Philosophers of Success
Economic Success
Andrew Carnegie, Triumphant Democracy 1886
1896-1929 Strand 2 Success = material achievement, whether won or earned
Industrial Monopolist Robber Barons: JP Morgan, Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, Thomas Edison, Jay Gould
zoning for the majority of citizens is a democratic practicality
respect or disgrace, success or failure
Social Darwinism - survival of the fittest
Whip Way - “where there is a will, there is a way.”
It is a parent's responsibility to raise children, not government. The parent and the child are the only ones to blame for failure.
Discipline of inner energies and dynamic assertion of will
Crass Commercialism forms and exploits popular appetites; Business preys on the desire for the masses to be popular.
Popularity and fashion are aspects of Success Strand 2, which business uses to be more wealthy.
Russell Conwell's parable of the Persian Farmer, who sells his farm and moves away without ever knowing that he had a Diamond Mine under his land. It was used to say one should stick to one's calling, and now was being used to tell farmers they should stop farming and sell their lands to Development!
Go with the flow (yes-man), or against the grain (rebel)
George Lorimer - Graham (sam slick)
Merchants are philanthropists, in that they provide for those that can afford their products or to use their utility services
Merciless Murphy's Laws
Socialism was attacked with the popular theory - “If people will not self-improve now, what would they be able to share with society?”
In other words - If everyone is limited to sharing, there will be no will to work to their fullest potential; because competition is key
However this holds selfishness above all else, and denies that self-improvement can mean sharing.
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New Thought Movement - Mesmerism, spiritualism, phrenology, animal magnetism
Personal magnetism - demands respect and loyalty, cult of personality vs cult of success
Bible - “Love of money is the root of all evil.” Love your enemy most of all.”
1901 Success Magazine - “We shall never have a true measure until we cease to gauge a man's worth by his bank account or his business.”
Is Power money and steel? Or the man who wields them? Benevolence or Indifference, Skid Row vs Wealthy Elite
Eat the Rich
Phillips, Marden, Lorimer
1929 Stock Market Crash - Great Depression - income tax, depended on foreign investors
Success is never financial by most Spiritual Standards
Despite the faults of others, be good and true to your definition of success.
Yen-Yang is one symbol, that has two halves.
Bruce Barton on Jesus - he was not financially wealthy, but he was successful because he shared what he had, people believed in him, and his efforts became an entire Religion after his death; Jesus was successful because many people loved him, his values, and his messages more than anything else in life.
Regardless of Dogma, or the truth behind the real Jesus, Barton's point is important simply based on the basic ethical teachings in the New Testament.
Jesus - ideal success Strand 1 hero: service, charisma, leadership, compassion, and revolutionary philanthropy
Jesus may have not intended his beliefs to form the Religion of Christianity, yet it happened in his name; therefore it adds to his success story.
Great people render great service to others
Those at the top, must also somehow find themselves at the bottom
Rewards come to those who are patient, and can go further by staying the course for another mile
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