Orison Swett Marden - The Founder of Success Magazine.

A brief insight into the life and mind of an amazing man from a collector and student of his works by Jeffrey Gitomer

It’s very hard to find original thought.

Orison Swett Marden was part of a group called ‘The New Thought Movement.’ It was a spiritual group that emphasized metaphysical beliefs and personal development. While it had religious overtones, it had at its base infinite insight and intelligence.

Here’s a classic Marden example:

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.

Marden was influenced and inspired – as were many – by one of the original personal development writers, Samuel Smiles. Smiles is an original. The Smiles book, Self Help,was the trigger for Marden’s career. He is quoted as saying, “The little book was the friction which awakened the spark sleeping in the flint.” The 21st century translation might be, “Samuel Smiles lit my fire.”

Early in his life, Marden came across the Smiles book on accident, rummaging in his attic. He became an evangelist for the book, and for his own positive thinking philosophy. When he looked for more books, and found few, his mission was set. Study, write, publish, preach, speak – and by being a living example of his writings, set the standard for others to follow.

You might know some of the original writers who preceded Marden. The most prominent author was William James, a physiologist and a pragmatist. James hung out with a bunch of brainiacs, of whom the most notable were PT Barnum, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, and Sigmund Freud. (Not a bad group of guys.)

 It’s more interesting to note who followed Orison Swett Marden, most notably Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie. These guys came 30 years after Marden founded Success Magazine in 1891. Also note that Napoleon Hill was a significant contributor, and he also published his own magazine in the late teens and 1920s called Hill’s Golden Rule. The subtitle: For those who think and want to grow. (Sound familiar?) As popular as Napoleon Hill was (and is), he was a disciple and a follower of Orison Swett Marden.

Marden had one amazing contemporary. Elbert Hubbard. Their work often appeared in other magazines, but they never wrote anything together. I can only assume that they knew one another, and corresponded with one another, out of respect for their mutual capabilities. They were competitors in their time. While Marden was writing, Pushing to the Front, Hubbard was writing Message to Garcia. They both began their own publications. Hubbard’s was the magazine FRA. They both were exceptionally prolific authors. Hubbard and Marden were considered the thought leaders of their time.

Marden expanded the original thoughts of Smiles to an unprecedented degree. Not just a prolific writer, he was also a speaker, an editor, a publisher, a doctor, and a lawyer. Marden’s books could be found in the library of every major early-American industrialist. He was the word, and words, of success and spirit.

Orison Swett Marden wrote more than 60 books in a period of 30 years without a word processor, and barely with a typewriter. Also keep in mind that he was an educated person, having graduated from Boston University, Andover Theological Seminary, and Harvard University with an MD and LL.B. degrees. He also went back to school to master oratory skills. WOW!

Marden was successful at every endeavor because he was a student that put his knowledge to work. And by his religious beliefs, he literally practiced what he preached. His genius allowed him to take on business ventures, capture publishing opportunities, study every aspect of life, and still speak and write. His success came from putting all those elements into positive execution and achievement

When I wrote The Patterson Principles in 2002 (now titled Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching!) my research took me to Dayton, Ohio, the home of John Patterson and the business he founded, the National Cash Register Company (NCR). I was contacted by a bookseller in Dayton who offered me several books from the Patterson library. These books were actually signed by Patterson to connote ownership, and include passages he underlined, because he found them meaningful and wanted to act on them. At or near the turn of the century. The 20th century. I bought them in a minute.

One of the books I purchased was He Who Thinks He Can, by Orison Swett Marden, generously underlined by the hand of John Patterson. WOW!

Here are some of the quotes Patterson personally underlined. These few quotes will give you insight to Marden’s thinking and philosophy, and hopefully an inspiration for you to own and read his works. Keep in mind he wrote this book around 1906 when Patterson acquired it NEW:

? It is easy to find successful merchants, but not so easy to find men who put character above merchandise.

? Self-reliance is the best capitol in the world. Self-depreciation is a crime.

? The greatest enemies of achievement are fear, doubt and vacillation.

