introduction

• for want of a better name, let us call this evil susceptibility to negative influences
• it is more deeply seated and more often fatal than all of the six fears
• people who accumulate greate riches always protect themselves again thi evil. the poverty stricken never do
• those who succeed in any calling must prepare their minds to resist evil
• it strikes when you are not aware of its presence, when y ou are asleep and while you are awake

how to protect yourself against negative influences

• to protect yourself against negative influences whether of your own making or the result of the activities of negative people around you, recognize that you have a will power
• put it into constant use until it builds a wall of immunity against negative influences in your own mind
• keep you mind closed against all people who depress or discourage you in any way
• deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act for yourself
• do not expect troubles as they have a tendency not to disappoint
• without doubt, the most common weakness of all human being is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people

self-analysis test questions

1. do you often compain of 'feeling bad'. if so, what is the cause
2. do you find fault with other people at the slightest provocation
3. do you frequently make mistakes in your work? if so, why?
4. are you sarcastic and offensive in your conversation?
5. do you deliberately avoid the associateion of anyone? uif so why?
6. do you suffer frequently with indigestion? if so, what is the cause?
7. does life seem futile and the future hopeless to you? if so, why?
8. do you like your occupation? if not, why?
9. do you often feel self-pity? if o why?
10. are you envious of those who excel you?
11. to which do you devote more time: thinking of success or of failure?
12. are you gaining or losing self-confidence, as you grow older?
13. do you learn something of value from all mistakes?
14. are you permitting some relative or acquaintance to worry you? if so, why?
15. are you sometimes 'in the clouds' and at other times in the depths of despondency?
16. who has the most inspiring influence upon you? what is the cause?
17. do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences that you can avoid?
18. are you careless of your personal appearance? if so, when and why?
19. have you learned how to 'drown your troubles' by being too busy to be annoyed by them?
20. would you call yourself a 'spineless weakling' if you permitted others to do your thinking for you?
21. do you neglect internal bathing until autointoxication makes you will tempered and irritable?
22. how many preventable disturbances annoy you, and why do you tolerate them?
23. do you resort to liquor, narcotics, or cigarettes to 'quiet you nerves'? if so, why do you not try willpower instead?
24. does anyone 'nag' you, and if so, for what reason?
25. do you have a definite major purpose, and if so, what is it, and what plan have you for achieving it?
26. do you suffer from any of the six basic fears? if so, which ones?
27. have you a method by which you can shield yourself against the negative influence of others?
28. do you make deliberate use of autosuggestion to make your mind positive?
29. which do you value most?, your material possessions or your privilege of controlling your own thoughts?
30. do others easily influence you, against your own judgment?
31. has today added anything of value to your stock knowledge or state of mind?
32. do you have squarely the circumstances that make you unhappy, or sidestep the responsibility?
33. do you analyze all mistakes and failures and try to profit by them, or do you take the attitude that this is not yur duty?
34. can you name three of your most damaging weaknesses? what arey ou doing to correct them?
35. do you encourage other people to bring their worries to you for sympathy?
36. do you choose, from your daily experiences, lessons or influences that aid in your personal advancement?
37. does your presence have a negative influence on other people as a rule?
38. what habits of other people annoy you most?
39. do you form your own opinions or permit yourself to be influenced by other people?
40. have you learned how to create a mental state of mind with which you can shield yourself against all discouraging influences?
41. does you occupation inspire you with faith and hope?
42. are you conscious of possessing spiritual forces of sufficient power to enable you to keep your mind from all forms of fear?
43. does your religion help you to keep your own mind positive?
44. do you feel it your duty to share other people's worries if so, why?
45. if you believe that 'birds of a feather flock together', what have you learned about yourself by studying the friends you attract?
46. what connection, if any, do you see between the people with whom you associate most closely, and any unhappiness you may experience?
47. could it be possible that some person you consider to be a friend is, in reality, your worst enemy because of their negative influence on your mind?
48. by what rules do you judge who is helpful and who is damaging to you?
49. are your intimate associates mentally superior or inferior to you?
50. how muchtime out of every 24 hours do you devotes to:
    1. your occupation
    2. skleep
    3. play and relaxation
    4. acquiring useful knowledge
    5. plain waste
51. who among your acquaintances
    1. encourages you most
    2. cautions you most
    3. discourages you most
    4. helps you most in other ways
52. what is your greatest worry? why do you tolerate it?
53. when others offer you free, unsolicited advice, do you accept it without question or analyze their motive
54. what, above all else, do you most desire? do you intend to acquire it? are you willing to subordinate all other desires for this one? how much time daily do you devote to acquiring it?
55. do you change your mind often? if so, why?
56. do you usually finish everything you begin?
57. are you easily impressed by other peoepl's business or professional titles, university degress or wealth?
58. are you easily influenced by what other people think or say of you?
59. do you cater to people because of their social or financial status?
60. whom do you believe to be the greatest person living? in what respect is this personsuperior to you?
61. how much time have you devoted to studying and answering these questions? (at least one day is necessary for analyzing and answering the entire list)

