The Secret of Success

...on the part of those following them—in fact, they were chosen as leaders because of this self-assertive and self-directive quality. If they had stood back in a modest, mild manner, they would have been pushed aside by the flock, which would reject original: "disclaim" them as leaders in favor of others who knew how to push to the front.

Now, in this little book, we shall not endeavor to awaken a spirit of "bellwether-ism" bellwether-ism: the tendency to lead others like a lead sheep in a flock in you, nor to urge you to strive to lead the flock—there is nothing in the mere leading of people other than vanity original: "vainglory" and petty self-satisfaction. The desirable thing is to possess sufficient Individuality and Initiative to be your own bellwether original: "bellwether"; a leading sheep that wears a bell, used here to mean a leader of a group.—to be a law unto yourself, so far as other men are concerned. The great men—the strong men—care nothing for the flock that so obediently trots along after them. They derive no satisfaction from this thing, which pleases only inferior minds and gratifies only petty natures and ambitions. The big men—the great spirits of all ages—have derived more satisfaction from that inward conviction of strength and ability which they felt unfolding into activity within themselves, than in the praise original: "plaudits" of the mob, or in the submissiveness original: "servility" of those imitative creatures who sought to follow in their footsteps.

And this thing called Individuality is a real thing. It is inherent in each of us and may be developed and brought into activity in each one of us if we go about it right. Individuality is the expression of our Self—that Self which is what we mean when we say "I." Each of us is an Individual—an "I"—differing from every other "I" in the universe, so far as personal expression is concerned. And in the measure that we express and unfold the powers of that "I," so are we great, strong, and successful. We all "have it in us"—it depends upon us to get it out into Expression. And this Individual Expression lies at the heart of the "Secret of Success." That is why we use the term—and that is what we shall tell you about in this little book. It will pay for you to learn this "Secret."