Christmas Blessings

For me Christmas carried lots of bad memories, therefore it would be a time that I did not enjoy and would find things to complain about. However I have learnt that I must appreciate all things.

Here is a story that makes my trivial things seem like nothing:

A little thing can be enormously significant. Retired Brigadier General Robinson Risner was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than seven years. He was in solitary confinement for five of those years. He suffered from cold, heat, malnutrition, and lack of fresh air.

He was totally deprived of any human comfort. He jogged in his cell by the hour. When he became so frustrated he had to scream, he stuffed his underwear into his mouth to muffle the scream. He would not give his captors the satisfaction of knowing his frustration.

One day, in the depths of despair, General Risner lay down on the floor and looked all around his small cell. He put his eye next to the cinder blocks, hoping that there would be a crack in one of them. Fortunately, there was a minute opening and he saw a single leaf. Later he stated that seeing that evidence of life outside was a tremendously uplifting and life-changing event.

When I heard this story, most of my complaints in life suddenly fell into context, and I resolved to be more appreciative of the many blessings I had instead of complaining about what I did not have.

Fact: A quiet glance around you will reveal many blessings that you have already received and will continue to receive. Expressing appreciation for these blessings is a winning approach to life.

Have a great Christmas everyone.

Quick quick (Time is an illusion)

With the last day for shopping just about on us I have been reminded of time and how relative it is...

One of the most powerful illusions we confront as spiritual beings who are experiencing a temporary journey in the physical world is the illusion of time.

The concept that time and space are not real is not a new one for most students of spirituality, but the way in which it is explained in the channeled spiritual teachings that follow should help to shed new light on it.

The Illusion of Time

Time, as it is perceived in the human consciousness, is a false concept - another illusion that you have allowed to disrupt the calm of your consciousness.

Time is Irrelevant

Patience is a virtue, it has been said. This is very true. In fact, it is a necessity if you are to maintain yourself in the flow of your good. Impatience, which is a very common trait of human consciousness, is directly tied to the illusion of time, which also becomes so overwhelmingly important to those absorbed by the physical environment.

Time has no importance whatsoever. You are living in eternity. Your being is part of mine, and we have always been and will always be. The scope of eternity is impossible for you to understand, for you try to measure it in time. Time implies a beginning and an end, but these do not exist.

Just as you heard a scientist trying to describe the dimensions of the universe in terms of light years (which, again, is a human point of reference based on time) and found it completely unfathomable, the concept of eternity is the same. The universe and eternity are one and the same. They are without boundaries - without limits.

As you progress in consciousness, these terms will begin to be easier to understand. But at the moment, they are beyond your comprehension. If you can accept my word that the concept of time is meaningless (even if you cannot yet fully comprehend it), then it will be easier for you to understand the folly of the concept of impatience.

Impatience is a Sign that the Human Mind is Trying to Control

Impatience implies that it is important that a certain thing come to pass by a specific time - or before it is too late. "If I don't get my check by Tuesday, I'll never be able to get the car fixed. (Even the word "never" in this illustration is a reference to time.) If, however, you can accept time as an irrelevant factor in your existence, you will not allow the quality of impatience to enter your consciousness.

Impatience implies that you know and understand, better than I do what the right "timing" of the arrival of your good should be. Think back to the belief that there is only one power and one presence in the universe - God, the good, omnipotent. If you believe this, can you doubt that your good will come to you at the most appropriate time?

Patience, Peace, and Faith

Patience, then, is faith in action. It rejects the concept of time and the artificial "deadlines" that accompany it. It totally accepts the belief that one's good is his or her entitlement, and that it will arrive in life at the moment that is most appropriate.

Patience and peace also go hand in hand and reinforce each other. If you draw on the peace that is already within you, patience will be a natural byproduct. The byproducts of impatience are frustration and irritability, but peace will always counteract them.

This is an important lesson for you at this point in your life. Be at peace and be patient. It is my good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Don't be in a hurry. Do not allow the pressures of the physical world to affect you. Remember that time is a false concept of the physical world and has no bearing whatsoever on your reality. To be rushed or in a hurry means that you are reacting to pressures relating to time, and this is not only unnecessary, but counterproductive, as well.

