Success is back in vogue. Books on how to succeed have returned to best-seller lists. But are people really discovering true success?
CAST your eyes on some new titles now in your local bookstore. Getting Yours, Winning with Deception and Bluff, How to Get Ahead by "Psyching Out" Your Boss and Co. Workers. It's embarrassing! You'd think that publishers would be ashamed of such bold titles. But at least they're being honest. The naked pursuit of materialism grips the minds of many. Individuals are intent on getting theirs while the getting is good. The millionaire chase is on. But is this the type of success that is best for human beings? Is this the brand of success that brings happiness? Success is often thought of as building a winning reputation — amassing wealth — wielding power over others. Isn't there more to success than "making it to the top" — often by climbing over others to get there?
A Trip to East Texas
In a summer more than 30 years ago a middle-aged man took a long automobile trip from Pasadena, California, to Eastern Texas. With him were his wife and younger son. Riding along in the car hour after hour this man began to think about the scores of successful men he had known in his 20s and early 30s. This man had been unusually successful in his youth. His advertising business had thrown him into constant contact with the great and near — great of this world. He knew the American philosopher and lecturer. Elbert Hubbard. He was privileged to know many multimillionaire capitalists and heads of great corporations in the American business world. On reflection and undisturbed concentration in the car, he realized that even these great men had not — after all was said and done — achieved true success. Yes, they all had reaped material rewards. Their personal bank accounts bulged with money. They had applied some of the right principles of success. But they hadn't been aware of the true values. They lacked the guidance and help of the great God. They never possessed the one right goal in life. This long motorcar trip from California to Texas brought forth a brand new dimension to the subject of success. Undisturbed concentration — away from normal telephonic interference and routine executive duties — crystallized this man's thoughts on the so-called successful people of this world. What things had they all done to bring material success? What right principles had they followed? And what great overriding principle had they all — to a man — over looked?
Seven Laws of Success
Eventually the seven laws of success began to emerge in this man's mind. One by one-step-by-step — a clear picture of the true principles of success slowly began to form. His identity? He just happens to be the editor in chief of The Plain Truth — Herbert W. Armstrong. Now in his 94th year, Mr. Armstrong is enjoying more true success than ever before in his long life. His big secret is practicing what he has termed the "give" way of life — as opposed to a totally opposite philosophy he has dubbed the "get" way. Remember the book titles quoted at the onset of this article? They all center on this selfish "get" way of life. Any temporary material success achieved through following theirs and similar advice will turn into empty husks in the long run. The values are false. The philosophy is in error. But realizing real success is more than discovering the one big principle embodied in the "give" way. Human beings need more detailed instruction. After all, the two great principles of right conduct — love God foremost and your neighbor as yourself — are carefully broken down into 10 specific commandments. It's the same with success. The one big principle of attaining success is subdivided into seven specific laws. Mr. Armstrong has published an attractively printed booklet all about these seven laws of success. He has spelled them out in detail. He has explained what true success is and how to achieve it. It is certainly true that you can derive some benefit from reading the better success books available in bookstores. But even the best of these will cost you money and none will give you the all-important overview of success. Mr. Armstrong's booklet — aptly entitled The Seven Laws Of Success — is absolutely gratis — totally free of charge.
Copyright © 2024 Herbert W Armstrong Library