The Milkman Bog

CHAPTER 8
DECISION
THE MASTERY OF PROCRASTINATION
The Seventh Step toward Riches
ACCURATE analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced
failure, disclosed the fact that LACK OF DECISION was near the head of the
list of the 30 major causes of FAILURE. This is no mere statement of a
theory—it is a fact.
PROCRASTINATION, the opposite of DECISION, is a common enemy
which practically every man must conquer. You will have an opportunity to
test your capacity to reach quick and definite DECISIONS when you finish
reading this book, and are ready to begin putting into ACTION the principles
which it describes.
Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated
fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that
every one of them had the habit of REACHING DECISIONS
PROMPTLY, and of changing these decisions SLOWLY, if, and when
they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without
exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, IF AT ALL, very
slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often.
One of Henry Ford’s most outstanding qualities is his habit of reaching
decisions quickly and definitely, and changing them slowly. This quality is so
pronounced in Mr. Ford, that it has given him the reputation of being
obstinate. It was this quality which prompted Mr. Ford to continue to
manufacture his famous Model “T” (the world’s ugliest car), when all of his
advisors, and many of the purchasers of the car, were urging him to change it.
Perhaps, Mr. Ford delayed too long in making the change, but the other side
of the story is, that Mr. Ford’s firmness of decision yielded a huge fortune,
before the change in model became necessary. There is but little doubt that
Mr. Ford’s habit of definiteness of decision assumes the proportion of
obstinacy, but this quality is preferable to slowness in reaching decisions and
quickness in changing them.
The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their
needs, are, generally, easily influenced by the “opinions” of others. They
permit the newspapers and the “gossiping” neighbors to do their “thinking”
for them. “Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a
flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them. If
you are influenced by “opinions” when you reach DECISIONS, you will not
succeed in any undertaking, much less in that of transmuting YOUR OWN
DESIRE into money.
If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no DESIRE of
your own.
Keep your own counsel, when you begin to put into practice the principles
described here, by reaching your own decisions and following them. Take no
one into your confidence, EXCEPT the members of your “Master Mind”
group, and be very sure in your selection of this group, that you choose ONLY
those who will be in COMPLETE SYMPATHY AND HARMONY WITH
YOUR PURPOSE. Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so,
often handicap one through “opinions” and sometimes through ridicule, which
is meant to be humorous. Thousands of men and women carry inferiority
complexes with them all through life, because some well-meaning, but
ignorant person destroyed their confidence through “opinions” or ridicule.
You have a brain and mind of your own. USE IT, and reach your own
decisions. If you need facts or information from other people, to enable you to
reach decisions, as you probably will in many instances; acquire these facts or
secure the information you need quietly, without disclosing your purpose. It
is characteristic of people who have but a smattering or a veneer of knowledge
to try to give the impression that they have much knowledge. Such people
generally do TOO MUCH talking, and TOO LITTLE listening. Keep your
eyes and ears wide open—and your mouth CLOSED, if you wish to acquire
the habit of prompt DECISION. Those who talk too much do little else. If you
talk more than you listen, you not only deprive yourself of many opportunities
to accumulate useful knowledge, but you also disclose your PLANS and
PURPOSES to people who will take great delight in defeating you, because
they envy you.
Remember, also, that every time you open your mouth in the
presence of a person who has an abundance of knowledge, you
display to that person, your exact stock of knowledge, or your LACK of it!
Genuine wisdom is usually conspicuous through modesty and
silence.
Keep in mind the fact that every person with whom you associate is, like
yourself, seeking the opportunity to accumulate money. If you talk about your
plans too freely, you may be surprised when you learn that some other person
has beaten you to your goal by PUTTING INTO ACTION AHEAD OF YOU,
the plans of which you talked unwisely.
Let one of your first decisions be to KEEP A CLOSED MOUTH AND OPEN
EARS AND EYES.
As a reminder to yourself to follow this advice, it will be helpful if you copy
the following epigram in large letters and place it where you will see it daily.
“TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO, BUT FIRST SHOW
IT.”
This is the equivalent of saying that “deeds, and not words, are what count
most.”
