited potential Only a small por- tion of my brain do I employ; only a paltry amount of my muscles do I flex. A hundredfold or more can I increase my accomplishments of yesterday and this I will do, beginning today. Nevermore will I be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments nor will I indulge, anymore, in self-praise for deeds which in reality are too small to even acknowledge.
I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will, for why should the miracle which produced me end with my birth? Why can I not extend that miracle to my deeds of today? I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand.
Hence- forth will I apply all my efforts to become the high- est mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.
I will increase my knowledge of mankind, my- self, and the goods I sell, thus my sales will multi- ply. Also will I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted. I will concentrate my energy on the challenge of the moment and my actions will help me forget all else.
The problems of my home will be left in my home. I will think naught of my family when I am in the market place for this will cloud my thoughts. So too will the problems of the market place be left in the market place and I will think naught of my profession when I am in my home for this will dampen my love. There is no room in the market place for my family, nor is there room in my home for the market. Each I will divorce from the other and thus will I remain wedded to both. Separate must they remain or my career will die.
This is a para- dox of the ages. I will no longer be fooled by the garments they wear for mine eyes are open. I will look beyond the cloth and I will not be de- ceived Iam nature's greatest miracle. No beast, no plant, no wind, no rain, no rock, no lake had the same beginning as I, for I was conceived in love and brought forth with a pur- pose. In the past I have not considered this fact but it will henceforth shape and guide my life» I am nature's greatest miracle.
And nature knows not defeat. Eventually, she emerges victorious and so will I, and with each vic- tory the next struggle becomes less difficult. I will win, and I will become a great salesman, for I am unique. And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping? First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand I will waste not a moment mourn- ing yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?
Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday?
Can I take back the evil that was spo- ken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
I will live this day as if it is my last And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw now after maybe?
Can tomorrow's sand flow through the glass before today s? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing in today's path? Can I place tomorrow's gold in todays purse?
Can tomorrow's child be born today? Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy? Should I concern myself over events which I may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? Nol Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more I will live this day as if it is my last This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity.
I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise who no longer with the living today. Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be? Is K there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel? I will live this day as if it is my last. I have but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time.
When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold?
What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless! I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Pro- crastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will. Where there are idle mouths I will listen not;where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not.
Hence- forth I know that to court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. I am not a thief. I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and my greatness. I will live this day as if it is my last The duties of today I shall fulfill today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will L Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomor- row she will be gone, and so will I.
Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I shall give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive. I will live this day as my last if it is And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monu- ment. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full and give thanks.
I will maketh I will savor its taste every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles.
I will sell more goods than ever before, I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best, I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks. The tides advance; the tides recede.
Winter goes and summer comes. Summer wanes and the cold increases. The sun rises; the sun sets. The moon is full; the moon is black. The birds arrive; the birds depart. Flowers bloom; flowers fade. Seeds are sown; harvests are reaped. Today I will be master of my amotions. It is one of nature's tricks, little understood, that each day I awaken with moods that have changed from yesterday. Inside me is a wheel, constant- ly turning from sadness to joy, from exultation to depression, from happiness to melancholy.
Today I will be master of my emotions. And how will I master these emotions so that each day will be productive? For unless my mood is right the day will be a failure. Trees and plants depend on the weather to flourish but I make my own weather, yea I transport it with me.
If I bring rainand gloom and darkness and pessimism to my customers then they will react with rain and gloom and darkness and pessimism and they will purchase naught. And how will I master my emotions so that every day is a happy day, and a productive one? I will learn this secret of the ages: Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.
Each day, when I awaken, I will follow this plan of battle before I am captured by the forces of sad- ness, self-pity and failure— If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill I will double my labor. If I feel fear I will plunge ahead. If I feel inferior I will wear new garments. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come. If I feel incompetent I will remember past success. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals. Henceforth, I will know that only those with inferior ability can always be at their best, and I am not inferior.
Those such as despair and sadness are simple to recognize but there are others which approach with a smile and the hand of friendship and they can also destroy me.
Against them, too, I must never relinquish control If I become overconfident I will recall my failures. If I overindulge I will think of past hungers. If I feel complacency I will remember my competition. If I enjoy moments of greatness I will remem- ber moments of shame.
If I feel all-powerful I will try to stop the wind. If I attain great wealth I will remember one unfed mouth. If I become overly proud I will remember a moment of weakness. If I feel my skill is unmatched I will look at the stars. And with this new knowledge I will also un- derstand and recognize the moods of he on whom I call. I can withstand his arrows and insults for now I know that tomorrow he will change and be a joy to approach,. No longer will I judge a man on one meeting; no longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.