? Every child should be taught to expect success.

? The man who has learned the art of seeing things looks with his brain.

? The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity.

? People do not realize the immense value of utilizing spare minutes.

? Be yourself.

? Multitudes of people, enslaved by bad physical habits, are unable to get their best selves into their work.

? Your judgment is your best friend; your common sense is your great life partner.

? Do not stop dreaming.

? A test of the quality of the individual is the spirit in which he does his work.

? Some people never see any beauty anywhere. Others see it everywhere.

? Your life work is your statue.

? Some of the greatest men in history never discovered themselves until they lost everything but their pluck and grit.

? Responsibility is a great power developer.

? I know young men who believe in everybody but themselves.

? If one is so loosely attached to his occupation that he can be easily induced to give it up, you may be sure that he is not in the right place.

? Almost anybody can resolve to do a great thing; it is only the strong, determined character that puts the resolve into execution.

? The putting-off habit will kill the strongest initiative.

? Character is the greatest force in the world.

? No substitute has ever yet been discovered for honesty.

? Happiness is a condition of mind.

? Real happiness is so simple that most people do not recognize it.

? The world makes way for the man with an idea.

? Resolve that you will be a man of ideas, always on the lookout for improvement.

? Do not be afraid of being original.

? Do not imitate even your heroes.

? Poverty is of no value except as a vantage ground for a starting point.

? Just be yourself.

? There is no word in the English language more misused and abused than ‘luck.’

? The idle man is like an idle machine. It destroys itself very quickly.

? Power gravitates to the man who knows how.

? Do not imitate. Originality is the best substitute for advertising.

? Make a resolution that you are going to be an educated man.

? Many people are imprisoned by ignorance.

? Do not be afraid to pile responsibility upon your employees.

? To eliminate every thing that can possibly retard us is the first preparation for a successful career.

? Get freedom at any cost.

? ‘It can not be done’ cries the man without imagination. ‘It can be done, it shall be done’ cries the dreamer.

? Few people ever learn the art of enjoying the little things of life as they go along.

? No man can be happy when he harbors thoughts of revenge, jealousy, envy or hatred.

? To be eccentric is not to be weak, but more often it is a sign of strength.

? No matter how humble your work may seem, do it in the spirit of an artist, of a master.

? Put the right spirit into your work.

? Do not be afraid to trust yourself. Have faith in your own ability to think along original lines. If there is anything in you, self-reliance will bring it out.

? The very essence of happiness is honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness.

You can find a complete list of Marden quotes underlined by John Patterson, and a list of Marden titles by going to www.gitomer.com and entering the word MARDEN in the GitBit box.

In my collection of Marden’s work I have a personal letter sent by Marden to potential subscribers of his Success Magazine (early direct mail). It gives a rare glimpse into the philosophy and salesmanship of the founder. Dated 1922, and signed by Marden himself, the letter has a quote at the top of the page that reads, “Impossibilities are merely the half-hearted efforts of quitters.” The letter begins: “Dear Dreamer,” and here for your salesmanship pleasure is the body of that letter:

What a classic solicitation.

I have been influenced by many writers and thinkers through the years. Orison Swett Marden is at the top of my short list.  Not just as a writer, but as a thinker. Not just an author, but someone who practiced what he thought.

Start reading Marden today. Many of his works have been reprinted in paperback. Own a few, read a few, and get a feeling for his philosophies and ideas. What’s the best way to apply Marden’s wisdom to your life? Start studying, and apply what feels comfortable for you.

Coming up in this series will be excerpts and annotations from Marden’s classic, Selling Things.

? 2016 All Rights Reserved. Don’t even think about reproducing this document without written permission from GitGo, LLC, Jeffrey H. Gitomer and Buy Gitomer. 704/333-1112 

 Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of twelve best-selling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, and The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude. His real-world ideas and content are also available as online courses at www.GitomerLearningAcademy.com. For information about training and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com or www.GitomerCertifiedAdvisors.com, or email Jeffrey personally at [email protected].