Chapter 14. The Impression of Increase
WHETHER you change your vocation. Or not. Your actions. For the present. Must be those pertaining. To the business. In which. You are now engaged.
You can get into the business you want. By making constructive use. Of the business. You are already established in. By doing your daily work. In a Certain Way.
And in so far. As your business consists. In dealing. With other men. Whether personally. Or by letter. The key-thought. Of all your efforts. Must be to convey. To their minds. The impression. Of increase.
Increase is what all men. And all women are seeking. It is the urge. Of the Formless Intelligence within them. Seeking fuller expression.
The desire for increase. Is inherent. In all nature. It is the fundamental impulse. Of the universe. All human activities. Are based. On the desire. For increase. People are seeking more food. More clothes. Better shelter. More luxury. More beauty. More knowledge. More pleasure -- increase in something. More life.
Every living thing. Is. Under. This necessity. For continuous advancement. Where increase of life ceases. Dissolution. And death. Set in at once.
Man instinctively knows this. And hence. He is forever seeking more. This law. Of perpetual increase. Is set forth. By Jesus. In the parable. Of the talents. Only those who gain more. Retain any. From him who hath not. Shall be taken away even. That which he hath.
The normal desire. For increased wealth. Is not an evil. Or a reprehensible thing. It is simply. The desire. For more abundant life. It is aspiration. And because it is the deepest instinct. Of their natures. All men. And women. Are attracted. To him. Who can give them. More. Of the means. Of life.
In following the Certain Way. As described. In the foregoing pages. You are getting continuous increase. For yourself. And you are giving it. To all. With whom you deal.
You are a creative center. From which increase. Is given off to all.
Be sure of this. And convey. Assurance. Of the fact. To every man. Woman. And child. With whom you come in contact. No matter how small the transaction. Even if it be only. The selling. Of a stick. Of candy. To a little child.
Put into it. The thought of increase. And make sure. The customer is impressed with the thought.
Convey the impression of advancement. With everything you do. So all people. Shall receive. The impression. You are an Advancing Person. And you advance. All who deal with you. Even to the people. Whom you meet in a social way. Without any thought. Of business. And to whom you do not try to sell anything. Give the thought. Of increase.
You can convey this impression. By holding. The unshakable faith. You yourself. Are in the Way of Increase. And by letting this faith inspire.
Fill. And permeate every action.
Do everything. You do. In the firm conviction. You are an advancing personality. And you are giving advancement. To everybody.
Feel you are getting rich. An in so doing. You are making others rich. And conferring benefits on all.
Do not boast. Or brag. Of your success. Or talk. About it unnecessarily. True faith. Is never boastful.
Wherever you find a boastful person. You find one. Who is secretly doubtful. And afraid. Simply feel the faith. And let it work out. In every transaction. Let every act. And tone. Look. Express. The quiet assurance. You are getting rich. You are already rich. Words will not be necessary. To communicate this feeling.
To others. They will feel the sense. Of increase.
When in your presence. And will be attracted. To you again.
You must so impress others. They will feel. In associating with you. They will get. Increase for themselves. See you give them. A use value greater. Than the cash value. You are taking from them.
Take an honest pride. In doing this. And let everybody know it. And you. Will have no lack of customers. People will go. Where they are given increase. And the Supreme. Which desires increase in all. And which knows all. Will move toward you. Men and women. Who have never heard of you. Your business will increase rapidly. And you. Will be surprised. At the unexpected benefits. Which will. Come to you. You will be able. From day to day. To make larger combinations. Secure greater advantages. And to go on. Into a more congenial vocation. If you desire to do so.
But doing all this. You must never lose sight. Of your vision. Of what you want. Or your faith. And purpose. To get. What you want.
Let me here give you. Another word. Of caution. In regard. To motives.
Beware. Of the insidious temptation. To seek for power. Over other men.
Nothing is so pleasant. To the unformed. Or partially developed mind. As the exercise. Of power. Or dominion. Over others. The desire to rule for selfish gratification. Has been. The curse. Of the world. For countless ages. Kings and lords. Have drenched the earth with blood. In their battles. To extend. Their dominions. This not to seek more life for all. But to get more power. For themselves.
To-day. The main motive. In the business. And industrial world. Is the same. Men marshal their armies. Of dollars. And lay waste. The lives.
And hearts. Of millions. In the same mad scramble. For power. Over others. Commercial kings. Like political kings. Are inspired. By the lust. For power.
Jesus saw in this desire for mastery. The moving impulse. Of the evil world. He sought to overthrow. Read the twenty-third chapter. Of Matthew. And see how. He pictures the lust of the Pharisees to be called "Master". To sit in the high places. To domineer over others. And to lay burdens. On the backs. Of the less fortunate. And note. How He compares this lust for dominion. With the brotherly seeking for the Common Good. To which He calls. His disciples.
Look out for the temptation. To seek for authority. To become a "master". To be considered. As one. Who is above the common herd. To impress others. By lavish display. And so on.
The mind. That seeks. For mastery over others. Is the competitive mind. And the competitive mind. Is not the creative one. In order. To master your environment. And your destiny. It is not at all necessary. You should rule over your fellow men. And indeed. When you fall. Into the world's struggle. For the high places. You begin. To be. Conquered by fate. And environment. And your getting rich. Becomes a matter. Of chance. And speculation.
Beware. Of. The competitive mind!! No better statement. Of the principle of creative action can be formulated. Than the favorite declaration. Of the late "Golden Rule" Jones of Toledo: "What I want for myself. I want for everybody."