Sean Rasmussen

Persistence is one way to describe that staying power that wealthy, successful men and women have, that power that takes them that critical step past temporary defeat. To illustrate the power of persistence, Napoleon Hill tells us this story of one brave and persistent little girl.

[Note: As you read, keep in mind that this incident took place in the early 1900's before the Civil Rights Movement in the United States; all things, at that time, were certainly not equal.]

“Shortly after R.U. Darby earned his degree from the “University of Hard Knocks,” and had determined to profit from his experience in the gold mining business, he was fortunate enough to be present to witness an incident that proved to him that “No” does not necessarily mean no.

One afternoon Darby was helping his uncle grind wheat in an old fashioned mill. The uncle operated a large farm where a number of colored sharecrop farmers lived. Quietly, the door was opened, and a small colored child, the daughter of a tenant, walked in and took her place near the door.

The uncle looked up, saw the child, and barked at her roughly, “what do you want?”

Meekly, the child replied, “My mammy say send her fifty cents.”

“I’ll not do it,” the uncle retorted, “Now you run on home.”

“Yas sah,” the child replied. But she did not move.

The uncle went on working, too busy to notice that the child did not leave. When he looked up and saw her still standing there, he yelled at her, “I told you to go on home! Now go, or I’ll take a switch to you.”

The little girl said “yas sah,” but she did not budge an inch.

The uncle dropped a sack of grain he was about to pour into the mill hopper, picked up a band of wood, and started toward the child with an expression meant to drive fear into her.”

Being Persistent

This is the point where most of us would relent and let the old Uncle keep the fifty cents. Be sure to join us in our next post to find out how this little girl with persistence and a simple word triumphed over “the Man”.

I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 - 2008

The next of Napoleon Hill’s anecdotes is presented as a direct contrast to the definite thought, purpose, and determination of Edwin C Barnes. He calls this story “Three Feet From Gold”; most of us can see quite a lot of our past limited successes within the telling of this story.

“One of the most common reasons people fail is that they quit when faced with temporary defeat. Every person is guilty of this mistake at one time or another. What follows is a case in point.

“An uncle of R.U. Darby was caught by the “gold fever” in the days of the great gold-rush, and went west to dig and grow rich. He had never heard that more gold has been mined from the brains of men than has ever been taken from the earth. He staked a claim and went to work with a pick and a shovel. The going was hard, but his lust for gold was definite.

“After weeks of labor, he was rewarded with the discovery of the elusive shining ore. He needed machinery to bring the ore to the surface. Quietly, he covered up the mine, went back to his home in Williamsburg, Maryland, and told his relatives and a few neighbors about the “strike.” Together, they raised the money for the needed machinery and had it shipped. The uncle and Darby went back to work the mine.”

So far in this tale we’ve seen that Darby and Uncle had the foresight to place themselves in a presumably profitable spot, but Napoleon Hill indicates that the uncle lacked a definite thought; he has thus far failed to put the required definite thinking into the project. Will the men be able to succeed without having taken this essential first step? We’ll see if he is able to pull himself out of it.

I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 - 2008

Success comes most often in life when you are ready for it; now, that means when you are really ready, which is not always when you think you are ready. Barnes’ success came at that point in time when he was really ready, after he had taken steps to situate himself in the path of success.

“Psychologists have noted, accurately, that when a person is truly ready for something, it will appear.

“Edwin Barnes was ready for a business association with Edison; moreover, he was determined to stay ready until he got what he was after.

“He did not say to himself, “Ah, what’s the use? Maybe I should just try to get a salesman’s job.” But, he did say, “I came here to go into business with Thomas Edison, and I will be his business partner if it takes the rest of my life.” And He meant it! What a different story all people would have to tell if only they would adopt a definite purpose, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming, yet powerful, obsession!

“Maybe young Barnes did not know it at the time, but his bulldog determination, his persistence in maintaining and focusing on a single desire, destined him to mow down all opposition, and bring him the opportunity he was seeking.”