Disruptions Caused by Impatience

Of course, you are living in the physical world, and your daily routine must be dictated to a certain extent by time constraints. There will be times when you are late and feel a need to rush. While this type of hurry is different from the emotion that I want to discuss with you, even it can be detrimental to you.

You are very familiar with the feelings that can overcome you when you feel rushed to get somewhere or do something by a certain time. The stress and pressure of the situation prevent your body from functioning peacefully, and your emotions are also affected, making it much more difficult to maintain your attunement with me and the feelings of joy and peace and love that are so essential to it.

The emotional turmoil causes a cloud of static to form around you, and your receptivity is decreased. So being in a hurry is disruptive to your daily existence.

Being in a hurry to achieve the goals you have set for yourself is also a disruptive factor. Rest assured that your good is, in fact, assured. Live with the complete certainty that it will come to you in the physical world in the form and in the manner and at the time that is perfect for the fulfillment of the divine design for your life. In your human consciousness, you are not able to understand the many factors that are part of the process.

Yours is a test of faith. Accept your unity with the source of all goodness, and you have accepted the goodness itself. Know that the desire for the particular good came from me and that its fulfillment will, as well. Be not concerned at all with the timing. There is no hurry. There is no rush. My timing is perfect. Be at peace

Giving Thanks

I have been reminded of the importance of being thankful for where we are and what we have.

If you've been on your own personal development journey for
any amount of time you've undoubtedly met with some
challenges along the way. Challenges aren't a bad thing.
They can certainly be difficult, but provided we are willing
to accept it as part of the process, they can bring forth
some pretty awesome opportunities from which to grow and
become better for having experienced them.

Again, it's not about things being easy, it's about working
through whatever you happen to be facing, and ultimately
accepting that you will emerge better and more prepared as a
result of having overcome or worked through whatever given
adversities you've had to deal with.

Gratitude -- a source of fuel to move you forward during the
difficult times...

I found the following definition of gratitude: "a feeling of
thankfulness and appreciation."

While that definition is a good start, I think gratitude is
so much more than that. Particularly when we begin to
explore all the different  ways it can serve us.

Something magical happens when you and I take the time to
recount all the things we have to be thankful for in our
lives. The past, present, and even the hopes we have for the
future.

First, a sense of gratitude allows us to reconnect with our
past achievements. This can serve as a powerful reminder
that in-spite of whatever doubts we may have about our
abilities in the present moment, we are capable of reaching
whatever destination we desire for ourselves. That is to say
that we can change our circumstances and lot in life to a
more desirable one.

The proof is found in the very fact that in the past we have
done so, and as such we are more than capable of doing so
again. Looking back on, and reconnecting with positive
experiences and past achievements as you can see is a
particularly powerful way to go about providing fuel for
your current goals and dreams.

If you will accept the ideas above to be true then the
question inevitably becomes what is the best way to go about
expressing gratitude in your day to day life. The answer, to
put it bluntly is to express it however it most feels right
to you!

Since I don't know what that is in your unique situation
I'll have to settle on showing you some of the ways I go
about it on a daily basis. Before I do so, please keep in
mind what I often say, "personal development is a hands on
project", which is to say that other people's ideas are
great, but you should be looking for ways to adapt and make
whatever ideas you want to try your own.

Don't assume that something doesn't work because it isn't a
fit for you. While at the same time, don't assume something
is wrong with you because a particular idea isn't right for
you. It's not about right or wrong. It's about adapting what
works into your life, and giving yourself permission to kick
to the curb whatever doesn't happen to resonate with you.

Now that I've gotten that rather long disclaimer out of the
way, as promised here are some of the ideas I use to allow
gratitude to work in my life.

1. Upon waking up I begin running through my mind various
things I'm thankful for. Inevitably one thing, person, or
event will lead to another. This is a very laid back
experience, all the while I'm trying to remain in the
moment, but not forcing it. If I find my mind moving onto
other thoughts or ideas I'll gently bring myself back to
this simple exercise.

When I do this, almost immediately I can see my current
state perk up a bit -- and I take on a more positive
outlook. I find it a simple, yet highly effective way to
start my day off on the right foot. I believe you will as
well!

