Seeds of Greatness

1. Self-love is the foundation for loving others and achieving success.

The First Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that we must feel love inside ourselves before we can give it to others.

Internal value. Before extending love to others, one must cultivate a deep, internal sense of self-worth. This internal feeling of value is the bedrock upon which all meaningful relationships and achievements are built. Without it, interactions become transactional, driven by need or dependency rather than genuine sharing.

Unconditional acceptance. Love, in its purest form, is unconditional acceptance. It doesn't preach, demand, compare, or measure. It simply exists, offering a safe space for growth and vulnerability. This kind of love begins with oneself, accepting imperfections and celebrating strengths.

Building self-esteem. Self-esteem is not narcissistic self-gratification but a deep appreciation for one's own value as a human being. It's recognizing that, despite imperfections, one is deserving of excellence according to their own spiritual standards. This self-acceptance is the key to healthy self-esteem and the ability to love others authentically.

2. The mind cannot differentiate between real and vividly imagined experiences.

The Second Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that our minds can’t tell the difference between real experience and one that is vividly and repeatedly imagined.

Imagination's power. The mind reacts to vividly imagined scenarios as if they were real, influencing behavior and outcomes. This principle is fundamental to understanding human behavior, as people act in accordance with their perception of reality, not reality itself.

"Robot" self-image. Each person has a "self-image robot" (RUMe2) that dictates their capabilities. This robot is programmed by experiences, beliefs, and attitudes, and it influences whether one believes they can achieve something.

Practical applications:

• Athletes use mental rehearsal to improve performance.
• POWs survived captivity by vividly imagining positive experiences.
• Individuals can script their own success by visualizing and verbalizing desired outcomes.

3. Rewards in life are directly proportional to the quality and quantity of contribution.

The Third Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that our rewards in life will depend on the quality and amount of the contribution we make.

Cause and effect. The universe operates on the principle of cause and effect, where actions have consequences. This applies to individuals and nations alike. Success is not about what you get, but what you continue to do with what you've got.

Responsibility redefined. A nation's condition is reflected in the habits of its youth, which are a direct result of how adults handle responsibility. The greatest gifts parents can give their children are roots of responsibility and wings of independence.

Combating immediate gratification. The "irresponsible obsession with immediate sensual gratification" is a major cause of social problems. Emotional maturity requires the ability to live with uncertainty and delay immediate gratification in favor of long-range goals.

4. Wisdom is the application of honest knowledge, guiding ethical decisions.

In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions.

Honesty as a foundation. There can be no real success without honesty. Sooner or later, any facade will crumble, revealing the fraud beneath. Honesty is the cornerstone of respect and reputation, forged over time and unyielding to scrutiny.

The Integrity Triangle:

• Is this true?
• Is this what I believe I should do?
• Is what I say consistent with what I do?

Knowledge as power. Knowledge controls access to opportunity and advancement. It is a responsibility for the integrity of what we are. We must not let others run the world for us while we live out of a ragbag of worn-out information from old beliefs.

5. Clearly defined goals are essential for purposeful living and achievement.

The Fifth Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that the reason so many individuals fail to achieve their goals in life is that they never really set them in the first place.

Goal-seeking by design. The human being is inherently goal-seeking. The mind functions like a homing system, constantly monitoring feedback and adjusting course to reach a target. Without a clearly defined target, the system wanders aimlessly.

The Wheel of Fortune:

• Physical
• Family
• Financial
• Professional
• Community Support
• Mental
• Social
• Spiritual

Mining your "Goal Mind." To convert your "goal mind" into a "gold mine," construct specific self-imaging statements for each major goal. These statements, repeated frequently, introduce visual, emotional, and verbal suggestions to your creative imagination at the subconscious level.

6. Empathy and genuine care are the cornerstones of effective communication.

The Sixth Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that a touch is worth a thousand words.

Walking in another's moccasins. Empathy is "feeling with" another person, understanding their point of view as if you were them. It's the wisdom to walk in another's moccasins before criticizing or passing judgment.

Love as a verb. Love is not a static noun but an active verb, demonstrating value for and looking for the good in another person. It involves listening, overlooking flaws, voicing approval, and making a constant effort to show interest.

The power of touch. Touch is the magic wand of intimacy. It transmits value and care more effectively than words. Love is keeping in touch, both physically and emotionally.

7. Optimism, fueled by faith, is a powerful force for overcoming adversity.

The Seventh Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that life is a self-fulfilling prophecy; you won't necessarily get what you want in life, but in the long run you will usually get what you expect.

Faith in action. Faith is the key to unlocking success, but it requires action. Miracles are not passive occurrences but the result of persistent effort and unwavering belief.

The placebo effect. The brain releases chemicals to substantiate belief, demonstrating the power of positive expectation. This highlights the importance of cultivating optimism and focusing on desired outcomes.

Harnessing endorphins. Thoughts can trigger the release of natural pain relievers and mood boosters in the brain. By cultivating positive thoughts and beliefs, one can achieve a "natural high" and enhance their overall well-being.

8. Adaptability is key to thriving amidst life's inevitable changes and challenges.

The Eighth Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that the good old days are here and now!

Embracing change. Instead of lamenting the past or fearing the future, embrace the present moment. Recognize that challenges are normal and that every generation faces its own set of difficulties.

Turning stumbling blocks into stepping-stones. View crises as opportunities and obstacles as stepping-stones to success. Develop mental toughness and resilience by learning from adversity and adapting to new circumstances.

Selye's rules for handling stress:

• Find your own purpose in life, that fits your own personal stress level.
• Control your emotional level by recognizing situations as being either life-threatening or non-life-threatening.
• Collect the goodwill and appreciation of others.

9. Perseverance, driven by the will to win, is essential for achieving goals.

The Ninth Best-Kept Secret of Total Success is that winners work at doing things the majority of the population are not willing to do.

The will to win. Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything. It is the faith in action that makes the difference. Success requires a willingness to do what others are not willing to do.

Overcoming obstacles. Show me someone who has succeeded in the face of incredible odds, and I will show you a person who knows that perseverance makes the difference.

Ray Kroc's wisdom:

• "As long as you’re green, you're growing; as soon as you're ripe, you start to rot."
• "Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

10. Perspective provides balance, celebrating progress over perfection.

You can be a total winner, even if you’re a beginner, If you think you can, you can — if you think you can, you can.

Focus on attitude. It’s not your talent, or the gifted birth, It’s not your bank book that determines worth; And it isn’t in the colour of your skin, It’s your attitude that lets you win!

Never give up. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won before, It makes no difference what the half-time score; It’s never over ’til the final gun, So keep on trying and you'll find you’ve won.

Believe and achieve. Just grab your dream and then believe it, Go out and work, and you'll achieve it; If you think you can, you can — if you think you can, you can.

Last updated: March 31, 2025