Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1914 — Dr. Marden’s Uplift Talks [ARTICLE]

Dr. Marden’s Uplift Talks

By ORRISON SWETT MARDEN

Copyright by McClurg Nevppgpar Syndlottb •ELF-CONFIDENCE A 8 A SUCCESS ASSET. ’em as though they p were apples,” said an editor to * a trembling, sentimental girl who offered her manuscript with an air of a copvlct about to receive a death sentence. “If one man does not want your apples another will. Don’t be afraid of me or anybody else.” Carry yourself with a self-confident air, as though you really believed In yourself, and you will not only Inspire others with a belief in your ability, but you will also come to believe in yourself. A keen observer can pick out a successful man on the street by-the way he carries himself. If he is a leader, every step, every movement indicates it; there is assurance in his bearing, he walks as if he were master of himself, as If he believed in his ability to do things, to bring about results. His self-confident air is an index; of the success he has attained. Men and women who succeed in their undertakings are those who set their faces toward their goal and stoutly affirm and reaffirm their confidence in their ability to reach it. There is everything in keeping one’s self up/to the success standard and maintaining in all its dignity and Integrity one’s confidence in his power to accomplish the work undertaken. On the other band, it is easy to pick out the failure. There is no decision, no victory in his step, his uncertain gait Indicates lack of confidence in himself;, his dress, his bearing, everything points toward incompetence. His shiftlessness Is pictured in every moveinent of his body. There Is nothing uncertain, nothing negative, in the makeup of the successful man. He is positive to the backbone. He does not need bolstering up; he can stand alone. .It is not so much what he says as what he does not say; his very silence carries power. You feel that there is a large reserve back of everything he says or does. It is wonderful what a power selfconfidence has to marshal all the faculties and unite their strength in one mighty cable. No matter how many talents a xnan may possess, if he be lacking in self-confidence he can never use them to the best advantage; he cannot unify their action and harmonize their power so as to bring them to bear effectively upon any one point Never permit anyone or anything to undermine your self-confidence. Never admit to yourself, even In thought, that there may be a possibility of your failure. This constant affirmation, this persistent dwelling upon the positive, or plus, phase of success, and never admitting the negative, will tend to strengthen, to render Impregnable, the great purpose, the one unwavering aim, which brings victory. As a spring can never rise higher than its source, so one can never attain a greater success than he believes he can. A cheerful face, a hopeful, confident air, and a determination to make the best possible out of the situation have often tided a man over a crisis in his business, when the least exhibition of moroseness, anxiety or doubt would have precipitated the ruin he was so anxious to avert. Employes are quick to detect doubt, anxiety or fear in their employer. If he is downhearted and discouraged, his mood will communicate Itself to everyone who works tor him. The affected by the gloomy atmosphere of the store, and will go elsewhere. Thousands of concerns have gone down during panics or periods of business depression simply because the owners did not know how to control themselves or to conceal their doubts and fears in regard <to the condition of their affairs. Discouragement is the great destroyer of ambition. It must be crushed and eliminated as if It were a plague. Regard yourself as superior to the evils which surround you. Learn to dominate your environment, to rise above depressing Influences. Look for the bright side of things, not the dark and gloomy side. '