This day he will not buy gold chariots for a penny, yet tomorrow he would exchangeiis home for a tree. My knowledge of this secret will be my key to great wealth. Henceforth I will recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind, and in me. From this moment I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny. Today I control my destiny, and my destiny is to become the greatest salesman in the world!
I will become master of myself. Trees may bleed when they are wounded, and beasts in the field will cry in pain and hunger, yet only I have the gift of laughter and it is mine to use whenever I choose. Henceforth I will cultivate the, habit of laughter. I will laugh at the world. Never will I fall into this trap of the mind. For though I be nature's greatest miracle am I not still a mere grain tossed about by the winds of time? Do I truly came or whither I am know whence I bound?
Will my concern for this day not seem fool- ish ten years hence? Why should I permit the petty happenings of today to disturb me? What can take place before this sun sets which will not seem insignificant in the river of centuries? And how can I laugh when confronted with man or deed which offends me so as to bring forth my tears or my curses? Four words I will train my- self to say until they become a habit so strong that immediately they will appear in my mind whenever good humor threatens to depart from ine.
When I am heavy with heartache I shall console myself that this too shall pass; when I am puffed with suc- cess I shall warn myself that this too shall pass. When I am strangled in poverty I shall tell myself that this too shall pass; when I am burdened with wealth I shall tell myself that this too shall pass.
Yea, verily, where is he who built the pyramid? Is he not buried within its stone? And will the pyra- mid, one day, not also be buried under sand? If all things shall pass why should I be of concern for today? I will paint this day with laughter; I will frame this night in song.
Never will I labor to be happy; rather will I remain too busy to be sad. I will enjoy today's happiness today. It is not grain to be stored in a box. It is not wine to be saved in a jar. It cannot be saved for the morrow. It must be sown and reaped on the same day and this I will do, henceforth.
And with my laughter all things will be re- duced to their proper size. I will laugh at my fail- uresand they will vanish in clouds of new dreams; I will laugh at my successes and they will shrink to their true value.
Each day will be triumphant only when my smiles bring forth smiles from others and this I do in selfishness, for those on whom I frown are those who purchase not my goods. Henceforth will I shed only tears of sweat, for those of sadness or remorse or frustration are of no value in the market place whilst each smile can be exchanged for gold and each kind word, spoken from my heart, can build a castle. Never will I allow myself to become so impor- tant, so wise, so dignified, so powerful, that I forget how to laugh at myself and my world.
In this matter I will always remain as a child, for only as a child am I given the ability to look up to others; and so long as I look up to another I will never grow too long for my cot I will laugh at the world. And so long as I can laugh never will I be poor. This, then, is and I one of nature's greatest gifts, will waste it no more. Only with laughter and hap- piness can I truly become a success.
Only with laughter and happiness can I enjoy the fruits of my labor. Were it not so, far better would it be to fail, for happiness is the wine that sharpens the taste of the meal. To enjoy success I must have happiness, and laughter will be the maiden who serves me. I will be successful. I will be the greatest salesman the world has ever known. A mulberry leaf touched with the genius of man becomes silk. A field of clay touched with the genius of mm becomes a castle.
A Cyprus tree touched with the genius of man becomes a shrine. If it is possible for leaves and clay and wood and hair to have their value multiplied a hundred, yea a thousandfold by man, cannot I do the same with the clay which bears my name? Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. I am liken to a grain of wheat which faces one The wheat can be placed in a sack of three futures. Or it can be ground to flour and made into bread.
Or it can be placed in the earth and allowed to grow until its golden head divides and produces a thou- sand grains from the one. I am liken to a grain of wheat with one differ- ence. The wheat cannot choose whether it be fed to swine, ground for bread, or planted to multiply, I have a choice and I will not let my life be fed to swine nor will I let be ground under the rocks it of failure and despair to be broken open and de- voured by the will of others.
To grow and multiply it is necessary to plant the wheat grain in the darkness of the earth and my failures, my despairs, my ignorance, and my inabilities are the darkness in which I have been planted in order to ripen.
But to grow to full stature the wheat must wait on the whims of nature. I need not wait for I have the power to choose my own destiny. And how will I accomplish this? First I will set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and my life. Just as the rain must fall before the wheat will crack its shell and sprout, so must I have objectives before my life will crystallize.
In setting my goals I will consider my best performance of the past and multiply it a hundredfold. This will be the standard by which I will live in the future. Never will I my goals are too be of concern that high for is it my spear at the not better to aim moon and strike only an eagle than to aim my spear at the eagleand strike only a rock? The height of my goals will not hold me in awe though I may stumble often before they are reached.
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