by Napoleon Hill
Available in 122 free installments
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It was a brutal fight. The three boys jumped Ben all at the same time. His bucket dropped, and he started flailing his arms with a determination that caught the bullies by surprise. Ben's right hand smashed into the lips and nose of one of the boys ? his left hand into his stomach. To Ben's surprise, the boy stopped fighting and turned and ran. Meanwhile the other two boys were hitting and kicking him. Ben managed to push one boy away and knock the other down. He jumped on the second boy with his knees, while he plowed punch after punch into his stomach and jaw ? as if he were mad. Now there was just one boy left. This was the leader. He had jumped on top of Ben. Ben managed to pull him aside and get on his feet. For a second the two boys stood and looked each other squarely in the eyes.
And then, bit by bit, the leader stepped backwards. He, too, ran away. Perhaps it was righteous indignation, but Ben picked up a chunk of coal and threw it at the retreater.
It wasn't until then that Ben realized that his nose was bleeding and that he had black and blue marks on his body from the punches and kicks he had received. It was worth it! It was a great day in Ben's life. In that moment he overcame fear.
Ben Cooper wasn't much stronger than he had been a year earlier. His attackers were no less tough. The difference came in Ben's own mental attitude. He had faced danger in spite of fear. He decided that no longer was he going to be pushed around by bullies. From now on, he himself was going to change his world. And, of course, this is exactly what he did.
Identify yourself with a successful image. The boy gave himself an identity. When he fought the three bullies on the street that day, he was not lighting as frightened, undernourished Ben Cooper. He was fighting as Robert Coverdale or any other of the plucky and daring heroes of Horatio Alger's books.
Identifying one's self with a successful image can help break the habits of self-doubt and defeat which years of NMA set up within a personality. Another and equally important successful technique for changing your world is to identify yourself with an image that will inspire you to make the right decisions. It can be a slogan, a picture, or any other symbol that is meaningful to you.
What will your picture say to you? The president of a midwest concern operating internationally was visiting his San Francisco office. He noticed a large photograph of himself on the wall of the office of Dorothy Jones, a private secretary. "Dotti, that's a rather large picture for this size room, isn't it?" he asked.
Dorothy responded, "When I have a problem, do you know what I do?" Without waiting for an answer, she demonstrated by placing her elbows on her desk, propping her head on the fingers
of her folded hands, and looking up at the picture. "Boss, how the heck would you solve this problem?" she asked.
Dotti's remarks seem rather humorous. Yet the essence of her idea is startling. Perhaps you have a picture in your office, your home, or in your wallet, that could give you the right answer to an important question in your life. Yours may be a picture of your mother, father, wife, husband ? of Benjamin Franklin or Abraham Lincoln. It may be that of a saint.
What will your picture say to you? There is one way to find out. When you are faced with a serious problem or decision, ask your picture a question. Listen, for the answer.
Another essential ingredient for changing your world is to have definiteness of purpose, one of the 17 principles of success.
Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Definiteness of purpose, combined with PMA, is the starting point of all worthwhile achievement Remember ? your world will change whether or not you choose to change it. But you have the power to choose its direction. You can select your own targets. When you determine your definite major aims with PMA, there is a natural tendency for you to use seven of the success principles:
(a) Personal initiative
(b) Self-discipline
(c) Creative vision
(d) Organized thinking
(e) Controlled attention (concentration of effort)
(f) Budgeting of time and money
(g) Enthusiasm
Robert Christopher had definiteness of purpose with PMA.
Now, let's see how the natural tendencies for these additional principles manifested themselves in this success story. For, like many boys, Bob's imagination was stimulated while he read Jules Verne's thrilling, imaginative story Around the World in 80 Days. Bob told us:
"I used to daydream a great deal but when I grew older, I read two books on motivation: Think and Grow Rich and The Magic of Believing.
