15 Laws Summarized

15 Laws Summarized

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1. Definite Purposea. Definite Plans: By this term is meant that one must proceed, toward the attainment of one’s Definite Purpose, with plans which are as definite and as clearly defined and fixed in one’s mind as is the purpose itself. Merely deciding upon a definite purpose and then waiting for it to materialize through outside effort is not enough. In other words, one must acquire the habit of doing everything one does with the aid of plans that are clearly defined. Nothing must be left to “luck” or “chance.” the place to begin developing this habit is in connection with the small details of one’s daily work.

b. Organized Effort: As has already been explained else- where in this course, the term organized effort means that one must develop the strategic ability to direct one’s efforts in such a manner as to take advantage of the Law of Increasing returns. This calls for cooperative ability of the highest order.

c. Proficiency in chosen vocation: By this term is meant that one’s definite purpose in life must be in harmony with one’s training and education. If the definite purpose is out of proportion to one’s ability, then it is obvious that greater ability must be developed before one can hope to attain the object of that purpose.

2. Self-Confidencea. Accurate self-analysis: By this term is meant that one must take accurate inventory of one’s ability. It means, also, that accurate inventory must be taken of temperament, native ability or natural inclination. In brief, it means that a man must “know his own goods” before he can sell them to best advantage.

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b. Thoroughness: Briefly, this term means that one must form the habit of finishing all that one begins

c. Knowledge of self: one must know one’s own faults and virtues in order to guard against the one while developing the other. More specifically, however, these terms mean that one must understand one’s inherent racial tendencies - those tendencies that are acquired through both physical and social heredity.

d. Courage: the meaning of this term is obvious. One must possess the spirit of fearlessness to face opposition of every nature whatso-ever, and sufficient combativeness to master the ordinary obstacles with which one is apt to meet in the struggle for the attainment of any definite purpose.

3. Initiative and Leadershipa. Tactfulness: Willingness to “give and take.” Dealing with others in a manner that harmonizes with their nature. Careful avoidance of words and deeds that antagonize others.

b. Sound Judgment: Judgment, which is generally known as “horse sense.” Judgment that is based upon the problem at hand and not upon “cut and dried” rules of procedure. Judgment that grows out of knowledge of all the facts in connection with the problem at hand. Judgment that is deliberate and free from bias or prejudice.

c. Self Discipline: It has been truthfully said that no man can direct others efficiently until he has learned to direct himself. By this term is meant that one must be free from greed and selfishness and avarice and egotism.

d. Knowledge of Human Nature: Ability to accurately analyze others and the courage to see in them that which is there instead of that which one would wish to see. Many a person goes down to defeat through misplaced confidence in others for no other reason than that of seeing in them those qualities that are not there. Every man’s own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of

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his eyes, the tone of his voice, the posture of his body, the style of his clothes and the nature of his deeds! There is no established rule for interpreting human nature through these outward appearances. Each person must create his own method.

e. Positive Attitude: By this term is meant that pessimism and doubt and fear and cynicism and procrastination must be eliminated by the development of their opposites.

f. Firmness of Decision: Decision that is free from vacillation; that is positive; that admits of but one interpretation as to its meaning.

4. Imaginationa. Optimism: Freedom from cynicism and doubt. Expectation that investigation will always disclose the best and not the worst. Cheerful-ness. The habit of looking for the positive side of all conditions.

b. Analysis and synthesis: the habit of studying a problem from all conceivable angles. The practice of uncovering the facts and of studying their relation to one another.

c. Sense of proportions: the habit of comparing facts and coordinating them into a definite plan in a harmonious, well balanced manner.

d. Observation: the habit of ascertaining the nature of all facts and conditions connected with or affecting in any way one’s plans.

e. Vision: the ability to arrange old ideas or concepts in a definite plan or a new combination, and to reason both inductively or deductively, thereby determining in advance the possible effect of a given cause.

f. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: By the term Deductive reason-ing is meant the process of reasoning from the known to the unknown; the process of arriving at all of the facts of a given problem by studying the known facts of that problem. Inductive reasoning is reasoning that is based upon hypotheses or facts that are assumed to exist.

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5. Actiona. Sound judgment: (see previous explanation).

b. Determination: the will to exhaust all known ways and means of attaining the object of one’s desires; “stick-to-it-iveness.”

c. Willingness to work hard: Meaning of this term is obvious. Freedom from the desire for “something for nothing.”

d. Unselfish ambition: Ambition that depends, for its realization, upon merit. Ambition that is not based upon willingness or desire to profit at another’s expense.

6. Enthusiasma. Balance: Mental equilibrium. Keeping within the bounds of reason and observing natural law and the rights of others.

b. Sound judgment: (see previous explanation).

c. Health: Freedom from “annoying symptoms” which have no existence except in the imagination, and, from organic weaknesses.

7. Self-Controla. Poise: Freedom from nervousness and fear.

b. Adaptation to environment: Ability to cooperate with others without causing friction or antagonism.

c. Willpower: Determination to transform one’s desires into a certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man.

d. Patience: Mastery of worry and anxiety and nervousness.

e. Coordination of effort: orderliness of procedure, through the aid of well-perfected plans.

