The first question to change your life.
The first question that can change your life is about what you really, really want. When you really want something, it becomes a big part of your life. Let me tell you a story about Edward C. Barnes. He really wanted to partner with the famous inventor Edison, but he had almost nothing, not even money for a train ticket to New Jersey.
Now, you’re reading this for a reason. Pay attention. Barnes didn’t have many resources; he was just really determined. So, he hopped on a freight train to meet Edison because he had no money for a regular ticket. And guess what? Not long after that, he became one of the most successful people around, and everyone envied his “breakthrough.”
But here’s the thing: Success stories often sound like they happened by accident, like in the movies. But in real life, it doesn’t work that way when you’re in the middle of it. Success comes from hard work and determination, not luck.
The power of a clear goal
Now, why did Edison give Barnes a chance to work with him? It’s because Barnes had an incredibly strong desire. He didn’t just think about it casually; he was absolutely determined to make it happen. Barnes said to himself, “I’m going to Orange, New Jersey, and I will be Edison’s business partner.”
This story teaches us an important lesson about making definite decisions in our lives. Instead of asking, “What could I do?” Barnes asked, “What will I definitely do?” He set a clear and ambitious goal for himself, and he didn’t hold back.
So, the key message here is to think about what you truly want in life and make a clear and determined decision to pursue it. Don’t be afraid to aim high because, as a wise poet once said:
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
and Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
Life is a just employer.
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid”
Jessie B. Rittenhouse
It is equally difficult to be poor and to be rich.
Determine your life by defining here and now what you “ask” for it because “what you ask for it will give you”!This is a law of life. Ask for what you really want.
For the hopeless
Barnes was like a small part in Edison’s big business, but in his mind, he saw himself as Edison’s partner. I can relate to making a big decision because I’ve been through something similar.
I used to work in a fashion store as part of a study program. It wasn’t easy because some of my co-workers didn’t like me just because I was a young woman. I had to do boring tasks like sorting clothes and helping customers for long hours. I also had to deal with mean comments from my co-workers. I had to stick with it because I had a contract with the company for my education.
I cried a lot after work because it was really tough both mentally and physically. But one day, something clicked. I was standing by the socks, and I decided to promote myself. It might sound strange, but from that moment on, I didn’t see myself as just a clerk. In my mind, I was the manager. I changed the way I dressed, how I walked, and how I talked. It was like flipping a switch because I realized that I’m the only one who can judge me.
Today, I’m not only the boss of my own company, but I also have another one. I’m self-employed and making more money than I ever imagined, and all of this happened in just two years after making that decision. I found friends and supporters who helped me become the person I always wanted to be.
For the dreamers who dare to
When everything seems to be falling apart, remember to keep moving forward. Even when things look really bad, if you keep going, you can become successful. It’s all about not giving up.
Think about people like O Henry, Charles Dickens, Edison, and Barnes. They faced tough times and used their strong emotions, like anger and bitterness, to turn their dreams into reality. Henry Ford did this too, and he achieved a lot because he wasn’t afraid to believe in himself and chase his dreams.
Here’s a thought: Just like a bird waits in an egg, or an oak tree starts as an acorn, your dreams are already real the moment you decide you want to make them happen. They’re like waiting in an egg. We can’t say for sure how long it will take for them to come true, but as long as you believe in them and work towards them, one day they will come out of that egg, just like a baby bird hatching from its egg – that’s your dream life.
Here’s some good news: Nowadays, the world doesn’t look down on dreamers. In the past, Marconi was even sent to a mental hospital by his friends because he believed in “radio.” But today, people like Elon Musk can talk about colonizing Mars, and nobody thinks he’s crazy. The world is ready for dreamers like you.
The mind with believe
To have faith, you need to be open-minded. This means being ready and believing in what you want. You also need courage, confidence, and faith inside you. It’s as hard to aim high as it is to settle for unhappiness, so choose what you really want right now, because life will be tough either way.
It’s best not to talk to just anyone about your dreams, only to people who’ve already achieved what you want. If you don’t accept failures and keep going, nature will help you reach your goal.
The author of “Think and Grow Rich” had a son who couldn’t hear or speak, but he started hearing when his son was a baby. For years, he didn’t give up, even when it seemed impossible. Back then, there were no hearing aids. But later, his son not only tested hearing aids, he could hear perfectly and made a lot of money selling them.
Even when things seem really bad, if you see failures as a step towards success, you’ll find your way. Remember, in every failure, there’s something good waiting to happen.
Thank you for being here and being you
