Nothing Succeeds Like Success by Christian D. Larson

THIS is a statement with which we are all familiar; and we all know it to be true; but do we know why it is true?

When we begin to think of this statement, really think, we find it to be pregnant with facts and possibilities far beyond anything the majority ever imagined; and when we understand these facts and possibilities we shall find the real secret to all success.

The understanding of these things, however, cannot be gained until we study carefully the psychology of success itself, as well as the psychology of the above mentioned statement. And we realize beforehand that we shall, through such a study, find facts that will positively prove invaluable.

When we think of success, we usually think of the accumulation of wealth, but this can never be more than a small fragment of success, because success in reality signifies any form of attainment or achievement that is truly worthwhile. And it is very important that we realize this larger meaning of success before we attempt to comprehend the psychology of success.

The fact is this, that anyone who is advancing in their work, is successful to that degree, whether their recompense be large or small; and no one can be spoken of as successful unless steady advancement is clearly evident. It is only the mind that is moving forward, or rising in the scale, that can succeed, because success invariably implies the adding of more and more to what we already possess, whether those possessions be tangible possessions, achievements and attainments or riches of mind and soul.

When we understand the full meaning of success, we shall find that the reason why nothing succeeds like success is due to the fact that the psychological process of success contains, within itself, the real power for success; and when that power has actually been placed in action, it tends invariably to produce greater and greater success.

This is something we shall understand perfectly before we are through with this important subject, and we shall find it interesting to the extreme.

When we examine any movement in life that is steadily advancing, or examine a successful enterprise, or some great achievement in the process of development—when we examine these things, we find two factors that are chiefly concerned. One of these is the human mind, or group of minds, directly responsible for what is being accomplished; and the other is the effect produced by this particular accomplishment, upon other minds, near or far, interested or unconcerned.

In other words, when you examine success, you will first meet the mind that is promoting that particular success; and it will be very interesting to note how success affects that mind, and how the process of success is affected in return. In fact, it is right in this very place that we shall discover why nothing succeeds like success. And when we make this discovery, then the real secret to success will be a secret to us no more.

We know that whenever an individual begins to succeed, certain things begin to transpire in his or her mind—certain things that have not transpired in that mind before; that is, not in the same degree; and this is particularly significant.

In the first place, that individual begins to appreciate themselves; and the moment real self-appreciation enters any mind, the power to become and achieve actually doubles in that mind. Thus we realize how success, in this regard, gives the mind the power to succeed more.

In like manner, there is increase of self-confidence, ambition, aspiration, and the desire to attain and achieve on a larger scale. All these things arise more and more in the mind that has begun to succeed; and they all are positive forces for still greater success.

Then we discover that the coming of success tends to produce greater harmony of action among all the forces and faculties of the mind; and this is extremely important, because the mind that can work in a state of active harmony has from three to ten times the capacity of the mind that is unstable, confused or chaotic.

This fact illustrates very clearly how success, when once begun, actually creates within itself the power to produce greater success; and that is one reason why nothing succeeds like success.

More important than any of the foregoing is this: that whenever the individual begins to succeed, then their mind begins to act more successfully. When you find that you are a success, you begin to infuse your mind with the idea of success—with the feeling, the consciousness and the spirit of success. And accordingly, your mind will proceed to work more successfully, thereby giving you the power to succeed more largely than before.

This very thing we all can appreciate perfectly; and we fully understand how the success of the individual must increase in the tangible world as the mind is trained to act more successfully in the mental world. Like causes produce like effects. A mind that is a success in itself—that operates successfully as a mind—will naturally produce success when called upon to act in the practical world; and this practical success will naturally increase with the increase of successful action in the mind itself. These are all self-evident facts—facts that illustrate most forcefully the importance of the subject under consideration.

Thousands of young men and women go out into the world expecting to succeed, not having given a single thought to the great principle, that the mind must be a success before the man can be a success. And therefore the majority do not realize their cherished ambitions nor their lofty dreams.

We must have efficiency in the mind before we can have it in the shop. The workmen of the mind must be trained in efficiency and skill, and inspired with the spirit of success, before the man himself can produce success. But paradoxical as it may seem, success itself, when once begun, invariably creates, in the mind, the power to produce still greater success.

A most important fact is this, that when you begin to succeed you begin to feel, more and more, that you can succeed; that is, you begin to think that you can; and we are beginning to understand the real reason why he can who thinks he can.

When you begin to think that you can, then you will find that all your faculties and talents begin to act, with greater ability and power, upon the one thing you are trying to accomplish, and results will increase remarkably in consequence.