FREEDOM OR DEATH ON A DECISION
The value of decisions depends upon the courage required to render them. The
great decisions, which served as the foundation of civilization, were reached
by assuming great risks, which often meant the possibility of death.
Lincoln’s decision to issue his famous Proclamation of Emancipation, which
gave freedom to the colored people of America, was rendered with full
understanding that his act would turn thousands of friends and political
supporters against him. He knew, too, that the carrying out of that
proclamation would mean death to thousands of men on the battlefield. In the
end, it cost Lincoln his life. That required courage.
Socrates’ decision to drink the cup of poison, rather than compromise in his
personal belief, was a decision of courage. It turned Time ahead a thousand
years, and gave to people then unborn, the right to freedom of thought and of
speech. The decision of Gen. Robert E. Lee, when he came to the parting of
the way with the Union, and took up the cause of the South, was a decision of
courage, for he well knew that it might cost him his own life, that it would
surely cost the lives of others.
But, the greatest decision of all time, as far as any American citizen is
concerned, was reached in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776,
when fifty-six men signed their names to a document, which they
well knew would bring freedom to all Americans, or leave every one
of the fifty-six hanging from a gallows!
You have heard of this famous document, but you may not have drawn from it
the great lesson in personal achievement it so plainly taught.
We all remember the date of this momentous decision, but few
of us realize what courage that decision required. We remember our
history, as it was taught; we remember dates, and the names of the
men who fought; we remember Valley Forge, and Yorktown; we
remember George Washington, and Lord Cornwallis. But we know
little of the real forces back of these names, dates, and places. We
know still less of that intangible POWER, which insured us freedom
long before Washington’s armies reached Yorktown.
We read the history of the Revolution, and falsely imagine that George
Washington was the Father of our Country, that it was he who won our
freedom, while the truth is—Washington was only an accessory after the fact,
because victory for his armies had been insured long before Lord Cornwallis
surrendered. This is not intended to rob Washington of any of the glory he so
richly merited. Its purpose, rather, is to give greater attention to the
astounding POWER that was the real cause of his victory. It is nothing short
of tragedy that the writers of history have missed, entirely, even the slightest
reference to the irresistible POWER, which gave birth and freedom to the
nation destined to set up new standards of independence for all the peoples of
the earth. I say it is a tragedy, because it is the self-same POWER which must
be used by every individual who surmounts the difficulties of Life, and forces
Life to pay the price asked.
Let us briefly review the events which gave birth to this POWER. The story
begins with an incident in Boston, March 5, 1770. British soldiers were
patroling the streets, by their presence, openly threatening the citizens. The
colonists resented armed men marching in their midst. They began to express
their resentment openly, hurling stones as well as epithets, at the marching
soldiers, until the commanding officer gave orders, “Fix bayonets. . . .
Charge!”
The battle was on. It resulted in the death and injury of many.
The incident aroused such resentment that the Provincial Assembly, (made up
of prominent colonists), called a meeting for the purpose of taking definite
action. Two of the members of that Assembly were, John Hancock, and
Samuel Adams-LONG LIVE THEIR NAMES! They spoke up courageously,
and declared that a move must be made to eject all British soldiers from
Boston. Remember this-a DECISION, in the minds of two men, might
properly be called the beginning of the freedom which we, of the United
States now enjoy. Remember, too, that the DECISION of these two men
called for FAITH, and COURAGE, because it was dangerous.
Before the Assembly adjourned, Samuel Adams was appointed to call on the
Governor of the Province, Hutchinson, and demand the withdrawal of the
British troops.
