Chapter 29 Burning Desire.
The economies of communist countries around the world have been stagnant and they have crumbled. Their workers got fixed wages regardless of their production or performance. The motivation there was not even lukewarm, let alone any passion for work. Compare communist North Korea, Cuba and East European countries with their laissez-faire counterparts and see the difference! Likewise, in Africa, Kenya and Tanzania now show great contrast after 30 years of independence. Kenyans have almost twice as many cars, telephones and TVs as the Tanzanians. Their towns are bustling with goods and services, which are lacking in Tanzania. The chief reason is that Kenya runs on a capitalist, freemarket system, while its neighbour dragged along under a state-controlled, socialist economy. The key to economic success is: A craving for reward and a fiery urge to work for it.
The way to personal success is the same. Everywhere success abounds where it is flaring with aspirations. The joy in someone filled with an urge for conquest is unequalled. Nothing can stop a feverish achiever who is propelled by a lust for victory. If you deafen him, he will compose famous symphonies (Beethoven). If he is blind, he becomes a renowned poet (Milton), or a world-class singer (Feliciano, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder). Imprison him, and he writes all the way to great fame (Solzhenitsyn), while another goes on to become the President of South Africa (Mandela). Abandoned, battered and abused, a girl turned into the best-paid celebrity in show business. She has a heart of gold and gives heaps to charity (Oprah). Detain him at a mental hospital, then he blesses mankind with the invention of radios and telephones (Marconi). Make him fail a thousand times, and on his next attempt he creates the first light bulb (Edison). Crush someone with a killer-disease, and he laughs his way to full recovery (N. Cousins). Take away his beautiful sweetheart, and he goes on to become a pop star, and marries a prettier girl (Billy Joel). Cripple him, and he soon gets the best jewellery shop and the loveliest wife in town (L. Collier). Other handicapped people run races and trot around the globe. These people resemble the traditional heroes who burned boats and bridges to reach victories. I could fill another page on people with glowing passion, but are you not convinced now, of the immense power of burning desire?
Even among normal lives, thousands have started from scratch to build colossal fortunes through obsession, determination and hard work. Ford, for example, left his employers in 1899, determined never to take orders again. He later mass-produced the Ford cars that changed the American way of life. The foundation of every great discovery, invention or accomplishment was a desire or a dream. Without the childlike innocence of wishes and fantasies, few great achievements would have been made in history. Look at flying, spacecrafts, computers and lasers, and all the inventions. A burning desire knows no defeat, it can turn invisible wishes into real things. It just flies over hurdles, and gathers more momentum to reach the finishing line.
Picture to yourself all the marvellous things you would like to have, beautiful houses, cars, books, computers, musical instruments, all the pets you can cuddle in your Noahs Ark, and all the lovely insects, plants and flowers you can keep. Hobbies, great outdoors, hideaways, holidays around the world, and all the things that you can dream of. Visualise them as vividly as possible, the cosiness of your mansion, the smell of leather in your car. The brilliant tinkle of your black Steinway piano as you do Claydermans „Ballad Pour Adeline’. 200 marine and fresh-water fishes frolic and flash among the greenery of your aquariums. The blazing blossom in the garden. The feel of the Papillon puppy in your hands, and the Dalmatian dog at your feet. A giggling hide-and-seek with your chimpanzee, as the white and red Japanese Kois glide around your pond. A tamed falconet hunts from your hand and an owl feeds in your palm, while the Fairy Blue bird thrives in your aviary.
Great skiing in the Swiss Alps; the sight of the 4 U.S. presidents carved on Mount Rushmore; a close-up enjoyment of Boyzone or the Spice Girls in concert. Mountains of wonderful gifts for orphanages, hospitals and slum-dwellers... Believe deeply that all these can be yours. Arouse a deep longing for them and become excited about them. Dwell on them constantly, and systematically plan and prepare to make all the sacrifices to achieve these dreams. Emotions of hope and expectation are generated and you are propelled steadily to your Utopia.
With continuous yearning and working towards your targets, the fruits will eventually appear and surround you. They can come sooner than you think! You only need to make up your mind now. Look at Kenny G, who just came up with enchanting melodies on his saxophone, and made millions. The world is always waiting for someone like that; I wonder why many others did not show up earlier? There will be more Kenny Gs in future, on violin, on guitar, on electronic synthesiser or even Chinese instruments!
Life is an adventure, give it all youve got. Think of great enjoyment, and associate massive pleasures with purpose and persistence. Make changes now. Allow your fantasies of success to turn your craving into gold, your desire into diamond. Make plans, get excited and act now. Remember, situations will not develop on their own without your efforts. Improve your life by daring to live out your dreams, let them carry you away! Capitalise on an invigorating spiral where desire boosts performance and reward, and reward further fuels your enthusiasm. Believe fervently that your dreams will come true, and work yourself into whitehot passion, constantly advancing and saying everyday: „Only great victory alone can quench my burning desire. Nothing short of triumph and success can stop me. Then, the world is yours.
"Desire coupled with belief, mixed with persistence and expressed through action, make an unstoppable combination." - T. Edison.
"What you ardently and constantly desire, you always get." - Napoleon.
"As long as I have a want, I have reason for living." - B. Shaw.
"Only passion, great passion can elevate the human soul to achieve great things." Denis Diderot.
"Do you know anyone who is zealous in their work? He is the equal of kings." John Rockefeller.
"An integral part of being a star is having the will to win. All the champions have it." - Betty Cuthbert.