With technology and innovation playing a bigger role in the US economy, the life of Thomas Alva Edison takes on new meaning. Edison held 1,093 patents – more than any other individual in US history. His invention of so many things – including the phonograph, electric light bulb and motion picture camera – is still the standard by which all inventors compete. The lessons of Edison’s life can suggest to us all how we can make the most profitable use of our talents and time. SELF-EDUCATION Ed...

Dreams are easy to achieve if you are no longer willing to put up with mediocrity. The way to stop settling and start achieving is to overcome childhood fears that being criticized for trying an idea is worse than not trying at all. Dreams come true when we recognize that it is not bad to try and fail. Here are the secrets of some of the world’s most successful dreamers: Even the wildest dream needs a plan. Many people think Henry Ford invented the automobile. He didn’t. The automobile was i...

  1 ~ EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES When you know yourself and believe in yourself with all your heart and soul, the unthinkable becomes thinkable. For example, Walter Russell, when he was 15 years old, was asked by his girlfriend if he would take her to the opera, but then she told him that she was referring to the entire series, not just one performance. The series cost $80, and since he was earning only $12 a week, he said: “That’s impossible.” She retorted, “I’ve never heard you say so...

  One of my heroes, Norman Vincent Peale wrote: “To overcome your obstacles and live the “I Don’t Believe in Defeat” philosophy, cultivate a positive-idea pattern deeply in your consciousness. What we do with obstacles is directly determined by our mental attitude. Most of our obstacles, as a matter of fact, are mental in character.” “Ah,” you may object, “mine are not mental, mine are real.” Perhaps so, but your attitude toward them is mental. The only possible way you can have an atti...

  “Self-talk,” the way we talk to ourselves in our minds, plays a hugely significant role in determining our level of happiness and confidence. Why? Because we usually become what we tell ourselves we are. Indeed, speaking to ourselves positively is the most effective way to create positive self-beliefs. Since we now understand the power of choice and the power of our minds, we know that our thoughts can be directed. Why would we allow negativity to pull us backwards into undesirable stat...