The request was granted, the troops were removed from Boston, but the
incident was not closed. It had caused a situation destined to change the entire
trend of civilization. Strange, is it not, how the great changes, such as the
American Revolution, and the World War, often have their beginnings in
circumstances which seem unimportant? It is interesting, also, to observe that
these important changes usually begin in the form of a DEFINITE DECISION
in the minds of a relatively small number of people. Few of us know the
history of our country well enough to realize that John Hancock, Samuel
Adams, and Richard Henry Lee (of the Province of Virginia) were the real
Fathers of our Country. Richard Henry Lee became an important factor in this
story by reason of the fact that he and Samuel Adams communicated
frequently (by correspondence), sharing freely their fears and their hopes
concerning the welfare of the people of their Provinces. From this practice,
Adams conceived the idea that a mutual exchange of letters between the
thirteen Colonies might help to bring about the coordination of effort so badly
needed in connection with the solution of their problems. Two years after the
clash with the soldiers in Boston (March ‘72), Adams presented this idea to
the Assembly, in the form of a motion that a Correspondence Committee be
established among the Colonies, with definitely appointed correspondents in
each Colony, “for the purpose of friendly cooperation for the betterment of the
Colonies of British America.”
Mark well this incident! It was the beginning of the
organization of the far-flung POWER destined to give freedom to you, and to
me. The Master Mind had already been organized. It consisted of Adams, Lee,
and Hancock. “I tell you further, that if two of you agree upon the earth
concerning anything for which you ask, it will come to you from My Father,
who is in Heaven.” The Committee of Correspondence was organized.
Observe that this move provided the way for increasing the power of the
Master Mind by adding to it men from all the Colonies. Take notice that this
procedure constituted the first ORGANIZED PLANNING of the disgruntled
Colonists.
In union there is strength! The citizens of the Colonies had been waging
disorganized warfare against the British soldiers, through incidents similar to
the Boston riot, but nothing of benefit had been accomplished. Their
individual grievances had not been consolidated under one Master Mind. No
group of individuals had put their hearts, minds, souls, and bodies together in
one definite DECISION to settle their difficulty with the British once and for
all, until Adams, Hancock, and Lee got together.
Meanwhile, the British were not idle. They, too, were doing some
PLANNING and “Master-Minding” on their own account, with the advantage
of having back of them money, and organized soldiery. The Crown appointed
Gage to supplant Hutchinson as the Governor of Massachusetts. One of the
new Governor’s first acts was to send a messenger to call on Samuel Adams,
for the purpose of endeavoring to stop his opposition—by FEAR. We can
best understand the spirit of what happened by quoting the conversation
between Col. Fenton, (the messenger sent by Gage), and Adams.
Col. Fenton: “I have been authorized by Governor Gage, to
assure you, Mr. Adams, that the Governor has been empowered to
confer upon you such benefits as would be satisfactory, [endeavor
to win Adams by promise of bribes], upon the condition that you
engage to cease in your opposition to the measures of the
government. It is the Governor’s advice to you, Sir, not to incur the
further displeasure of his majesty. Your conduct has been such as
makes you liable to penalties of an Mt of Henry VIII, by which
persons can be sent to England for trial for treason, or misprision of
treason, at the discretion of a governor of a province. But, BY
CHANGING YOUR POLITICAL COURSE, you will not only receive
great personal advantages, but you will make your peace with the King.”
Samuel Adams had the choice of two DECISIONS. He could cease his
opposition, and receive personal bribes, or he could CONTINUE, AND RUN
THE RISK OF BEING HANGED! Clearly, the time had come when Adams
was forced to reach instantly, a DECISION which could have cost his life.
The majority of men would have found it difficult to reach such a decision.
The majority would have sent back an evasive reply, but not Adams! He
insisted upon Col. Fenton’s word of honor, that the Colonel would deliver to
the Governor the answer exactly as Adams would give it to him.
Adams’ answer, “Then you may tell Governor Gage that I trust I have long
since made my peace with the King of Kings. No personal consideration shall
induce me to abandon the righteous cause of my Country. And, TELL
GOVERNOR GAGE IT IS THE ADVICE OF SAMUEL ADAMS TO HIM,
no longer to insult the feelings of an exasperated people.”
Comment as to the character of this man seems unnecessary. It must be
obvious to all who read this astounding message that its sender possessed
loyalty of the highest order. This is important. (Racketeers and dishonest
politicians have prostituted the honor for which such men as Adams died).
