Fenwicke Holmes (1927)
Success involves interest in what one is doing. If you are not interested in your work, find out the reason at once. If it is not your kind of work, change as soon as possible. If it is your kind, then “snap into it” mentally. Interest means pleasure, keenness, alertness. It begets knowledge of one’s goods, one’s profession. It incites to observation. It leads to curiosity regarding the way others do the same work, to a desire to better methods, and excel in one’s chosen field.
Those who are mentally wide awake always have the advantage when it comes to advancement, because they have greater knowledge not only of their own department but of the business as a whole. Walter C. Allen, President of the Yale and Towne Lock Company, who rose from truck boy to the head of a ten-million-dollar concern, once said in an interview:
“Too many of our young men have a fixed idea that opportunity must be thrust upon them, and at the same time do nothing to prepare themselves for grasping it when it comes. In spite of the fact that our company has refused to go outside for its officials and has promoted men from the ranks, we have had case after case where we actually tried to thrust promotion upon men who were apparently ambitious, but who had left themselves unprepared. Before the chance came, they complained because it was not handed to them on a silver tray, and when it did come, they were unable to grasp it.”
It can be seen from this how necessary it is to keep the interest in one’s work alive. Those who have had no technical education can overcome their handicap in this way. The technique of most lines of business can be acquired by experience. Ofttimes the college graduate’s advantage is merely in his trained powers of observation and thinking.
Along with interest, I place ambition. I do not see how anyone can hope to succeed unless he is ambitious. He must have the forward look. His work today must have reference to tomorrow. Tomorrow and today must be one with him. His mind keeps on running after the clock has struck. It is twisting and turning around his work to find new ways, new solutions, new outlets. He is stimulated both by interest in the work itself and by his desire to succeed in that work.
Unhappy is he who has no ambition. To stultify ambition is to kill half the driving force of personality. The joy of the forward look! The pleasure of dreams! The thrill of anticipation! The more it means to you, the more meaning there is to life. True ambition robs no one, inspires the emulation of others, and opens the door to success.
TREATMENT
I possess the spirit of success. I am filled with interest and love for my work. I am mentally wide-awake. I have the vision to see new possibilities and new solutions, I observe carefully and remember perfectly. I am going ahead with confidence and courage, with purpose and determination. The passion of attainment is upon me and I will succeed. I am success.
Fenwicke Holmes (1927)