The Strangest Secret: Unlocking the Key to Success

In an interview years ago, the late Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Albert Schweitzer was asked, “Doctor, what’s wrong with men today?” After a thoughtful pause, he replied, “Men simply don’t think.”

That statement holds more truth than most people realize.

We live in a golden age—an era that humankind has dreamed of and worked toward for thousands of years. Yet, now that it’s here, many take it for granted. We have more opportunities than ever before, but despite this, most people never achieve the success they aspire to.

Let’s explore a striking statistic. Picture 100 men at age 25—each one brimming with ambition, hope, and a desire to make something of their lives. Ask any of them if they want to be successful, and every single one will say yes. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voice, and feel it in the way they carry themselves. To them, life feels like an open road—an exciting adventure waiting to unfold.

But by the time they reach 65, here’s what happens:

• One will be rich.
• Four will be financially independent.
• Five will still be working.
• Fifty-four will be broke.

That means only 5% truly succeed.

So what happens? Why do so many fail? Why does the spark of ambition fade? What causes the gap between their dreams at 25 and their reality at 65?

The answer lies in understanding the true definition of success.

What Is Success?

The best definition of success I’ve ever found is this:

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.

If a person is working toward a predetermined goal—knows exactly where they are headed—that person is successful. If they are not doing that, then they are a failure.

Most people conform—acting like everyone else, without knowing why. As psychiatrist Rollo May once wrote:

“The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice—it is conformity.”

And that is the real issue today: Conformity.

Most people believe their lives are shaped by circumstances, by luck, or by forces beyond their control. They don’t set their own direction. Instead, they follow the crowd.

A survey once asked men why they get up and go to work every morning. Nineteen out of twenty had no real answer beyond, “Well, everyone else does.”

But if success is simply knowing where you’re going and working toward it, why don’t more people achieve it?

The Power of Goals

People with clear goals succeed because they have direction. They know where they’re going.

Think of a ship leaving a harbor. If it has a captain, crew, and a mapped-out destination, it will get there—99.99% of the time.

Now imagine another ship—no captain, no crew, no course. Just drifting. What will happen? It will end up shipwrecked, lost, or stuck somewhere with no purpose.

The same is true for people. Without clear goals, they drift through life, controlled by circumstances instead of controlling their own destiny.

The Secret to Success and Failure

There is one fundamental truth that has been taught by the greatest minds in history:

We become what we think about.

This idea has been echoed by philosophers, religious leaders, and visionaries for centuries:

• Marcus Aurelius: “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.”
• Ralph Waldo Emerson: “A man is what he thinks about all day long.”
• William James: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”
• The Bible (Mark 9:23): “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale called this the “the greatest law in the universe”:

“If you think in negative terms, you will get negative results. If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results.”

The truth is simple: Your life is shaped by your dominant thoughts.

How It Works: The Mind as a Garden

Imagine your mind is like a fertile field. It doesn’t care what you plant—it will return whatever you sow.

If you plant corn, you get corn.
If you plant nightshade (a deadly poison), you get nightshade.

Your mind works the same way. It doesn’t care what you plant—whether it’s success or failure, confidence or doubt, wealth or poverty. It simply returns what you focus on most.

So why don’t people use their minds more? The answer is simple:

We take it for granted.

The most valuable things in life—our minds, bodies, dreams, ambitions—are given to us for free. And because they are free, we don’t value them as we should.

But now that you know this truth, you can change your life.

Your 30-Day Challenge

I invite you to personally test this principle. For the next 30 days, follow these simple steps:

1. Decide exactly what you want. Write down a clear, specific goal.
2. Think about it constantly. Picture yourself already achieving it.
3. Don’t let doubts take root. Replace fear and worry with confidence.
4. Take action. Work steadily toward your goal every day.
5. Persist. Don’t give up. Success is inevitable if you stay the course.

The Price of Success

Success is not free—it requires commitment. Here’s what you must do:

1. Believe in the law of thought. You become what you think about.
2. Eliminate doubt and fear. They are weeds that kill success.
3. Have courage. Push yourself to think big and take action.
4. Save and invest wisely. Financial security is part of success.

Final Thoughts

Life should be an exciting adventure, not a dull routine. You were meant for more.

The architect of the universe didn’t design you for mediocrity. You were designed for greatness.

Remember:

“As you believe, so shall it be done unto you.”

Don’t let this knowledge go unused. Take action, pursue your dreams boldly, and watch them become your reality!