When Governor Gage received Adams’ caustic reply, he flew into a rage, and
issued a proclamation which read, “I do, hereby, in his majesty’s name, offer
and promise his most gracious pardon to all persons who shall forthwith lay
down their arms, and return to the duties of peaceable subjects, excepting only
from the benefit of such pardon, SAMUEL ADAMS AND JOHN
HANCOCK, whose offences are of too flagitious a nature to admit of any
other consideration but that of condign punishment.” As one might say, in
modern slang, Adams and Hancock were “on the spot!” The threat of the irate
Governor forced the two men to reach another DECISION, equally as
dangerous. They hurriedly called a secret meeting of their staunchest
followers. (Here the Master Mind began to take on momentum). After the
meeting had been called to order, Adams locked the door, placed the key in
his pocket, and informed all present that it was imperative that a Congress of
the Colonists be organized, and that NO MAN SHOULD LEAVE THE
ROOM UNTIL THE DECISION FOR SUCH A CONGRESS HAD BEEN
REACHED. Great excitement followed. Some weighed the possible
consequences of such radicalism. (Old Man Fear). Some expressed grave
doubt as to the wisdom of so definite a decision in defiance of the Crown.
Locked in that room were TWO MEN immune to Fear, blind to the possibility
of Failure. Hancock and Adams. Through the influence of their minds, the
others were induced to agree that, through the Correspondence Committee,
arrangements should be made for a meeting of the First Continental Congress,
to be held in Philadelphia, September 5, 1774.
Remember this date. It is more important than July 4, 1776. If there had been
no DECISION to hold a Continental Congress, there could have been no
signing of the Declaration of Independence. Before the first meeting of the
new Congress, another leader, in a different section of the country was deep in
the throes of publishing a “Summary View of the Rights of British America.”
He was Thomas Jefferson, of the Province of Virginia, whose relationship to
Lord Dunmore, (representative of the Crown in Virginia), was as strained as
that of Hancock and Adams with their Governor.
Shortly after his famous Summary of Rights was published,
Jefferson was informed that he was subject to prosecution for high
treason against his majesty’s government. Inspired by the threat,
one of Jefferson’s colleagues, Patrick Henry, boldly spoke his mind,
concluding his remarks with a sentence which shall remain forever
a classic, “If this be treason, then make the most of it.”
It was such men as these who, without power, without authority, without
military strength, without money, sat in solemn consideration of the destiny of
the colonies, beginning at the opening of the First Continental Congress, and
continuing at intervals for two years—until on June 7, 1776, Richard Henry
Lee arose, addressed the Chair, and to the startled Assembly made this
motion:
“Gentlemen, I make the motion that these United Colonies are, and of right
ought to be free and independent states, that they be absolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them
and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved.”
Lee’s astounding motion was discussed fervently, and at such
length that he began to lose patience. Finally, after days of
argument, he again took the floor, and declared, in a clear, firm voice, “Mr.
President, we have discussed this issue for days. It is the only course for us to
follow. Why, then Sir, do we longer delay? Why still deliberate? Let this
happy day give birth to an American Republic. Let her arise, not to devastate
and to conquer, but to reestablish the reign of peace, and of law. The eyes of
Europe are fixed upon us. She demands of us a living example of freedom,
that may exhibit a contrast, in the felicity of the citizen, to the ever increasing
tyranny.”
Before his motion was finally voted upon, Lee was called back to Virginia,
because of serious family illness, but before leaving, he placed his cause in the
hands of his friend, Thomas Jefferson, who promised to fight until favorable
action was taken. Shortly thereafter the President of the Congress (Hancock),
appointed Jefferson as Chairman of a Committee to draw up a Declaration of
Independence.
Long and hard the Committee labored, on a document which
would mean, when accepted by the Congress, that EVERY MAN
WHO SIGNED IT, WOULD BE SIGNING HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT,
should the Colonies lose in the fight with Great Britain, which was sure to
follow.
The document was drawn, and on June 28, the original draft was read before
the Congress. For several days it was discussed, altered, and made ready. On
July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson stood before the Assembly, and fearlessly read
the most momentus DECISION ever placed upon paper.
