SUCCESS,
in any particular business, depends for one thing upon your possessing in a
well-developed state the faculties required in that business.
Without
good musical faculty no one can succeed as a teacher of music; without
well-developed mechanical faculties no one can achieve great success in any of
the mechanical trades; without tact and the commercial faculties no one can
succeed in mercantile pursuits. But to possess in a well-developed state the
faculties required in your particular vocation does not insure getting rich.
There are musicians who have remarkable talent, and who yet remain poor; there
are blacksmiths, carpenters, and so on who have excellent mechanical ability,
but who do not get rich; and there are merchants with good faculties for
dealing with men who nevertheless fail.
The
different faculties are tools; it is essential to have good tools, but it is
also essential that the tools should be used in the Right Way. One man can take a sharp saw,
a square, a good plane, and so on, and build a handsome article of furniture;
another man can take the same tools and set to work to duplicate the article,
but his production will be a botch. He does not know how to use good tools in a
successful way.
The
various faculties of your mind are the tools with which you must do the work
which is to make you rich; it will be easier for you to succeed if you get into
a business for which you are well equipped with mental tools.
Generally
speaking, you will do best in that business which will use your strongest
faculties; the one for which you are naturally "best fitted." But
there are limitations to this statement, also. No man should regard his
vocation as being irrevocably fixed by the tendencies with which he was born.
You
can get rich in ANY business, for if you have not the right talent for you can
develop that talent; it merely means that you will have to make your tools as
you go along, instead of confining yourself to the use of those with which you
were born. It will be EASIER for you to succeed in a vocation for which you
already have the talents in a well-developed state; but you CAN succeed in any
vocation, for you can develop any rudimentary talent, and there is no talent of
which you have not at least the rudiment.
You
will get rich most easily in point of effort, if you do that for which you are
best fitted; but you will get rich most satisfactorily if you do that which you
WANT to do.
Doing
what you want to do is life; and there is no real satisfaction in living if we
are compelled to be forever doing something which we do not like to do, and can
never do what we want to do. And it is certain that you can do what you want to
do; the desire to do it is proof that you have within you the power which can
do it.
Desire
is a manifestation of power.
The
desire to play music is the power which can play music seeking expression and
development; the desire to invent mechanical devices is the mechanical talent
seeking expression and development.
Where
there is no power, either developed or undeveloped, to do a thing, there is
never any desire to do that thing; and where there is strong desire to do a
thing, it is certain proof that the power to do it is strong, and only requires
to be developed and applied in the Right Way.
All
things else being equal, it is best to select the business for which you have
the best developed talent; but if you have a strong desire to engage in any
particular line of work, you should select that work as the ultimate end at
which you aim.
You
can do what you want to do, and it is your right and privilege to follow the
business or vocation which will be most congenial and pleasant.
You
are not obliged to do what you do not like to do, and should not do it except
as a means to bring you to the doing of the thing you want to do.
If
there are past mistakes whose consequences have placed you in an undesirable business
or environment, you may be obliged for some time to do what you do not like to
do; but you can make the doing of it pleasant by knowing that it is making it
possible for you to come to the doing of what you want to do.
If
you feel that you are not in the right vocation, do not act too hastily in
trying to get into another one. The best way, generally, to change business or
environment is by growth.
Do
not be afraid to make a sudden and radical change if the opportunity is
presented, and you feel after careful consideration that it is the right
opportunity; but never take sudden or radical action when you are in doubt as
to the wisdom of doing so.
There
is never any hurry on the creative plane; and there is no lack of opportunity.
When
you get out of the competitive mind you will understand that you never need to
act hastily. No one else is going to beat you to the thing you want to do;
there is enough for all. If one space is taken, another and a better one will
be opened for you a little farther on; there is plenty of time. When you are in
doubt, wait. Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your
faith and purpose; and by all means, in times of doubt and indecision,
cultivate gratitude.
A
day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and in earnest
thanksgiving that you are getting it, will bring your mind into such close
relationship with the Supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act.
There
is a mind which knows all there is to know; and you can come into close unity
with this mind by faith and the purpose to advance in life, if you have deep
gratitude.
Mistakes
come from acting hastily, or from acting in fear or doubt, or in forgetfulness
of the Right Motive, which is more life to all, and less to none.
As
you go on in the Certain Way, opportunities will come to you in increasing
number; and you will need to be very steady in your faith and purpose, and to
keep in close touch with the All Mind by reverent gratitude.
Do
all that you can do in a perfect manner every day, but do it without haste,
worry, or fear. Go as fast as you can, but never hurry.
Remember
that in the moment you begin to hurry you cease to be a creator and become a
competitor; you drop back upon the old plane again.
Whenever
you find yourself hurrying, call a halt; fix your attention on the mental image
of the thing you want, and begin to give thanks that you are getting it. The
exercise of GRATITUDE will never fail to strengthen your faith and renew your
purpose.