2. Throughout the day, I like to write down and record what
I call my "daily wins". It's worth pointing out that these
aren't always monumental achievements. In fact, to the
outside observer many of the accomplishments which get
written down might appear down right mundane.

The point of the exercise mentioned above is to remind
myself of something I discovered a long time ago. That
being, the idea that what it takes to meet with success in
virtually any endeavor requires a lot of little
accomplishments along the way.

When I'm speaking to groups I'll often say that the path to
"success" is paved with more than its share of boring
moments. Meaning that contrary to popular opinion, when one
looks back on a worthwhile accomplishment, there's rarely
one particular event with which they can credit being
totally responsible for having allowed them to reach the
pinnacle of success.

Rather, if we're honest with ourselves we would likely have
to agree that more often then not it's a matter of doing
those tasks, day in and day out which were required of us.
The journey, you see, takes many forms. Certainly at times
things are fast paced and exciting, but at others
persistence and stick-to-itness are required.

If you're not already tracking your day to day achievements
I'd strongly encourage you to get started. The benefits of
doing so are many, not the least of which is that you'll
have a trail to look back and read over when you find
yourself feeling as though you're not quite as plugged into
your dream as you wish you were. You'll have proof positive
that you're making progress right in front of you. Then, at
the end of each day as you look through your list of "wins"
you can take a moment to be grateful.

3. Take a walk and literally recite out loud to yourself all
the things, people, and experiences for which you have to be
grateful for. I have to give credit to my colleague, friend,
and fellow speaker & author Jon Gordon (www.jongordon.com)
for this idea.

While I had actually been doing this for a long time prior
to first hearing Jon mention it, he deserves credit for
putting the name "gratitude walk" to it, and in turn helping
to validate in my mind that it was a worthwhile thing to do
(and that no matter what my neighbors who happened to see me
talking to myself might think, I wasn't actually nuts for
doing so. ha ha :-)).

It sounds like a simple idea, but I would challenge you to
give it a try. If you will do so, I believe that in
relatively short order you'll find it to be a welcome
addition to your routine.

As I've illustrated above, expressing gratitude is a
powerful thing. It can literally change your state from one
in which you may be feeling doubt towards one of hope, and a
sense of literally being filled with encouragement. It can
put you in a mode to accept the good that surrounds all of
us, while acting as a sort of shield from the part of our
minds that wants to seek out and look for the negatives in
life. Give it a a few of the ideas above a try. If you have
other ideas which work for you I would appreciate it if you
would share them!

Igniting the Fire Within!!!
Fraser

Napoleon Hill Tribute

I was reflecting on yesterdays post and had to share this from napoleon Hill's site.

Napoleon Hill Philosophy and the Idea of Cosmic Ordering
by Jack Kennedy

"What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve," an axiom of the motivational philosophy of the late Napoleon Hill, a Wise County, Va. native turned journalist, presidential speechwriter, and bestselling book author, leads one to the metaphysical concept of "Cosmic ordering."

Cosmic ordering sounds like some New Age religious cult or, some newly conceived physics theory, but it is a conceptual mental construct of Napoleon Hill as to the power of positive thinking and bringing dreams forth to reality. Some see the concept of cosmic ordering as a phony mystic belief of "wishful thinking." On the other hand, one only need look to many of the 20th century science fiction scriptwriters, such as the late Gene Roddenberry of the Star Trek series, or the late Sir Arthur C. Clark of 2001 and 2010 movies, to realize the power of an idea in the mind of man to beget the creation of future reality.

In the book Keys to Success, based upon Hills' observational power of learning the traits and actions of very successful people of the 20th century, the motivational writer provides insight as to seventeen traits humans may opt to undertake to achieve most anything professionally or personally. Many successful business leaders of the 21st century attribute their readings of "Think and Grow Rich" and "Keys to Success" as essential to their own personal success stories.

"The Philosophy of Achievement," as Hill adeptly later branded his teachings, has its foundation in the belief that freedom, democracy, capitalism, and harmony serve as the basic tenants of any personal success in life. Hill readily denounced the negative emotions of fear, selfishness, and jealous as the traits of the unsuccessful. These negative emotions are to be rooted out of our lives wherever possible, just as he composed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt with, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."

