A School for Failures
？塞隆·Q.迪蒙 / Theron Q. Dumont
The man that is chosen at the crucial time is not usually a genius； he does not possess any more talent than others， but he has learned that results can only be produced by untiring concentrated effort. That “miracles” in business do not just “happen”. He knows that the only way they will happen is by sticking to a proposition and seeing it through. That is the only secret of why some succeed and others fail. The successful man gets used to seeing things accomplished and always feels sure of success. The man that is a failure gets used to seeing failure， expects it and attracts it to him.
It is my opinion that with the right kind of training every man could be a success. It is really a shame that so many men and women， rich in ability and talent， are allowed to go to waste， so to speak. Some day I hope to see a millionaire philanthropist start a school for the training of failures. I am sure he could not put his money to a better use. In a year’s time the science of practical psychology could do wonders for him. He could have agencies on the lookout for men that had lost their grip on themselves； that had through indisposition weakened their will； that through some sorrow or misfortune had become discouraged.
At first all they need is a little help to get them back on their feet， but usually they get a knock downwards instead. The result is that their latent powers never develop and both they and the world are the losers. I trust that in the near future， someone will heed the opportunity of using some of his millions in arousing men that have begun to falter. All they need to be shown is that there is within them an omnipotent source that is ready to aid them， providing they will make use of it. Their minds only have to be turned from despair to hope to make them regain their hold.
When a man loses his grip today， he must win his redemption by his own will. He will get little encouragement or advice of an inspiring nature. He must usually regain the right road alone. He must stop dissipating his energies and turn his attention to building a useful career. Today we must conquer our weakening tendencies alone. Don’t expect anyone to help you. Just take one big brace， make firm resolutions， and resolve to conquer your weaknesses and vices. Really none can do this for you. They can encourage you； that is all.
I can think of nothing， but lack of health， that should interfere with one becoming successful. There is no other handicap that you should not be able to overcome. To overcome a handicap， all that it is necessary to do is to use more determination and grit and will.
The man with grit and will， may be poor today and wealthy in a few years. Will power is a better asset than money. Will will carry you over chasms of failure， if you give it the chance.
The men that have risen to the highest positions have usually had to gain their victories against big odds. Think of the hardships many of our inventors have gone through before they became a success. Usually they have been very much misunderstood by relatives and friends. Very often they did not have the bare necessities of life， yet， by sheer determination and resolute courage， they managed to exist somehow until they perfected their inventions， which afterwards greatly helped in bettering the condition of others.