the little affairs of life you can’t keep from becoming a Leader in the big affairs.
Be a Leader.
Vision
Vision is Act-seeing. Great Vision means that you see things DONE by way of your Imagination, even before they are attempted. Vision differs from Imagination. It starts from Imagination. Imagination takes the Pictures but Vision turns them over to the Architects who Build things from them. Men with Vision are Dominant.
Look Out.
Muster your Ideas. For Ideas germinate Vision. They give it Flesh and Blood, Feed its Fire Box, Control its Nerves — Pump its Heart. Ideas make Vision a living thing.
Look Out.
Despise Vision and you become a Hireling — dependent and owned. Court Vision and you become a Master — a Weilder of Power unlimited. Vision is Optimism with two healthy Eyes.
Look Out.
Vision comes to, and may be gained by, the humblest. It carries neither a Patent nor a Copyright. It’s a “tramp” element in the sense of freedom. But it must be sought, found — and then fed and clothed. Vision comes to no one unhunted.
Look Out.
Your Vision is Big or Little as you will it. The greater you aspire the greater will grow your Vision. The farther you See — the more you will Do. Vision is applicable to the everyday. It puts strength back of effort. It brings Permanence to your acts.
Look Out.
Dampers
Dampers are Checks. They are also Savers. Attached to a heating apparatus, they Check the draughts and Save the fuel. Human beings have Dampers. Thought itself is a Damper — also Judgment, Conscience, Expediency — and many others. No one, however, can ever know your own Dampers so well as you Yourself. But —
Know WHEN to use your Dampers.
Dampers are very Essential. An open Damper on a Furnace might so heat things as to cause an Explosion or a Fire. On the other hand it might be so turned off as to put out the Furnace, entirely. So, exactly, is it true in regard to the Dampers that go to regulate and make up your modes of Action — and your Character.
Know WHEN to use your Dampers.
Study your Draughts. A few of them are Enthusiasm, Energy, Will, Learning — Money. There is a Damper for every Draught. If used intelligently increased results are secured. If Enthusiasm sweeps you out of the Practical — turn on the Reason Damper. If you go into things with nothing but a Will to go through — turn on the Thought Damper. Don’t Learn so much from Books that you know nothing about Life and People. Remember that you HAVE Dampers. But —
Know WHEN to use your Dampers.
And be sure that you use them YOURSELF. Don’t let anybody else turn any Dampers on your Enthusiasm, your Ideas, your Plans, your Work. Run your own Dampers. Study them with great care. It’s knowing exactly WHEN and HOW to use them that makes the difference between Success and Failure for you.
Bosses
Bosses are all right — if they are the right Bosses. All through Nature and Human life runs the power of the Boss. Everything would go to smash with a bang if there were no Bosses. That’s why it is a satisfying thing to know that —
You can Select your own Boss.
There are Bosses and Bosses. Some people let a little six-inch roll of Tobacco Boss them; some are led around by a harmless looking glass of Liquid Stimulant; some are ruled by a bunch of fool, imaginary Worries; some are commanded by an army of Nerves; some allow an unregulated Stomach to Boss; some call in Clothes and Style and request them to Dictate. Many of these are all right — but none should ever be made Boss.
You can Select your own Boss.
One of the saddest sights in the world is a wrongly Bossed man or woman. There, germinate all the miseries of the Human. There, Failure drives its stakes. Let’s think of OUR Bosses for a minute. Who is your Boss? What Bosses Boss you? Here’s something refreshing —
You can Select your own Boss.
This is the way. Put your WILL in complete control. Make it Boss. The human Will is the greatest and grandest Boss in all the world of Bosses. Nerves! a word with you. YOU are not my Boss. Habit! step out in front. YOU are not my Boss. Appetite! just a moment. YOU are not my Boss. Will! let’s shake hands. I Select YOU as my Boss. And from this day on there is to be Order, Growth — Power in this house of mine.
Listen
To listen is to Learn. Doers of large affairs take very little time to talk — but they are always good Listeners. Anyone may secure a liberal education if he will but take the time to Listen. But it is imperative that you —
Absorb what you Learn.
General U. S. Grant was not a brilliant man. He was a failure in Business. But he set out to become Useful. He was gifted with wonderful determination and doggedness. He had Character. And to-day, high above the waters of the Hudson, alongside the beautiful Riverside Drive in New York, stands Grant’s Tomb — mute testimony to the life and work of Grant, as Soldier and President. So wonderful a Listener was he that while President he became known as “The Silent President.”
Absorb what you Learn.
To Listen well is a great accomplishment. No one shows his ignorance quicker than the man who persists in talking without saying anything. If you have something to say — say it. If you have nothing to say — Listen.
Absorb what you Learn.
Select the people to whom you listen. Listen with respect and an open Mind. Give new Ideas, new Theories and new Programs a hospitable reception. Listen well. To you remains the right to reject what you do not want. But always be big enough to Listen. Then —
Absorb what you Learn.
Let Go
It takes Courage to start a thing. It takes Courage to stick to a thing. But it takes greater Courage to Let Go of a thing that you are convinced is a Failure, after you have worked and sacrificed and sweat blood to make it Win. But —
Have Courage to Let Go.
The basis of Self-Reliance is Self-Belief. If you consider yourself bigger than your Job — if you fed that you are holding down a $2,500.00 Job with $10,000.00 abilities — Let Go of the $2,500.00 Job and immediately proceed to the $10,000.00 Job.
Have Courage to Let Go.
The principle is the same in Friendship. Nothing stimulates, inspires and leads a man on to Performance like a Real Friend. But if that Friend lacks the desires that accompany Real Friendship and you are keen enough to discern it — even in Friendship —
Have