Central to embracing Hill's philosophy is the understanding of thinking positively, or the subconscious channeling of positive mental energy to think more affirmatively about our own human undertakings whether it be at work, hobbies, relationships, or play. One must constantly look to what one shall be as opposed to what they are now. Without mastering a positive mental attitude toward challenging goals, they are often lost to the negative side of mental energy.

The principal of 'Definite Major Purpose' suggests that a student of Hill's philosophy undertake self-examination of what is important. Without knowing what is truly important to us, it is improbable, at best, to achieve any great success. Hill wanted his book readers to question what is important to them first; then the reader could endeavor to apply the cosmic ordering or the keys to seek to undertake meaningful personal achievements.

Recently, Don Green, the adept executive director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation in Wise, spoke of the late Napoleon Hill to a new generation of Wise County students during a dinner break from building their first rockets to launch skyward the next morning. Each young rocket scientist received a copy of Hill's Keys to Success book as their own. Each would-be rocket scientist student has in his or her hands the means to begin their own cosmic ordering by adopting a positive mental attitude and a definite purpose.

While not providing each of the seventeen keys to success verbatim, Green gave the twenty or so Wise County high school students paraphrases of the meanings of Napoleon Hill's Philosophy of Achievement to apply in preparing for their individual cosmic ordering of their respective futures, to wit:

• Set a specific goal and pick a specific and reasonable date to achieve it,
• Project an image to the world of who and what you intend to be, and that will help you achieve it,
• Choose your own goals by not pursuing what someone else expects of you,
• Employ a 'mastermind alliance' network of friendships among people to form expert teams,
• Go the 'Extra Mile' by doing a little more each day than what others may expect of you,
• Turn thoughts into positive actions and avoiding procrastination and indecision,
• Power is in how to apply knowledge gained as opposed to knowledge without application; and,
• Dedicated practice of balance and self-discipline to stay focused on 'Definite Major Purpose.'

The Napoleon Hill philosophy is adaptable to almost any humanistic goal or aspiration - not just youthful Wise County rocket scientists, though their importance to the next generation is unquestionable. Men and women of the arts, sciences, and business apply the 'Nap' Hill school of thought around the world, as his works are today available in numerous languages.

By way of the Internet, a local newspaper report of Don Green's remarks to the aspiring aerospace engineers participating in the rocket building and launching weekend, made its way to the San Francisco, California radio station studio of Dr. David Livingston, a doctor of business administration. "Dr. Space," as his global radio listeners affectionately call Livingston, has booked Don Green to his niche interest space show next January. Green will share Hill's philosophy of the keys to success with commercial, civil and military space aficionados, perhaps to better enable their cosmic orders, so-to-speak.

While Wise County may only legitimately claim to be the birthplace and youthful home of Napoleon Hill, his works are applicable everywhere from teenage would-be aerospace engineers building rockets in Wise County's classrooms to the maverick inventor, space agency engineer, or international planetary scientist who may listen in to The Space Show, (www.thespaceshow.com), come January from around the planet.

One 21st century aerospace engineer has successfully applied the Philosophy of Achievement with great success. Eric Anderson, a University of Virginia aerospace engineering graduate and founder of Space Adventures is an avid reader of Napoleon Hill. Anderson frequently quotes Hill in remarks to audiences --- as he pitches the sale of seats to ride in momentary zero gravity for $5,000 or a Russian-made Soyuz rockets to the International Space Station for about $25-million, or as Anderson urges purchase of a would-be space trek around the moon for about a mere $100-million. He has sold hundreds of Zero Gravity flights, eight successful orbital spaceflights, and he expects to sell seats for the over the moon flight in the next few years. It makes me wonder if Napoleon Hill would have dreamt of such metaphysical manifestations of the future in 1930's.

Let us hope it is in the Cosmic Order for one would-be aerospace engineer now in a Wise County high school to one day utter in 2037, "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve," as she or he makes a stand on the planet Mars in freedom, democracy, capitalism, and harmony. A young Appalachian student aspiring to a 21st century fulfillment of Napoleon Hill's then 100-year old words would be most appropriate in the grand scheme of the cosmic order.

