Have you figured it out? What was it that guaranteed Barnes’ ultimate success with Thomas Edison? Was it his credentials? He didn’t have any. Was it his professional appearance? He’d just traveled as a stow-away on a freight train. Hill learned the key element from Thomas Edison himself.
“Just what the young Edwin Barnes said to Thomas Edison at that first meeting was far less important than what he thought. Edison, himself, said so! It couldn’t have been the young man’s appearance that earned him his start in the Edison office; that was definitely against him. It was what he thought that counted.
“If the significance of this statement could be conveyed to every person who reads it, there would be no need for the remainder of this book.”
The Power Of Barnes’ Thoughts
Edison recognized that something more was going on in the mind of Barnes other than simply earning a paycheck. Edison recognized that a thoughtful determination drove the young man, and that was what set him apart from all others who came knocking on Edison’s door looking for a job. As Napoleon Hill says here, the significance of the power of Barnes’ thoughts cannot be underestimated in the quest for 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
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s very inspirational.
Actually, the key element is to convince us that anything is not beyond your reach; we can still be what we wish to be.
Hi Sean,
I think it was the way that Barnes went about achieving his goal. He was crystal clear about wanting to be Edison’s business partner and he put himself in the path of success by going to work with Edison.
I think Barnes knew all along it was only a matter of time before he would become Edison’s partner. He was only waiting for Edison to realize how vital Barnes was to his success.
Barnes’ success all began with his thoughts. He decided what he wanted and took massive action to achieve his desire. He never gave up and he got what he wanted.
Barnes had to have been doing it for more than just the pay cheque. The smart guy knew he was doing the apprenticeship of his life. It wasn’t about the money, but the opportunities and the lessons.
.-= Lina Nguyen´s last blog ..Richard Branson Business School: A day visit =-.
Hmm, maybe that’s the difference, the change between a dream and a ‘setting’ of the mind. Great stuff.
.-= Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness =-.
Hi Sean
What Was The Key Element To Barnes’ Success?…………. his determination to be Thomas Edisons partner and he never wavered from that goal, working along side and learning from him till it became reality.
Rita
The key element for Barnes’ success? That he knew what he wanted and that he was determined to make it happen. Whatever it takes. It is a great example to see that once your goal is clear you will create the way to get there.
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Definition Of Motivation =-.
It was what Barnes thought that counted. I wonder what anyone can achieve if they learn to harness their thinking in the manner that Think and Grow Rich suggests and direct it to achieve all that is in their hearts to achieve? What an amazing world we would have it it were all positive, beneficial and joyful.
.-= Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich Mindset Mastery =-.
Hey Sean,
I’d like to take it just a little bit further.
Sure, Barnes was determined and focused, steadfast and unwavering. But what I REALLY think was happening in his mind on the day that he stood facing Edison, looking like a common tramp, was that in his mind, he was ALREADY Edison’s business partner. In his mind he was living that reality, and he was just waiting for the physical world to catch up to visualised world that he had already created for himself.
Just a thought!
Cheers,
Pete
.-= Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way! =-.
Hi Pete,
That’s brilliant and I totally agree with you. I wonder if Barnes knew exactly how powerful visualisation could be and this is what he planned in his mind all along.
I need to do much more of this. Create what I want in my mind and wait for the physical world to catch up with me.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference =-.
I agree with Pete. Part of bringing a dream into a reality is knowing what you want so distinctly that you can see yourself living that reality. Knowing so certainly that it will happen that it’s already so in your mind.