Chapter 24 Twenty-fourth letter: Only by not being outdone will you win

Motto: The size of our thoughts determines the size of our achievements. Attitude is our best friend and our worst enemy. The road to success is paved with gold, yet it's a one-way street. (Optimism is a belief that life will be, in the long run, more good that bad, that even when bad things happen, the good will eventually outbalance them.) July19, 1897 Dear John: It is wonderful to be immersed in a warm, genuine affection.Today, the students at the University of Chicago let me experience this wonderful feeling.Let's see it as a reward for my establishment of this institution, but it did surprise me.

Sincerely speaking, before I decided to invest in the establishment of this university, I never expected to be treated like a saint there. My original intention was just to do something to pass on the best of our culture to the younger generation, for our youth To shape a better future and to do something for the youth who will shape us in the future.Now it seems that my goal has been achieved, and this is the wisest investment of my life. The young people at the University of Chicago are very lovely, they are full of good vision for the future, and they all have the motivation to achieve a career.A few boys with childish faces among them ran to me and said that I was their role model and sincerely hoped that I could give them some advice.I accept their request, and my advice to future Rockefellers:

Success is not measured by a person's height, weight, education or family background, but by the "size" of his mind.The size of our thoughts determines the size of our achievements.The most important of these is that we must value ourselves, overcome the greatest weakness of human beings - self-deprecation, and never sell ourselves cheaply.You are greater than you think, so expand your minds to what you really are and never underestimate yourself. At this moment, the applause suddenly sounded, and I was obviously completely captured by it, so that I was so proud that I couldn't control my tongue, so I continued:

For thousands of years, many philosophers have advised us: to know yourself.However, most people interpret it as merely recognizing the negative side of themselves.Most self-assessments include too many flaws, mistakes, and incompetences.It's good to recognize your own shortcomings and use them to improve.However, if we only recognize the negative side of ourselves, we will be confused and make ourselves worthless. For those who long for others to respect themselves, the reality is cruel, because others think of him as he thinks of himself.We're all going to get that "what do we think we are" kind of treatment.Those who think they are inferior to others, no matter what their actual abilities are, will definitely be inferior to others. This is because thinking itself can regulate and control various actions.

If a person feels that he is inferior to others, he will show various actions that are "true" inferior to others; and this feeling cannot be concealed or concealed.Those who think they are "not very important" will really become "not very important". On the other hand, those who believe they are "capable of taking on great responsibilities" actually become a "very important" person.Therefore, if you want to be an important person, you must first admit to yourself that "I am really important", and if you really feel this way, others will follow suit.

Everyone cannot escape such a principle of reasoning: how you think will determine how you act, and how you act will determine how others think of you.Like your own success plan, gaining the respect of others is actually very simple.In order to be respected by others, you must first feel that you are worthy of respect, and the more you respect yourself, the more others will respect you. Please think about it: do you respect those who roam the shabby streets?of course not.Why?Because those rascals don't value themselves at all, they just let their feelings of inferiority corrode their hearts and let them down.

A person's self-concept is the core of his personality, what kind of person you think you are, you will really become what kind of person. Every man, no matter where he lives, whether he is unknown or famous, whether he is civilized or barbaric, whether he is young or old, has a strong desire to be important.Please think carefully about everyone around you—your neighbors, yourself, your teachers, your classmates, your friends, who doesn't have a strong need to be very important?There are all of them, and this need is one of the strongest and most urgent goals of human beings. But why do many people turn this achievable goal into an unrealizable dream forever?In my opinion it's attitude.Attitude is the materialization of each of us thought and spiritual factors, which determine our choices and actions.In this sense, attitude is our best friend and our worst enemy.

I admit, we can't control the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails - choose our attitude.Once you choose an attitude of valuing yourself, those cowardly thoughts of "I'm useless, I'm nobody, I'm old, I'm worthless", etc. will be It will disappear and be replaced by a revival of the heart, a positive change in the way you think and act, and a boost in confidence to face everything with an "I can! And I will!" mentality. lads!If any of you have lied to yourself, please stop, because those who don't feel important are ordinary people who give up on themselves.Don't belittle yourself at any time, and you must first select your various assets-advantages.Ask yourself: "What are my strengths?" When analyzing your strengths, you can't be too polite.

You have to focus on your strengths and tell yourself that I am better than I thought.Have a vision, see the future development, not just look at the current situation, and have great expectations for yourself.Always keep this question in mind: "Would the important person do this?" This will gradually make you a more successful important person. Children, the road to success is paved with gold, yet it's a one-way street.At this moment, we need an optimistic attitude.Optimism is often called "hope" by philosophers.First let me tell you that this is a misinterpretation of optimism!The so-called optimism is a kind of belief, that is, to believe that life will be more happy than suffering after all, and that even if unfavorable things happen repeatedly, good things will eventually prevail.

John, you know what?In my impromptu performance in just ten minutes, I got eight applause.It is a pity that too much applause interfered with my thinking. I had an important point that the applause drove away, that is, improving thinking ability will help them improve the level of various actions and make them more effective.But I'm still very happy that my tongue has such a charm. love your father