Wealth Goals for 2011

WHAT does rich mean to you? A million? 10 billion? What’s plenty to some, falls far short for others. You need to decide what’s rich for you. And then it’s just a matter of making one of the 10 roads that lead to big wealth work for you. There’s a right road here for everyone who desires riches, if you can navigate the common pitfalls.

1. Start a successful business. Have a compelling vision? Leadership skills? An understanding spouse? You just might be a visionary founder. Founding your own fi rm can create astounding wealth. Half of the 10 richest Americans did this, including Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Google wunderkinds Sergey Brin and Larry Page. This road works with scant restriction by industry, education or pedigree—Ph.D.s and college dropouts are equally welcome. Be warned: This road is not for the fainthearted. It requires courage, discipline, strategic vision, a talented supporting cast and Tefl on skin.
2. Become a CEO of an existing firm and juice it—a very mechanical function. Responsibility and running things come easy? But you’re no visionary founder? Some of our finest CEOs didn’t found the fi rms they lead—like GE’s Jack Welch. Non-founder CEOs can take firms to unthought-of heights. Fully half of America’s largest-fi rm CEOs make in excess of $8.3 million. Warning: Heavy is the head wearing the CEO crown. CEOs must be tough—more now than ever. Failed CEOs don’t just lose their jobs— they frequently end up vi l i f ied by the media, even indicted.
3. Hitch to a successful visionary’s wagon and ride along—it’s high value added. Good at picking winning horses? Think being boss is tough? Your destiny could be to ride along. Ride-alongs rise high, play critical roles, are well-respected leaders and get rich, but never bear a CEO’s pressure. Some famous ride-alongs ride high on the Forbes 400—Buffet’s sidekick Charlie Munger, for one, with about $2 billion.
4. Turn celebrity into wealth or wealth into celebrity and then more wealth! Seeking fame and fortune? Don’t mind abdicating privacy? Try cruising the rich-and-famous road. This road has two forks: One is talent, like Cameron Diaz or Derek Jeter; and the other is mogul, like Ted Turner or Rupert Murdoch—who run and own media empires.
5. Marry well—really, really well. Seem ridiculous? Then this isn’t your road. See it like this: You wouldn’t marry someone physically repulsive to you, so why marry someone fi scally repulsive? If money moves you, shop among the rich. If you don’t like the notion, fi ne. Leave the rich to those who care.
6. Steal it, legally. No guns necessary. Ever wish you could just take the money? Would you like some to see you as a hero? And others fear you? You can legally steal and be a hero as a plaintiff ’s lawyer, today’s Robin Hood. Idolized by Hollywood, plaintiff’s attorneys posture themselves as crusaders for the helpless—fi ghting big bad business to save the little guy. My apologies to other lawyers and law students if this sounds harsh, but it’s true: Most plaintiff law is a perfectly legal twist of thievery and thuggery. With targets the media loves skewering—big business, pharma, tobacco—your odds improve.
7. Capitalize on other people’s money (OPM)—where most of the rich are. Like telling folks what to do? Have nerves of steel? This road is paved with fees from other people’s money—money management, private equity, brokerage, banking and insurance. Some OPMers end up heroes, some in prison—there’s ample room for conflict of interest. But a good OPM richie effi ciently and ethically makes his (or her) clients rich at the same time.
8. Invent an endless future revenue stream—even if you’re not an inventor. Have wild imagination or none at all? Here you make an annuity-like future cash fl ow from something you create, own or patent that just keeps spewing cash. A gadget, book, song, movie or even experience. The big money is in getting rights, licensed or patented, for future reuse and generating reuse.
9. Trump the land barons by monetizing unrealized real estate wealth! Dream of building skyscrapers? Collecting rent? Don’t let the recent residential hoopla dissuade you—there’s huge money in being a land baron. Like other roads, it’s not easy. Successful land barons don’t just have a knack for fi nding tasty, unappreciated land and willing investors. They have the strategic vision of successful firm founders. They borrow!
10. Go down the road more traveled—save hard, invest well—forever. Like boring, predictable paths? The least sensational, but the most reliable, road to riches is saving linked to good investment returns. The road is wide enough for anyone with a paycheck. This road is not sexy. Frugal isn’t known for sexy.

