Clues to success—that is what we are all really after isn’t it? That is what Napoleon Hill was after, too, as he researched and wrote the Original Think and Grow Rich. He found many of those clues in some of the most common places.
Requiem For Greatness
As this chapter was being completed, Hill read in the news that the great German opera singer Mme. Schuman-Heink had passed away. Hill clued in on one short paragraph in the news report that he believed gave away the clue to this unusual woman’s stupendous success as a singer. The paragraph is quoted here because the clue to her great success is none other than desire.
The newspaper story read…”Early in her career, Mme. Schuman-Heink visited the director of the Vienna Court Opera, to have him test her voice. But, he did not test it. After taking one look at the awkward and poorly dressed girl, he exclaimed, none too gently, “With such a face and with no personality at all, how can you ever expect to succeed in opera? My good child, give up the idea. Buy a sewing machine, and go to work. You can never be a singer.”
Never Say Never
Never is a long time! The director of the Vienna Court Opera may have known a lot about the technique of singing, but he knew very little about the power of desire when it becomes an obsession. If he had known more about that power, he would not have made the mistake of condemning genius without giving it an opportunity.
Most of us have either known or heard stories about people who have battled illness, disease, or disability which medical professionals feared was hopeless. Where all tests and analyses pointed to the fact that the patient simply could not fight off the disease or overcome their disability to regain normal function (or anything close to it). In fact, today’s news stories from the frontlines in Iraq are full of accounts of young men and women whom doctors said could never recover, or walk or move normally again. In some cases, it was recommended to parents, husbands, and wives that they remove their loved ones from life-support systems. They were told to prepare themselves for the worst.
Whose Opinion Matters?
But that was the doctor’s opinion. It was not the opinion of the patient. Where the will to live and live well is strong, many of these brave men and women have recovered against overwhelming odds. And the opinions the doctors have to give are likely very similar to what Napoleon Hill was told when a good friend of his faced similar odds. After it was all over, the man’s physician told Hill, “Nothing but his own desire to live saved him. He never would have pulled through if he had not refused to accept the possibility of death.”
Form Your Own Opinion
Too often we follow the opinion of what others consider achievable for us. That, more than anything else, is probably why so few people are really successful and living lives of comfort and enjoyment. One of the most important lessons you could learn from Hill’s book is this point—it’s your opinion that matters; your opinion that determines your capabilities. Don’t let others form opinions of non-success for you. Master your opinions and master your mindset! Your life!
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2009
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Gold Sean, Gold again!
Kudos to sean – where ever he is in the world.
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One of the reasons, I believe, that we have this recurring issue of people not achieving what they want in life is because we are taught from a very young age to value what others think of us and what we do rather than what WE think of ourselves and what we do. To elaborate further, we are taught to raise children to look for extrinsic reward. Of course there is always an opposite and you can well guess that the opposite to reward is punishment. You cannot have one without the other.
Most of us raise our children with “good boy / girl” and label our children…”you are a bad boy / girl” “you are naughty” “you are good” and so it goes on. We also say things such as “you are a good girl for dancing so well”. “You are a fantastic son for kicking that many goals in footy”. All these sorts of comments lead to a child looking for outside recognition rather than being happy with their own best effort. There are things we can do and say to change this and it means breaking those habits we were raised with so that our children can develop high EQs and a healthy self-esteem. An approach we follow in our house is by Dr Louise Porter who is a highly sought after Australian speaker and writer of numerous books (one being “Children are people too” with a corresponding DVD for those who prefer to watch rather than read.
If we want society to change then we need to start by how we treat our children. By changing our parenting style we will inevitably raise more well adjusted children who ARE tomorrow’s adults. Those adults then have a greater chance at success because they believe in themselves and their own abilities without needing someone’s opinion of them based on their efforts.
Yes, there are some of us that will ignore what other people think but the majority do not.
I know this was a long post but I felt it a necessary one given Sean’s topic here . Success comes in many forms and parenting can be one of them with your children as your references.
Happy New Year. Make it a memorable one.
Regards, Eileen.
“pursue your goals with certainty”.
I have got that book and it is exellent. But I have to admit it is very hard to stay positve after a long day with the kids when hubby is doing a 12 hour shift. but it is bit like goalsetting, you have to educate yourself and mingle with other likeminded people to achieve your goal. do something about it, live in the present and inspire yourself!
Hi Brenda,
Great to hear there are other people out there making a difference. I guess that is why you are also here reading Sean’s great insights.
It can seem hard and I too have a husband that works long hours. (My plan it to have him change that and understand that working hard does not create wealth – working smart does).
Following Louise’s techniques means that you have less work in the longer term, in terms of behaviour, and like everything, changing habits can take time and action but the results are worth it.
Sorry Sean, don’t mean to steal your post here…I think it still ties in.
Regards, Eileen.
“Pursue your goals with certainty”
Hi Sean,
This is also an area I need to strengthen. I don’t pay attention to the opinion’s of family and friends. I take the view that if someone does not pay my bills, then they do not get a say in what I do.
However, I am still vulnerable to the opinions of Doctors, lawyers etc. Anyone who is an educated expert in their field. I have a tendency to think that they will know best.
Thankfully, after reading the story of Napoleon Hill and his son, I will be working hard on changing this.
There are studies out these days that show that people in hospital recover faster if they believe they will get well soon compared to the ones that constantly feel sorry for themselves and tell everybody how sick they are.
If the desire is there to be healthy, successful, whatever – you will do it. And more and more often science is confirming this which might help to convince more people to believe in themselves and their dreams!
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Was the doctor named Simon Cowell by any chance?
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