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8. Doing More Than Paid For a. Willingness to serve: unselfish love for service in behalf of others, based upon knowledge of Law of Compensation.

b. Generosity: Willingness to help others without expectation of direct monetary compensation; with full understanding that such help develops a positive character in the one rendering it and is, therefore, adequate reward within itself.

c. Knowledge of Cause and Effect: this term is self-explanatory. It means the ability to recognize the fact that there is a cause for every effect which, in turn, leads to the discovery of the fact that those who form the habit of doing more than they are paid to do will eventually be paid for more than they do.

9. Attractive Personalitya. Neatness in personal appearance: the selection of clothes that are appropriate for one’s calling and which harmonize with one’s personal-ity and physical appearance.

b. Health: (see previous explanation).

c. Fluency of speech: the ability to speak correctly, with a spirit of earnestness that carries conviction.

d. Love for humanity: Willingness to share with others their joys and sorrows; the ability to show and to feel a keen interest in the business, personal or social problems of others.

e. Tactfulness: (see previous explanation).

10. Accurate Thoughta. Observance of law and evidence: Ability to distinguish between facts and mere hearsay information.

b. Analysis and synthesis: Ability to organize, classify, and coordinate facts; the ability to determine the constituent factors of any problems;

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the ability to reason inductively and deductively; the ability to recognize effects by their causes, and causes by their effects.

c. Willingness to recognize facts: Freedom from bias and prejudice; the desire for truth regardless of the source from which it may come or the effect of its discovery.

d. Open-mindedness: A mind that is never closed to logic or truth; that is capable of accepting as a fact a reasonable hypothesis; a mind that withholds judgment until there is a reasonable foundation upon which to build judgment.

e. Education – general and specialized: the acquired knowledge on general subjects to give one a reasonably comprehensive understand-ing of the vital forces of life, such as the subjects of biology, psychol-ogy, physiology, physics, botany, astronomy, philosophy and world history, all of which have a tendency to develop the mind and provide a background for specialized education. The term “special-ized education” has reference to training which fits one for some specific vocation or profession. A General education is of far greater importance as an essential factor in accurate thinking than is a specialized education. To be an accurate thinker one must be what is called “well read.”

11. Concentrationa. Poise: (see previous explanation).

b. Persistence: the willpower to stick to a thing until it has been mastered and made to harmonize with one’s plans; the habit of finishing all one begins.

c. Meditation: the habit of silently comparing past experiences; the habit of relaxing the body and allowing the mind to rest in silent repose, thus permitting the subconscious mind to pass its plans and the result of its deductions over to the conscious mind in the form of what is called a “hunch.”

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d. Prayer (or Affirmation): A demand for Divine guidance, based upon either faith, or, knowledge of the power of creative thought as described in Lesson ten.

12. Tolerancea. Open-mindedness: (see previous explanation).

b. Forbearance: Patience with those whose viewpoints do not harmo-nize with one’s own.

c. Sense of justice: this term is self-explanatory.

d. Sympathy: this term is self-explanatory.

e. Thirst for truth: the desire for truth regardless of the form in which it may be found or the effect it may have upon one’s own personal interests or viewpoints.

13. Failurea. Retrospective analysis: the habit of studying and comparing past experiences after the expiration of a long period of time.

b. Introspective analysis: the habit of studying one’s own changing and varying moods with the object of ascertaining the psychological cause of these changes and variations.

c. Comparison of men and events: the habit of studying cause and effect as disclosed by the acts and experiences of others.

d. Trained memory: Memory that preserves every fragment of fact of an evidential nature that may enable one to learn from past experiences.

e. Knowledge of evolutionary process: understanding of the law of growth through the aid of which strength and power grow out of resistance.

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f. Knowledge of cause and effect: this term is self-explanatory. The habit of arriving at causes by analyzing their effects, and vice versa.

14. Cooperationa. Willingness to do team work: the meaning of this term is obvious. There can be no cooperation between persons without teamwork.

b. Knowledge of natural laws: the ability to discern the fact that all animal and vegetable growth is the result of cooperation between the laws of nature, and the intelligence to learn from this fact that persons may profit individually by cooperative effort.

c. Adaptation to environment: (see previous explanation).

d. Knowledge of economics: this term is self-explanatory. When one understands economic philosophy, it becomes evident that coopera-tive effort brings advantages to all who participate in it.

15. The Golden Rulea. Honesty: this term is self-explanatory.

b. Love for humanity: (see previous explanation).

c. Willingness to forgive: Freedom from the spirit of vengeance.

d. Knowledge of Natural Laws (see previous explanation).

e. Recognition of interdependency of men: By this term is meant that the existing system of social integration renders all men dependent upon one another; that absolute independence is not only impossible of realization, but inconsistent with the best interests of mankind. From this fact, the conclusion may be readily drawn that it is expedient to apply the Golden rule in all of our transactions with our fellowmen. Recognition of the inter- dependency of men leads to recognition of the soundness of the Golden rule and of the advantages accruing to all who make it the basis of their relationships with others.