I was thinking of my goals for money in 2011 and came across this and had to share it.

Thriving on What Is

I have just finished my Level 2 coaching and have been thinking about what is next on my journey....

It is so easy to look around at life and assume that life needs fixing to make it right. We don't have to go much farther than the evening news to notice what's wrong with the world: the violence, hunger, corruption, environmental issues and so on. We want to do something to be a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem, whether it is through outer social action, through financial support good organizations or through working on ourselves. We notice so little change from our actions and wonder what else can be done. We pray, we meditate, we wonder...

The orientation of seeing a world that needs fixing to be the "right" world can actually be deconstructed if we are willing to explore that. The beginning point is in the realization that we are thinking that we know what a "right" world would look like. We think that rape and murder and awful things like that can obviously be known to be "wrong" and a "right" world would not contain things like that. But look again at the way that we know this... what is it based on? Do we really have the big picture, or are we making judgments about right and wrong based on our own personal tendency to want to avoid pain and move towards pleasure? Of course we want to avoid pain and wishing that others avoid pain too is just an extension of our own preferences to include the world. In a way, if my neighbor is hurting, I am hurting with him or her. We are all in this together.

But if we look at our own lives with honesty and open-mindedness, is it clear that avoidance of pain is the "right" thing for us personally? Have pain and suffering played a role in our lives that in hindsight we respect? Most often the answer is yes. If we look deeply into the painful points in our history, these are the growing points, the places where new energy and new life has had an opportunity to enter our lives because the old patterns have been destroyed or disrupted by some loss, accident, crime or sickness. These things make us move on, even if it is through touching into the depths of despair.

Meanwhile life just is what it is. Without our having decided that it is supposed to look a certain way, or end up a certain way, it just is what it is. Not only that but also, it just ends up the way it ends up. Far from being the invitation to idleness that this may initially seem (but really is not at all) the above are just plain statements of what is so, at least before our judging/thinking minds get started. When I look into this it seems clear that we really don't know what should or shouldn't be happening in ourselves or in the world. Just because we may feel a dark emotion and start behaving badly towards our loved ones, do we know that this is "wrong"? Do we actually know that we are a bad person because this has occurred? Could the experience instead be looked at as developmentally necessary, helpful and illuminating? Could this alternate perspective actually be a way out of the endless repetition of our patterns?

Do we know for sure that the car accident or the crime in today's news should not have happened? The latest war casualties? Although mind will claim to be sure that these things are wrong, are we certain that they really are? Are we certain that something critical won't be changed by this "bad" happening that will make all the difference in some significant "good" happening later that we care even more about? Do we know for sure that the critical world situation (being a threat to our survival as a species) is not exactly the circumstance that will motivate a positive response that otherwise would not have been dreamed of?

Accepting our own not-knowing gives us entry into a new relationship with the world and with our own selves. If we don't spend all of our energies resisting what is, we can open up a deeper relationship to it. Our own dark feelings become pointers into whatever in us is still needing to be awakened. The negative situations in the world become as important a part of things as the positives, maybe more, as we accept them as having a part to play.

Without resisting what is, we are able to connect more fully with ourselves and our world, and through this deeper contact we are nourished. While mind was busy resisting the "wrongness" in ourselves and our world, our heart connection was jammed-up with judgment. Through acceptance of what is, we can begin to feel more deeply and be nourished not only by the positive happenings in ourselves and in life, but also by the negatives. They are also being welcomed in our open-heartedness, and through this welcoming we are able to thrive in the world as it is, rather than starve in a mentally constructed world of lack and disconnection.

What could be a more perfect example of thriving on what is, than the summer flowers.

What better example of us each doing our own part and tending to our own blossoming without judgment about whether it is "right" or "wrong" or if its going to end well or not. The flowers all just end up on the compost heap and back into the soil!