“When in the course of human events it is necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume,
among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the
laws of Nature, and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation. . .
When Jefferson finished, the document was voted upon, accepted, and signed
by the fifty-six men, every one staking his own life upon his DECISION to
write his name. By that DECISION came into existence a nation destined to
bring to mankind forever, the privilege of making DECISIONS.
By decisions made in a similar spirit of Faith, and only by
such decisions, can men solve their personal problems, and win for
themselves high estates of material and spiritual wealth. Let us not forget this!
Analyze the events which led to the Declaration of
Independence, and be convinced that this nation, which now holds a position
of commanding respect and power among all nations of the world, was born
of a DECISION created by a Master Mind, consisting of fifty-six men. Note
well, the fact that it was their DECISION which insured the success of
Washington’s armies, because the spirit of that decision was in the heart of
every soldier who fought with him, and served as a spiritual power which
recognizes no such thing as FAILURE.
Note, also, (with great personal benefit), that the POWER which gave this
nation its freedom, is the self-same power that must be used by every
individual who becomes self-determining. This POWER is made up of the
principles described in this book. It will not be difficult to detect, in the story
of the Declaration of Independence, at least six of these principles; DESIRE,
DECISION, FAITH, PERSISTENCE, THE MASTER MIND, and
ORGANIZED PLANNING.
Throughout this philosophy will be found the suggestion that thought, backed
by strong DESIRE, has a tendency to transmute itself into its physical
equivalent. Before passing on, I wish to leave with you the suggestion that one
may find in this story, and in the story of the organization of the United States
Steel Corporation, a perfect description of the method by which thought
makes this astounding transformation.
In your search for the secret of the method, do not look for a miracle, because
you will not find it. You will find only the eternal laws of Nature. These laws
are available to every person who has the FAITH and the COURAGE to use
them. They may be used to bring freedom to a nation, or to accumulate riches.
There is no charge save the time necessary to understand and appropriate
them.
Those who reach DECISIONS promptly and definitely, know what they want,
and generally get it. The leaders in every walk of life DECIDE quickly, and
firmly. That is the major reason why they are leaders. The world has the habit
of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows
where he is going.
INDECISION is a habit which usually begins in youth. The
habit takes on permanency as the youth goes through graded
school, high school, and even through college, without DEFINITENESS OF
PURPOSE. The major weakness of all educational systems is that they neither
teach nor encourage the habit of DEFINITE DECISION.
It would be beneficial if no college would permit the enrollment of any
student, unless and until the student declared his major purpose in
matriculating. It would be of still greater benefit, if every student who enters
the graded schools were compelled to accept training in the HABIT OF
DECISION, and forced to pass a satisfactory examination on this subject
before being permitted to advance in the grades.
The habit of INDECISION acquired because of the deficiencies of our school
systems, goes with the student into the occupation he chooses . . . IF . . in fact,
he chooses his occupation. Generally, the youth just out of school seeks any
job that can be found. He takes the first place he finds, because he has fallen
into the habit of INDECISION. Ninety-eight out of every hundred people
working for wages today, are in the positions they hold, because they lacked
the DEFINITENESS OF DECISION to PLAN A DEFINITE POSITION, and
the knowledge of how to choose an employer. DEFINITENESS OF
DECISION always requires courage, sometimes very great courage. The fiftysix
men who signed the Declaration of Independence staked their lives on the
DECISION to affix their signatures to that document. The person who reaches
a DEFINITE DECISION to procure the particular job, and make life pay the
price he asks, does not stake his life on that decision; he stakes his
ECONOMIC FREEDOM. Financial independence, riches, desirable business
and professional positions are not within reach of the person who neglects or
refuses to EXPECT, PLAN, and DEMAND these things. The person who
desires riches in the same spirit that Samuel Adams desired freedom for the
Colonies, is sure to accumulate wealth.
In the chapter on Organized Planning, you will find complete instructions for
marketing every type of personal services. You will find also detailed
information on how to choose the employer you prefer, and the particular job
you desire. These instructions will be of no value to you UNLESS YOU
DEFINITELY DECIDE to organize them into a plan of action