SUCCESS IS NEVER ENDING & FAILURE IS NEVER FINAL – By Robert H Schuller Condensed by : Smt. T.K. Saarada, Faculty, SBLC, Hyderabad

BOOK CONDENSATION

The Book is divided into ten chapters. Each chapter is unique by itself in infusing confidence in the reader to take failure as an opportunity to improve upon and see success. In Chapter 1, it is mentioned that Success or Failure – the choice is yours. The author relates Success system to Possibility Thinking. Possibility Thinking worked for people who have succeeded in all walks of life in society, in business, in education, in industry, in Government and in the military. About success he says, Let’s not knock it, Let’s not block it Let’s UNLOCK it Real success is accepting your God given opportunities and giving your divinely inspired goals 110% of your best effort. Success is discovering and developing your potential as well as seeing new opportunities born all around you every new day. Success is a process that must never stop. Real success will be measured by how charming, graceful, polite and positive you have become through this evolving process Fame and fortune are shallow goals unless they are a means to an end, a way to help others. SUCCESS can mean coping with unusual problems. The writer has beautifully narrated how his daughter who lost a leg in a motor cycle accident success means carrying her precious little baby girl while walking on an artificial leg. Success is being able to look at yourself in the mirror and be proud of the person you have become. Success is building your own self respect by affirming the dignity of your fellow human beings. Most successful people – most beloved and respected

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on earth even though their material acquisitions were modest are great hearts, super souls, precious persons. Good deeds, honestly offered, immediately are transformed into fertile seeds. Think of this: You and I owe our lives to successful people we’ll never be able to thank personally. Consider the freedom we enjoy. Some soldier died for that His success goes on and on. Failures become significant contributions to the process of future success. You can reverse your future and fortune by changing your thinking. The vast majority of high achievers made it because they wanted to. A passionate desire to achieve was a consuming drive in their life. In Chapter 2, the evolution of success if lucidly presented wherein it is stated that success is an evolution, not an overnight achievement, a journey, not a destination, an unending project, never a single, simple accomplishment that stands alone unrelated to the past and disconnected from the future. From conception to accomplishment of a task, Ten levels have been mentioned in the book which are: Level One – Dream actually begins in the Mind of God Level Two - God matches His Dream to the Dreamer Level Three – Dream takes on a life of its own Level Four – God times the evolutionary process Level Five – Surprising support comes from unexpected Sources Level Six - Temporary set backs and difficulties create Frustration Level Seven – Dream comes true Level eight – Dreamer has been shaped by the Dream Level Nine – Dream keeps growing Level Ten - Dream Again

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In Chapter 3, the secret of making dreams come true have been connected to 4 C’s – Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Consistency. The great people grabbed a great idea before it disappeared into oblivion. Start asking questions that reflect creative curiosity. If others can go from nothing to something, why can’t I? “I CAN DO IT TOO” Verbalize these enthusiasm producing words. Dreamers who become doers operate emotionally and rationally with

(a) confidence in their intelligence (b) confidence in their hidden instincts (c) confidence in their silent and secret intuition

Fear not that you might fail. Fear rather that you might never succeed if you never dare to try. Failure means you had courage to explore and experiment to see what would work and what would not. Failure doesn’t mean you do not know how to make decisions; it means you have to make another decision. Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure….It does mean you haven’t succeeded yet. Failure doesn’t mean you are inferior…It does mean you are not perfect. Failure doesn’t mean you should give up. It does mean you must try harder. Failure doesn’t mean you’ll never make it….It does mean it will take a little longer. Maintain constancy – “Stick with your dream even if you get knocked down”. When things get rough, don’t move. People and pressure shift, but the soil remains the same no matter where you go. CHECK – DOUBLE CHECK – RECHECK Constancy – “Bounce back ability” is to be developed. Your enthusiasm may dip for a moment, your excitement level may

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rise and fall, but, you will never become so depressed and discouraged that you quit. “Down with the word Impossible”. Stirring words – “It might be possible, I don’t know how or when, but it might be possible” Real issue is attitude. Impossible – that word is a road block to progress! Impossible prejudices, challenges, problems to be solved. Impossibilities vanish when a man and His God confront a mountain. What appeared impossible yesterday might be possible today. Look at your impossibility as a problem that needs to be solved. If the problem appears too big, you may need to break it up into several small problems. It is always an idea problem. We all need to think bigger. We find that the harder we work, the luckier we get. The author narrates how David who was short in stature but hit Goliath. It is mentioned that the magic word is WORK - A positive attitude towards work works wonders. Work will make dream come true. It gives a sense of accomplishment. If you want to make your ideas work, you have to be in love with the dream. You have to desire it passionately with all your heart. Passion becomes compassion of God and you will succeed. God says “I WILL NOT LET YOU FAIL” In the same chapter, the author refers to Marva Collins – an Educationist who strives to instill self esteem, self determination and pride in each child and kindles in each “Candle of excellence”. She teaches her students to believe that they CAN. “Goodbye to failure and hello to success”. Nothing is impossible if you can program yourself to believe you can. Clearing from the mind old negative thought patterns and laying the underground foundations to support and sustain mental structures

