In 1974 I had just started my coaching career and had one year under my belt. I attended a Coaching clinic in Wildwood, New Jersey. I went to hear Lou Holtz speak on the Split Back Veer and Barry Switzer to speak on the Wishbone. But during Coach Holtz’s presentation he recommended 2 books that made a much greater influence on my life than his Split Back Veer information. The books were: The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino and The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. After the clinic I went out and bought both books and absorbed them like a sponge. They were eye openers and life changing. No one had ever taught me about goals and how to achieve them. WOW! These books led me to three other books that formed the “Five Classics†that should be made mandatory reading for every high school senior. The other three classics were: Psycho-cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Each of those books had a strong positive influence on me both professionally and personally.
Psych-cybernetics taught me the power of self-image – “to be it, you must see itâ€. You’ll become the person you see yourself becoming.
The Power of Positive Thinking was about thinking positive thoughts to achieve positive results. You must start with a positive attitude – it’s the foundation.
Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich was a great help in organizing and directing my focus to goal achieving.
The Magic of Thinking Big basically taught me to aim for the stars. It gave the attitude that I’d rather shoot for greatness and fail than to aim for mediocrity and succeed.
But my favorite classic was Og Mandino’s The Greatest Salesman in the World. What a powerful book! It’s written in the form of a short story or parable that traces the life of a salesman in the ancient Mid-East. He has a wonderful mentor who teaches him lessons and gives him the gift of Ten Scrolls. Each scroll is a valuable “life lessonâ€.
The Secrets of the Scrolls:
1. Today begins a new life. I will form good habits and become their slaves.
2. I will greet this day with love in my heart.
3. I will persist until I succeed.
4. I am nature’s greatest miracle.
5. I will live this day as though it were my last.
6. Today I will master my emotions.
7. I will laugh at the world.
8. Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
9. I will act now.
10. I will pray for guidance.
Though this is just a story, the messages that you receive from the book are inspiring. Fiction can be used to teach and inspire.
This book is a quick read but has lasting effects. You can read it in an hour but study it for years. You don’t have to be a professional sales person to benefit from this book; its lessons are for everyone. But everyone is a “salesman†whether you are selling yourself or an idea.
I recommend this book The Greatest Salesman in the World to anyone and everyone, young or old, you’ll discover something that will add to your life. I also strongly recommend the other four classics as well. When my own four daughters were growing up, I wanted to pass these books onto them, but they balked. So every time we went on a trip I played the tapes in the car so they had to listen – they were trapped! They’ve all gone on to have wonderful lives, I wonder if Og had a little something to do with it.