Persistence will lead to fulfilled goals

You have already put yourself in the path of success by coming here and reading the Mindset Mastery ebook or posts; and as long as you stay by your definite purpose to become wealthy with our help, and persist until you reach your goal, you will succeed to know great wealth and comfort. There is no doubt in that, once you know how to proceed towards wealth.

I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 - 2008

We’ve already talked about Edwin Barnes having a burning desire to be Thomas Edison’s partner. Now let’s put that desire into a clearer perspective.

“One of the chief characteristics of Barnes’ Desire was that it was definite. He wanted to work with Edison, not for him. Pay close attention to the description of how he went about translating his desire into reality, and you will have a better understanding of the thirteen principles which lead to riches.

“When this desire, or thought-impulse, first flashed into his mind he was in no position to act on it. Two hurdles stood in his way. He did not know Thomas Edison, and he did not have enough money to pay his railroad fare to Orange, New Jersey.

“These obstacles would have been enough to discourage most men from making any attempt to carry out the desire. But Barnes’ was no ordinary desire! He was so determined to find a way to carry out his desire that he finally decided to travel by “blind baggage,” rather than face defeat. (To the uninitiated, this means he took a freight train to East Orange).”

Prime Characteristic Of Success

Barnes’ ‘burning’ desire shows that he truly wanted the success he envisioned, but there was another factor at work within that desire—definiteness. Barnes was very definite, very clear and determined in what he wanted, exactly. He did whatever he needed to do to turn his desire into reality, but he did not do so haphazardly; he set off as a stow-away determined to get the exact thing he wanted more than anything else. That is a prime characteristic of successful and wealthy people.

I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 - 2008

I heard this story told by Dr John Demartini. It has a strong message and I found great motivation in it.

Three old wise men walked up to a house and knocked on the door. A lady opened the door and discovered the three men standing there, all with long white beards. The first wise man introduced himself and his 2 friends as Success, Wealth and Love. He asked politely: “Is your husband home?“

“Sorry“, she answered. “He will be home late tonight“

The 3 wise men asked if it was OK to wait until he got home as they had an important message for him. She approved and walked back inside.

Later that night, the husband arrived home. He noticed the 3 men at the back of the house, waiting patiently. When asking his wife who they were and what they wanted, she responded:

“They are 3 wise men and they have an important message for you“

“Well“, he said. “Invite them inside!“

She walked outside and invited them inside but they said she could only invite one in at a time. She returned to her husband and he immeditely replied: “Invite Wealth. We need more wealth around here!“

The wife responded: “I think we need more Success. Let’s invite him inside“

Their teenage daughter appeared and added: “We need more Love in this family! Let’s invite love inside“

Both the husband and wife agreed and decided to invite Love inside. The wife walked back outside and invited Love. Love proceeded to walk inside followed by Wealth and Success. Once inside, the family were a bit puzzled. Why had they all come inside when they were instructed that only one could come in at a time?

When asked this question, the wise old man named Love said:

“Had you asked for Wealth or Success, only the one you requested would walk in and that is all you get. Wherever Love goes, Wealth and Success follows“

Love = Wealth and Success

The moral of this story is apparent. Love is an emotion and it’s even much more than that. It is the most powerful force in the universe. Love can not be destroyed by anyone but the being that holds it in their heart. Live a life of Love and you will be passionate about everything you do. Wealth and Success are a byproduct of Love. It is a reward for your gratitude in life.

Love is much more than a “Hollywood” stereotype of mushy feelings between 2 people. Love is empowering. It is something you feel for someone or something that goes so deep, you cannot explain the origins of it. You can have it for a child, an animal, a lifestyle, a cause, a passion… Gratitude is a product of love or even a precursor for love. Either way. it’s a good place to be.

Have a most outstanding day!

Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 - 2008