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In Chapter 5, it has been mentioned as “TURNING FAILURE THINKERS INTO SUCCESS THINKERS”. The author suggests 8 positive mental attitudes of Possibility Thinkers which are as follows:

1. Are you ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude towards CHANGE? It requires humility. For humility demands that we be willing to admit that we do not know all the answers and that some of our answers are wrong.

2. Are you ready to choose a Positive Mental Attitude towards Yourself? Within our sub conscious – a super computer – a vast collection of negative programming stunts our budding self confidence – massive reprogramming may need to take place

3. Are you Ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude towards LEADERSHIP?. I will be responsible for my own destiny. Where will I be five years, ten years, 20 years from now. That depends on the decisions I make today and the goals I chose as a leader of my own destiny.

4. Are you ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude towards PROBLEMS? Problems are okay. They are natural – in fact, inevitable if we are growing. No problem is ever “a” problem. One Japanese Corporate Executive has exclaimed that problems are like pain in the body. They are nature’s way of blessing us with a wonderful warning that we need to make changes. Problems are not eternal; they are temporal . Problems are to be viewed as decisions waiting to be made.

5. Are you Ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude

towards PEOPLE? Successful leaders say – Good people that work for me. They believe the best about people and extract the best from people. “People who need people” are the luckiest people in the world. People who believe in people are more often than not abundantly rewarded.

We will attract people who will lead us to success if we treat them, believe in them and listen to them.

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6. Are you ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude towards EMOTIONAL WELL BEING?. Negative emotions can be constructive. When the feelings are at nose dive, DO NOTHING. One constructive thought is worth an hour of flapping around in futility. By maintaining a positive mental attitude towards any emotional well being, I clear my mind for a creative mental state which is receptive to creative ideas.

7. Are you ready to chose a Positive Mental Attitude towards CREATIVE IDEAS?. In positive mental attitude, the person normally asks like “Does anybody need it? They know that the secret of success is to find a need and fill it.

8. Are you ready to chose a Positive mental Attitude towards “DECISION MAKING”? Decision to made among various alternatives and options. A Possibility thinker who

a) Is not afraid of taking risks b) Analyzes all possible risks carefully and bravely

without self deception In Chapter No. 6, it has been given that Packing the Power of Possibility Thinking into your Life will lead to success. For this, it has been suggested to use a Mental Detector and take out all negative thinking. Don’t let inexperience become an excuse for not trying. Challenge every single impossibility idea or negative attitude in the back of your mind Analyze your POSSIBILITIES Recognise your POSITION Scrutinize your VALUES Itemise your Assets & Review them carefully – Hidden assets Knowledge, experience, freedom, friends and faith. We all have dead assets that can be turned into live assets. Capitalize on YOUR EXPERIENCES

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Prioritize your GOALS - a) obligations b) hobbies c) outside commitments d) attractive ideas. Weigh carefully the value of the demands made upon you. Get your priorities straight, and you’ll be geared up for success. In the same chapter, it is mentioned to Re-organise your CALENDAR. Mark some dates on the calendar to give yourself affectionately and wholeheartedly to those whom you have perhaps neglected. Mark your calendar for “think time” – Goals – Maximise my personal and professional success but at the same time maintain health of mind and body harmony in my marriage and family. Control your calendar for your calendar will control you. Visualise your OBJECTIVES . Inner vision. It uses the power of imagination. While you are focusing on your inner vision and your heart’s desire, use a filter. There may be many confusing images in your mind. Start small – Achieve a little success – Establish a solid base – Branch out. Make your goal firm and seal it with an inner intention. Determine that you are going to make it happen Mobilise your RESOURCES This is the time to cut down on sleep and work longer hours. Reserve no energy. Gain a firm foothold. Pour your most passionate prayers into this project. You will need spiritual, financial, intellectual, professional resources available. Energize your THINKING. It is hidden spring of endless energy. It is the force that carries us from mediocrity to excellence. “I can. It’s possible. We’ll do it.” Negative emotions such as doubt, fear, worry, anger, hostility, self pity and jealousy will drain you of your energy. Commitment releases incredible powers. Organise your NETWORK . Harmonize your CONFLICTS