Sure, ok, they don't have these minds to contend with, it's true, so maybe its totally easy for them. But they show up in our gardens and homes as an example of the extraordinary yet fleeting beauty that we experience in this thing called life, and how little we need to refer to our ideas about right and wrong or good or bad to come to blossom in a totally unique, natural and easeful way. We draw nourishment from the ground of all that has come and gone before us into our own expression of who we are, and then let that go back again to the ground. Just the way it is.

Till next time....

Christmas thoughts

With the business of Christmas, my mind has started to think of the madness that many people associate with the festive time.

One of the surest ways to achieve your own success in life is by helping others to attain theirs. Almost anyone can contribute money toward those less fortunate. But the truly affluent person is the one who can afford to give of himself, of his time and energy, to the benefit of others. In so doing he enriches himself beyond measure.

John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia merchant king, once said that the most profitable habit was that of "rendering useful service where it is not expected." And Edward Bok, the great editor of Ladies Home Journal, said he rose from poverty to wealth through the practice of "making myself useful to others without regard to what I received in return."

Helping Takes Effort

It takes a conscious effort to give your time and energy to others. You can't simply say, "All right, I'm willing to help anyone who needs my help." You must make a creative project of rendering service to your fellow man.

Perhaps some down-to-earth examples will help you think of ways you can win friends by helping others. There was, for instance, a merchant in an eastern city who built a successful business through a very simple process. Every hour or so one of his clerks checked the parking meters near the store.

Pennies Win Friends

When the clerk spotted an "expired" sign, he dropped a penny in the slot, and attached a note to the car telling the owner that the merchant was pleased to protect him against the inconvenience of a traffic ticket. Many motorists dropped in to thank the merchant—and remained to buy. The owner of a big Boston men's store inserts a neatly printed card in the pocket of each suit he sells, It tells the purchaser that if he finds the suit satisfactory, he may bring the card back after six months and exchange it for any necktie he chooses. Naturally, the buyer always comes back pleased with the suit—and is a ripe prospect for another sale.

The highest paid woman employee of the Bankers Trust Co. in New York City got her start by offering to work three months without pay in order to demonstrate her executive ability. And Butler Stork gave of himself so freely as a prisoner in the Ohio State Penitentiary that he was released, beating a 20-year sentence for forgery. Stork organized a correspondence school that taught more than 1,000 inmates a variety of courses without charge to them or the state. He even induced the International Correspondence School to donate textbooks. The plan attracted so much attention that Stork was given his freedom as a reward.

Put Your Own Mind to Work

Assess your own ability and energy. Who need your help? How can you help them? It doesn't take money. All it takes is ingenuity and a strong desire to be of genuine service. Helping others solve their problems will help you solve your own.

Remind you of Charles Dickens?

A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens

Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!

"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!" Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. "The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this. I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees!"

He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears.

"They are not torn down!" cried Scrooge, folding one of his bed-curtains in his arms, "they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here -- I am here -- the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be! I know they will."

His hands were busy with his garments all this time; turning them inside out, putting them on upside down, tearing them, mislaying them, making them parties to every kind of extravagance.

"I don't know what to do!" cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoon of himself with his stockings. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"

He had frisked into the sitting-room, and was now standing there: perfectly winded.

"There's the saucepan that the gruel was in!" cried Scrooge, starting off again, and frisking round the fireplace. "There's the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered. There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat. There's the window where I saw the wandering Spirits. It's all right, it's all true, it all happened. Ha ha ha!"

Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs.

"I don't know what day of the month it is," said Scrooge. "I don't know how long I've been among the Spirits. I don't know anything. I'm quite a baby. Never mind. I don't care. I'd rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!"

He was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever heard. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! Oh, glorious, glorious!

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious!

"What's to-day?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

"Eh?" returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.

"What's to-day, my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.

"To-day?" replied the boy. "Why, Christmas Day."

"It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can.

Charles Dickens (February 7, 1812 - June 9, 1870) was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. His masterful prose soon won praise by critics and his ability to create memorable characters solidified his position in the ranks of must-read authors. The fact that none of his works have never gone out of print attests to the popularity of his novels and short stories. Charles Dickens died on June 9, 1870 after suffering a stroke. He was buried in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. The inscription on his tomb reads: "He was a sympathizer to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world."