• if you have answered all these questions truthfully, you know more about yourself than the majority of people.
• study the questions carefully
• come back to them once each week for several months
• if you are not certain of the answers to some of the questions, seek the counsel of those who know you well - especially those who have no motive in flattering you - and see yourself through their eyes
• you have absolute control over but one thing, and that is your thoughts.if you fail to control your own mind, you may be sure you will control nothing else
• mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit
• without this control, success is not possible

55 famous alibis

• people who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. they know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be airtight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement
• some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. but alibis cannot be use for money. the world wants to know only one thing - have youachieved success?
• remember, too, the philosophy presented in this book makes everyone of these alibis obsolete

1. if only I didn't have a wife and family
2. if only I had enough 'pull'
3. if only I had money
4. if only I had a good education
5. if only I could get a job
6. if only I had good health
7. if only I had time
8. if only times were better
9. if only other people understood me
10. if only conditions aruond me were different
11. if only I could live my life over again
12. if only I did not fear what 'they' would say
13. if only I had been given a chance
14. if only I now had a chance
15. if only other people didn't 'have it in for me'
16. if only nothing happened to stop me
17. if only I were younger
18. if only I could do what I want
19. if only I had been born rich
20. if only I could meet 'the right people'
21. if only I had the talent some people have
22. if only I dared assert myself
23. if only I had embraced past opportunities
24. if only people didn't get on my nerves
25. if only I didn't have a to keep house and look after the children
26. if only I could save some money
27. if only the boss appreciated me
28. if only I had somebody to help me
29. if only my family understood me
30. if only I lived in a big city
31. if only I could just get started
32. if only I were free
33. if only I had the personality of some people
34. if only I were not so fat
35. if only my talents were known
36. if only I could just get a 'break'
37. if only I could get out of debt
38. if only I hadn't failed
39. if only I knew how
40. if only everybody didn't oppose me
41. if only I didn't have so many worries
42. if only I could marry the right person
43. if only people weren't so dumb
44. if only my family were not so extravagant
45. if only I were sure of myself
46. if only luck were not against me
47. if only I had not been born under the wrong star
48. if only it were not true that 'what is to be will be'
49. if only I did not have to work so hard
50. if only I hadn't lost my money
51. if only I lived in a different neighbourhood
52. if only I didn't have a 'past'
53. if only I had a business of my own
54. if only other people would listen to me
55. if only - and this is the greatest of them all - I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me and correct it. then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others. I know there is something wrong with me or I would now be where I would have been if I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them

• why do people cling to their pet alibis? they defend their alibis because they create them
• an alibi is the child of one's own imagination, it is human nature to defend one's own brainchild
• 'the first and best victory is to conquer self. to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile' - plato
• 'it was a great surprise to me when I discovered that most of the ogliness I saw in others was but a reflection of my own nature'
• 'it has always been a mystery to me why people spend so much time deliberately fooling themselves by creating alibis to cover their weaknesses. if used different, this same time would be sufficient to cure the weakness, then no alibis would be needed' - elbert hubbard
• in parting, I would remind you that life is a draughts (chekcers) board, and the player opposite you is time. if you hesitate before moving, or neglect to move promptly, your draughts will be wiped off the board by time. you are playing against a partner who will not tolerate indecision
• the master key, that unlocks the door to life'sbountiful riches, is intangile, but powerful. it is the privilege of creating, in your own mind, a burning desire for a definite form of riches
• there is no penalty for the use of the key, but there is a price you must pay if you do not use it. that price is failure
• 'if we are related, we shall meet' - emerson