Success — The Glenn Bland Method

At earliest we make our habits and in the last our habits make us.

I borrowed this book from one of my close friends in 2005. After reading it thoroughly I discovered a new world. A world where you could achieve everything only if you are having firm faith in yourself.

And I learned a new definition of the word “Success”.

There is no doubt that the word “Success” holds a different meaning for different people.

But according to me, Success means to achieve something in life not only in regards to money. A person can achieve anything if he has one direction, belief, and faith in god. He doesn’t have to seek advice from others as long as his determination is strong. He doesn’t have to be bothered about anyone believing others will change as we change our thoughts about them.

Things don’t always happen the way we plan our life. There are many obstacles in the path of success, and some of the general ones are: — Greed, Absence of intelligence, Lack of Full-knowledge, Envious Characters, Conceited Mindset, Arrogance, and Lack of empathy.

A person who knows that working on his negative mindset will take him nearer to success can better be considered as a successful person. It’s true we become what we think about. A person without an aim is generally considered as a curse.

This famous quote “Men who have goals and plans dictate to others, while men who have no goals or plans are dictated to” resonates with this truth of life.

This book was divided into two parts.

The first part talked about How to have a happy and successful life?

And before we move ahead do you know anyone who doesn’t’ want to remain happy?

We usually think happy people are successful or vice-versa. This point of view is correct but up to some extent. As money can’t bring all the happiness in life so it’s not necessary that successful people always remain happy. Sometimes we find that a person is opulent but still due to the pugnacious decorum he is not getting along with other people.

This book can be useful to those who think they can’t do anything in life. Your thinking will be drastically changed once you would turn off reading the last page of it.

My Learnings

Believe in yourself and God

I am someone who has firm faith in the Almighty, and I would say you can have it too unless you are an atheist. I believe in myself too because losing hope means that you are moving ahead towards failures.

Do what your heart says. Stop wasting time thinking about what others are thinking about you. Who else would do your job then? Concentrate on the important aspects of life. If everything is going well then there is no problem. But during times of adversity, we should not lose hope because all days are not the same. Trust me. You will be happy again.

It’s truly out of every adversity comes to an equal or greater opportunity. It never fails.

We should not forget God because he is the only one who always stands beside us. The creator is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. He cares for us and at the time of adversity, he makes us strong and brave. We should see the way the creator does everything for us. So believe in yourself because you won’t get anything for free.

Time

Time is money. We usually waste our time thinking about new ideas, principles, and techniques instead of practically applying them.

I’ve read one example and it was related to Helen Killer. She was only two years old when she lost her sight and hearing power. She was not able to speak enough. Her teacher helped her a lot in discovering new directions in life. Within three years, she knew the alphabet and could read and write. At the age of 16, she decided that she would become a graduate. After becoming a lecturer she taught in more than 25 countries to deaf and blind students. I admire her because she had made the best use of opportunities that knocked at her door during that period.

The quote, ‘’ time and a wave wait for none’’ reflect our attitude towards life and time both. I think a person who cares for time has become half successful and another half he would achieve by using other opportunities.

Money and Love

There would hardly be anyone who doesn’t need money. Everyone needs money because it has become a necessity of life. We can’t live a life full of comforts and satisfaction without money. Money is something, not everything. Money has become the master rather than the slave. Those who consider it everything are not lunatic nor they are illiterate. For them, there is an immense need of realizing the importance of money (that to what extent it’s good or bad).

There is no rule that only an opulent person can be successful, a poor person can be successful too. Rich people due to their contagious and affable facts become more famous whereas the success for poor people is generally treated with sympathy and discouragement.

Love, on the other hand, is a feeling which we can’t compare with the materialistic things of this world. Everybody needs love and affection because feelings are not separated from religion, caste, creed, and sex. It has been rightly said by someone that “To love someone is something, but to love and to be loved by someone is everything.” Love is a part of success because until you don’t start loving others how will you able to love life?

People who are aggressive and envious can’t bring any good example for others. We should get into the habit of learning from others because there is no harm in it. I believe in the power of Karma and this quote “As you sow, so shall you reap.” We can get something good in return if we give something good to others. I consider that our bad deeds payback us in an enormous equivalent manner and vice-versa with good deeds. So, before deceiving others always think twice because sometimes things never happen in a prophecy way. It’s true “Do for others what you want them to do for you.”

Your plan of action

The second part talked about your plan of action. By giving attention to every aspect and principle of this book, it’s a time to apply them practically. Many points were focusing on the prospects of “making a budget” to “waking up early at 6:30 am”.

What I liked were two examples let me share them with you all here:

First Example

This example was related to making a budget. A Budget is simply a written paper in which you have included your expenses and savings. In our generation, everybody wants to enjoy the maximum comfort of life. No doubt that sometimes we buy those things also which we don’t use and in the end, we tend to throw them away.

I would call myself a foolish person because I never saved anything in graduation. Whenever I got pocket money from my parents, I made its perfect use by watching movies, buying gifts, clothes, and so on. After reading this budget column I came to realize the facts of life.

I took the decision that I won’t waste money again. I agree that it was my habit, but I could have changed it and I certainly did. It’s true “At earliest, we make our habits and in the last our habits make us”. Similarly “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” This quotation is not regarding money alone. If we consider it in other aspects of life then we come to know its importance and significance.

Second Example

This example was related to different sorts of people. It was as wonderful and magnificent as someone’s own life experiences. It shows that if you can apply those principles in your life then you too can become successful. After reading “Think and Grow Reach” by Napoleon Hill, Glenn too has become successful. Under his full consideration and appealing skills, more than 20 people have become successful. Now they are being counted as the millionaires of the world.

Some work because they have to but some work because they want to.

When I first read those lines, I was impressed by his way of thinking. Glenn has discovered new ways of life that are not famous yet but still, they are important. He says, “Get into the habit of doing more than you are paid for, one day you will be paid for more than you do”. While going through this book, I simply loved its quotations and facts of life.

Thanks for reading my book review. I hope my words comfort you.

Originally written on 14th September 2005.

Gurpreet Dhariwal is the author of “My Soul Rants: Poems of a Born Spectator.” Her eBook is now available at Google PlayStore, Amazon, and Kindle. Connect with Gurpreet on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Youtube