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Say ‘yes’ to what is right and say ‘no’ to what is wrong. Every time you do anything noteworthy somebody will find fault. People who belittle people will be little people and accomplish little. The demanding person runs into resistence. The defeated person runs into indifference The dedicated person runs into help Sow a prayer – reap an idea Sow an idea – reap an action Sow an action – reap a habit Sow a habit – reap a reputation Sow a reputation – reap a destiny Verbalize your EXPECTATIONS “I am I can I will” God picks often the unknown, the unheralded, to do the impossible. A peasant girl in Nazareth to bear Jesus in her womb. A peasant girl from Yugoslavia to become Mother Teresa. Success carries with it a wonderfully heavy responsibility to use the new power as a lever to shift the world a little closer to God – a new vision, a new dream. Use your success on a small scale to branch out carefully – not too vast, not too slow. The author cites the success story of Wal Mart started by Sam Walton lives modestly. He encourages many ideas from the bottom up. About Imagination – it is IMAGE OF GOD IN US. The various people who use imagination have been given as a salesman who gives customer satisfaction, surgeon who does a smooth operation. Imagination is rekindled and renewed when I relate to people who really respect me and build me up.

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FAILURE IS NEVER FINAL Those who fail – They haven’t tried – don’t want to run the risk of being disappointed. I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail, than attempt to do nothing and succeed. “Make your opening terrific. Make your ending glorious” How will I make my exit? When you go out from Success to Failure, Failure to Success, from health to sickness, from job to retirement – some people go out with joy. These people turn their exits into entrances. Healing may and must be found in two stages – Stage One - Damage Control. Stage Two – Renewal and Recovery Damage Control – Learn lessons from the veterans who have had a lot of experience enduring, tolerating, absorbing pain.

1. Keep a sense of humour 2. Accept and receive the comfort offered – Strokes offered 3. Draw close from your closest circle of family and friends. 4. Work hard

Loving, caring, positive strokes can do wonders to give you the strength to make your exit graciously and the courage to make a new grand entrance. Make your Entrance Glorious. When you are suddenly OUT, you will need some FOLKS to stand by you. Every end is a new beginning. Failure is only a transition phase in the process of success. Renewal and recovery: To recover you must plan a comeback - find a new place to give yourself away. Exclaim for yourself “Outstanding, Exceptional, Incredible, Fantastic, Beautifully possible, Wow & Passion”. Creative people have the ability to keep generating “wow” ideas. Think better. How can we improve on our best performance? Someone will break our records. Let that someone be us. Whatever we did right yesterday, tomorrow we’ll do it better.

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Think Brighter. “Look at it this way” Think “Build” Think “Beauty”. Does the idea have “Sparkle”. Wow thinkers are NOW thinkers. Begin today to get back in. Your greatest enemy is Procrastination. Your biggest obstacle is inertia. Dangerous temptation in delaying, postponing can wipe out an opportunity. Wanted: Persons with high tolerance for pressure and pain Reward: Excitement, pride of achievement, fulfillment at life’s end. Starting is half the battle won. EVERY END IS A NEW BEGINNING. What we may feel like an end, may be just the darkness before the dawning of a new dream, a new challenge, a new opportunity, a new tomorrow. It may not be easy to start over again. It may be single most difficult time in your life. But NEVER think that your efforts have been in vain. The surest cure for loneliness is to seek out others who are lonelier than you. Look at what you have left – Freedom to move in many directions – Freedom to chose – to be better/bitter – Freedom to make a break through for yourself. You can break away from self imposed limits when you think BIGGER. Very beautifully, it was depicted that a sick person before death wished a calendar for a new year – a big one with room to write lots of things in – That’s HOPE. There is no such thing as an end in the road, there are always bends in the road. Don’t worry about tomorrow, concentrate on today, for tomorrow is today. SAY FAREWELL TO FAILURE & SAY HELLO TO SUCCESS.

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It is possible by FAITH. Never surrender the leadership of your life to fear. Fear thinking to be replaced by faith thinking. Faith is the force that sets you free to succeed. “Never Give up till God calls you”. Salvation of God is incredible.

S – Start small T – Think Possibilities R – Reach a little further I – Invest wisely V – Visualise success E – Expand carefully

MUKESH K. AJMERA -09415013207

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