We can readily note the difference between the man or woman who thinks that he or she can, and the one who doubts their own ability. The latter will not put forward a great deal of energy; in fact, they will express but a small fraction of their ability and power; but success does not come in that way. The former, however, will turn on more and more of the current; he or she will apply themselves more and more effectively; they will become thoroughly enthused, and will express their very best under every circumstance.

We may state the fact in this fashion: He who thinks he can, will arouse within him the power that can. And whenever we begin to succeed, we will begin to think and know that we can. This will lead to greater and greater success; and here we find another reason why nothing succeeds like success.

Every individual mind can reach the goal in view, and accomplish what is desired, if all the power of that mind is concentrated upon the one thing that is to be done. In other words, if all the talents and energies of any mind are directed upon the one object in view, that object simply cannot fail of realization, no matter how difficult it may seem to be, for the fact is, that there is enough power in any mind to realize any human desire, provided the all of that mind is correctly applied. And he who really thinks that he can will apply more and more of that all.

The psychology of the statement, "He can who thinks he can," is very simple, but in the application of the principle, the individual must be absolutely certain that he or she does think they can.

To illustrate, you may have a great achievement in mind, and you may have come to the conclusion that you positively can see it through successfully; but here is a fine point. You may think that you can; but if the undertaking is very difficult, one that will require much talent and time, you may, the more you consider the magnitude of the project, find all sorts of little doubts coming up in your thoughts; and these may be followed by a score of "if's" and "but's"; so that really, after all, you are not exactly thinking that you can. You are simply on the outskirts of the "can," and not as yet in the very spirit of the real I Can.

Here we must remember that mere hope or a general belief is not sufficient; nor will it avail to pretend that you can, or try to "bluff" your mind into the idea that you really do think you can. The fact is, that when you actually think that you can, and think so in the very spirit of that conviction, there will be no doubts; absolutely none; and where there are no doubts, there are no impossibilities.

When we analyze this state of the mind thoroughly, we shall find that every force, every element and every atom of the mind becomes imbued with the spirit of "I can" whenever you really think that you can. The whole mind, and the real life and essence of the whole mind, becomes aroused with the same positive conviction; and this means that the whole mind and everything in the mind will begin to concentrate positively upon the object in view, and proceed to work with full force for the one thing you wish to accomplish

Here, then, we find the very thing we all have been looking for; that is, the secret of causing the whole of the mind to work with full force for the object we have in view; for we all agree that when all of the mind—every force, faculty, element and power in the mind—when all these work together upon any project, then genuine success will positively follow.

This may seem to be a farfetched statement; but we know that every mind contains undreamed of possibilities and latent forces beyond all limitation. Then we have the vast subconscious field; so that every mind has sufficient upon which to draw for the realization of any goal or ambition conceivable. And there is nothing that creates a greater draw upon the marvelous powers of the mind, than the deep interior feeling that you can.

Another fact of vital importance in the same connection is this, that the human mind has the power to reproduce itself again and again on a larger scale; that is, your own mind has the power to make itself twice as large, twice as powerful and twice as brilliant as it is now; and then rebuild itself a second time on a larger scale, a third time, a fourth time, and any number of times for an indefinite period. Every individual faculty or talent also has the same power; and, than this fact, there is possibly nothing more stupendous in the entire psychology world.

When we appreciate this fact, we shall never hesitate when facing difficult or gigantic undertakings; and under no circumstance will we ever say, "It cannot be done"; for every individual mind has the power within itself to make itself large enough and great enough to achieve anything.

Illustrating this fact, you may have an exceptional ambition, an ambition that refuses to be "downed"; but your common sense informs you that your mind will have to be twice as large, twice as able, twice as powerful as it is now before that ambition could be realized. Should you give up? The average person would; but here we come face to face with this stupendous fact— your own mind can reproduce itself on a larger scale, and become twice as powerful and twice as able. Then should you give up your cherished ambition? Positively not. On the contrary, you would proceed to rebuild your mind again and again until it became large enough to make that ambition come true.
There are thousands of promising men and women who declare, "I would like to do this"; "I have that particular ambition; but I have not the talent; I am not able enough to do what I want to do." But what of it? The mind can grow. You can become able enough. That which is small today can become great and powerful tomorrow. The force that can produce this increase in your own mind, or in any special faculty or talent, does exist now in your own mind. And the first step necessary to cause this great force to proceed with its wonderful work, is to awaken within yourself the deep interior feeling that you can.