Wishes Won't Bring Riches

Chapter One

Applied Faith

With this chapter I approach a subject which Andrew Carnegie described as "the dynamo of the entire philosophy." By this he meant that Applied Faith is the power that gives to those who use it an effective way to put the Philosophy of American Achievement into action.

In this chapter Mr. Carnegie begins his analysis of Applied Faith by describing its application in the development of self-reliance without which quality no one would benefit greatly by the other chapters of this book.

As far back as the records of civilization are available, there is evidence that the philosophers, the psychologists, and the scientists have recognized the existence of a power, available to mankind, known as Faith, and the history of civilization is replete with evidence that Faith is an irresistible power; that it enables those who use it to rise above seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Faith is the foundation, the very central core, of every great religion, and despite the fact that it is the most talked-about subject in the entire field of religion, it is unquestionably the least understood of all religious subjects.

Back through the ages mankind has been admonished to "have faith," but I am without access to any authentic record of a satisfactory explanation as to how that state of mind known as Faith can be inspired.

Through this chapter Mr. Carnegie and I will present our views on ways and means of developing Faith, accompanied by reliable evidence of the soundness of our conclusions. The analysis of the subject of Faith here presented will include both the personal experience of the author and a description of my observations of others, in the application of Faith as a usable force in the solution of the individual problems of life.

The analysis will draw attention to the difference between "faith" and "confidence." It will include a definite, workable formula through which that form of confidence known as self-confidence can be vitalized with the greater power of Faith, and thus made irresistible.

In his description of his own method of applying Faith, Andrew Carnegie reveals, for the first time as far as is known, the secret of his astounding achievements; and in so doing he offers every reader a dependable approach to the understanding and use of the power of Faith.

Obviously, no form of application of Faith is as helpful to an individual as that which aids in the development of self-reliance, for it is no mere expression of poetic words when we say, "That which man can believe, man can achieve." There is a certain state of mind which, as all who have experienced it know, serves to inspire one with enthusiasm, initiative, imagination, and Definiteness of Purpose to rise above ordinary difficulties and carry his plans through to success without effective opposition. We refer to this state of mind as self-reliance, but if we examine carefully those occasions on which it serves best, we will discover that it has a quality far superior to mere confidence in self.

The chapter begins with an analysis of self-confidence, precisely as Andrew Carnegie explained his understanding of this subject to his student, Napoleon Hill, upon our meeting in Mr. Carnegie's study in 1908.

HILL:

Mr. Carnegie, you have inspired me to undertake a job that may require the better portion of my life. The task is one that calls for self-confidence far greater than I possess; therefore I want you to tell me how I can develop the Faith necessary to carry me over the obstacles with which I will likely meet during my research.

CARNEGIE:

You have asked me a question that should be of keen interest to every person who aims at achievement above mediocrity, and my answer will describe perhaps the most important of the seventeen principles of achievement. You may put it down as Applied Faith, and you should emphasize it as one factor of human achievement which gives power to all who apply it. It is the great equalizing force which truly makes all men equal.

HILL:

Am I to understand you to say, Mr. Carnegie, that all men are born equal? Do you mean that men who have great self-reliance are born with that trait?

CARNEGIE:

Now let me get you straightened out on this vital point before you make the same mistake that so many others have made, by assuming that individuals who achieve outstanding success are born with some peculiar quality of genius not possessed by others. Self-confidence is a state of mind that is under the control of the individual, and it is not an inborn trait possessed by some and lacking in others. There are varying degrees of self-confidence, the reason for which I will explain later. Supreme self-confidence is based upon Faith in Infinite Intelligence and you may be certain that no one ever attains this state of mind without having first established contact with and a definite belief in Infinite Intelligence.

The starting point in the development of self-confidence is Definiteness of Purpose. That is why this principle is given first place in the philosophy of individual achievement by me and many others.

It is a well-known fact that the man who knows exactly what he wants, has a definite plan for getting it, and is actually engaged in carrying out that plan, has no difficulty in believing his ability to succeed. It is equally well known that the man of indecision, the fellow who flounders around and procrastinates, soon loses confidence in his own ability and winds up doing nothing. There is nothing difficult to understand about this.

HILL:

But what happens when one knows what he wants, has a plan for getting it, puts his plan into operation, and meets with failure? Doesn't failure destroy self-confidence?

CARNEGIE:

Now that is the very question I hoped you would ask. It gives me an opportunity to set you right on a common mistake that many people make. Failure has one peculiar benefit that is deserving of emphasis, and it is the fact that every failure carries with it, in the circumstance of the failure itself, the seed of an equivalent advantage. Examine the records of the truly great leaders in all walks of life and you will discover that their success is in exact proportion to their mastery of failures.

Life has a way of developing strength and wisdom in individuals, through temporary defeat and failure, and do not overlook the fact that there is no such reality as a permanent failure until an experience has been accepted as such.

The power of the mind is so great that it has no limitations other than those which individuals set up in their own minds. The power that removes all limitations from the mind is Faith; and the source of all Faith is belief in Infinite Intelligence. Once you understand this truth you will not need to worry about self-confidence, for you will possess it in abundance. Every great philosopher has reminded us of this truth.

