By JDKJ Martin Ducker
Several years ago, unannounced a strange package turned up on my doorstep delivered by the postman. It was surprising as I had ordered no such kind of item. Upon opening and examination I discovered a set of eight audiotapes inside a smart looking plastic case. The cassette tape set was called ‘Lead the Field’ by Earl Nightingale and little did I know at the time the massive impact that those tapes would have on my entire life.
A note included with the package suggested that I should listen to the tapes for a minimum of 30 days, with no obligation of purchasing. My first impression was that it was just another gimmick from someone trying to sell me something. However, upon playing the first tape I was surprised to discover some very interesting and noteworthy material on them. I whisked through the tapes several times, whilst I was exercising, driving and even when taking a bath, I couldn’t put them down.
After only one week I purchased the whole set. Looking back, it was one of the best investments I’d ever made. What hooked me was how simple the philosophy seemed, almost too good to be true. The author explained on the tapes, that success or failure wasn’t a matter of luck, or circumstance, or fate, it’s a matter of following a common-sense set of rules, guidelines that most people can follow. The author also claims that the ‘Lead the Field’ Programme has changed more lives, brought about more success stories, helped create more millionaires, and saved more careers, important jobs and more marriages than any other programme.
One of the most important concepts on this tape series, is the idea concerning what the author calls the ‘magic word.’ He says “We all want good results in life, in our home, in our businesses, and in all our contacts with other people.
The most important single factor that guarantees good results, day in day out, all the years of our lives, is a healthy attitude! Attitude is the magic word. It is, our attitude in life that determines life’s attitude toward us.”
Through constant repetition in listening to the tapes I began to apply some basic principles. I realised that, if as a person changes their attitude, his or her surroundings will change. It seems to work like this, great attitude, great results, good attitude, good results, average attitude, fair, or average results, poor attitude, and hence poor results.
After several months of me applying this philosophy, my life and business started to change, many interesting things began to happen. My martial art school’s student enrolment started to expand, I started to meet people and to travel to places I never expected to meet or go. In fact, what I had discovered and applied was the basic law of cause and effect. Sir Isaac Newton, in formulating his laws of physic’s, said “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Our rewards in life will always match our service.” To quote Earl Nightingale a final time, he say’s “if a business is not expanding to the quick and exciting tempo of the times, it must examine its contribution – it’s service. What you put out will determine what you must get back. It’s so simple so basic, so true, and yet so misunderstood.
So let me ask you, how are you doing? What’s going on in your life? Are you ‘leading the field’? There are no exceptions to this law of cause and effect.