HILL:

But, Mr. Carnegie, most people are not experienced philosophers, and they are not going to believe that every failure carries with it the seed of an equivalent advantage when failure overtakes them, as it must overtake everyone at one time or another. Now, what I want to know is this: What is one going to do when he meets with failure and the experience destroys his confidence in himself? To whom does such a person turn for aid in the restoration of confidence in himself?

CARNEGIE:

You have propounded what may, at first, appear to be a question that is very difficult to answer, but the appearance is deceiving, as I shall explain. Let me answer you briefly in this way: The best way to guard against being overcome by failure is to discipline the mind to meet failure before it arrives. This can best be accomplished by forming habits that enable one to take full possession of his mind and use it for the attainment of definite ends, on all occasions, from the smallest to the greatest daily task.

I know what your next question will be, so I will ask and answer it. You want to know how one may take full possession of his own mind. The answer to this question is the burden of this entire philosophy, as no one may take complete possession of his mind until he assimilates and puts into action all the principles of this philosophy. The starting point, as I have stated, is the adoption of a Definite Major Purpose.

The second step consists of the formation of a Master Mind alliance.

The third step consists of a form of mental discipline which we have designated as Applied Faith, the details of which we are now analyzing. Faith is the power that gives effectiveness to the other principles, and it is a state of mind that anyone can develop and use.

Before beginning the analysis of the formula through which Faith is acquired, let me remind you that there is a law known as the law of harmonious attraction, through the operation of which like attracts like. With the aid of this law the successful man either consciously or unconsciously makes his own mind success conscious by vitalizing it with a keen desire for the achievement of the object of his major purpose. It is a known fact that men of great achievement form the habit of making an obsession of their Definite Major Purpose, some well-known illustrations of which I will mention later.

HILL:

How does one go about the development of that state of mind which you mention as an obsession, Mr. Carnegie?

CARNEGIE:

It is accomplished by adopting a definite purpose or plan and backing it with a burning desire for its realization. Here the habit of repetition of thought comes into action. The habit may be developed by making the object of one's plan or purpose the dominating thought of the mind.

If the desire back of the plan or purpose is strong enough it will have the effect of calling into the mind a picture of the object of the purpose, and of dwelling upon that picture at all times when the mind is not occupied with less important subjects.

This is the way that all obsessions are developed. The more one thinks and talks of an idea or plan the nearer it comes to being an obsession. Here the Master Mind roundtable discussions become powerful factors in vitalizing one's mind with the necessary obsessional quality.

You have heard it said that a man comes, finally, to believe anything he repeats often, even though it is a falsehood. Well, this is true. The principle of repetition is the medium through which one may fan his desires into a burning flame of intensity.

Any thought that is expressed orally, and continuously repeated from day to day, through Master Mind discussions and otherwise, will be taken over by the subconscious mind eventually and carried out to its logical conclusion. All great leaders who make life pay on their own terms, through what the world commonly calls success, do so by giving orders to their own minds in the manner I have suggested. The mind can take and carry out orders, just as if it were a person, and it will act first upon one's dominating thoughts, whether or not they are given as direct orders. Thoughts of limitation and poverty will be carried out to their logical conclusion, which is poverty. The subconscious mind acts on one's thoughts without trying to modify or change their nature in the least. Moreover, it acts automatically, whether or not one is conscious of this action.

HILL:

If I understand you clearly, Mr. Carnegie, one can develop self-confidence by thinking in terms of what one desires to do and can do, and by excluding thoughts of the difficulties one may encounter carrying out one's plans. Is that correct?

CARNEGIE:

You have the idea precisely. While I was working as a laborer I heard a fellow worker say, "I hate poverty and I'll not endure it." He is still doing day labor, and lucky to have a job. You see, he fixed his mind on poverty and that is what his subconscious mind gave him.

It would have been different if he had said, "I enjoy riches and shall earn and receive them." It would have helped, too, if he had gone still one step further and described what sort of service he intended to give in return for the riches he desired.

Make no mistake about this fact-the mind brings the physical equivalent of that which it dwells upon. Brings it by the shortest, most economical and practical means available, by using every opportunity to achieve the object of one's desires.

When two or more people join the forces of their minds together and work harmoniously for the attainment of a definite purpose, they attain the object of that purpose much more quickly than they could if they worked independently.

When the leaders in a business organization begin to think, talk, and act together in a spirit of harmony they generally get that which they seek. It is true that people can talk and think themselves into anything they desire. Thoughts are things, and powerful things at that. They are more powerful when they are expressed in the words of an individual who knows exactly what he wants, and more powerful still when they are expressed in the words of a group of people who think, speak, and act together.

Faith develops a great leader. Fear creates a cringing follower.

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HILL:

I believe I follow your reasoning, Mr. Carnegie, and it seems sound. From what you have said I understand that when the people of a community or a nation begin to think and act together in connection with any definite objective, they soon find ways and means of attaining it. Is that your belief?

CARNEGIE:

That is not only my belief, but it is a fact. If the newspapers begin to publish stories about wars, and the people begin to think and talk of war in their daily conversations, they soon find themselves at war. People get that which their minds dwell upon, and this applies to a group or a community or a nation of people the same as to an individual.

One reason why we Americans are the richest and the freest people in the world (perhaps this is the only reason) is the fact that we think and talk and act in terms of freedom and riches. Our nation was literally born of our desire for liberty. Our history books are filled with the spirit of liberty. We have talked of liberty so much that we have it in abundance. We shall cease to have it if we stop talking and thinking about it.