It is always worth while to study the successes among our acquaintances.  Are they gloomy, morose and irritable?  If they were to that extent they would not be successful.  On the contrary, they are robust, confident individuals who have taken advantage of every rightful opportunity and possessed the power to smile when all about them were in the dumps.  When everyone else thought that there wasn’t a chance to win these fellows stepped in and took charge.

When we interview the failures we find that all of them give one excuse:  “I didn’t have the confidence.” They may not say it in exactly these words but the meaning is plain.  They ran through the whole gamut of self-distrust which is the natural result of not having started early in the study of self—­the serious realization of their own capabilities.

[Illustration:  Preparing to Pair With the Prickly Pear]

This makes it easy to understand their plight.  If we know ourselves we are strengthened that much, because we can bolster up our weaknesses.  We will know enough to combat timidity.  We can then know what we are capable of, and thus become conscious of our innate powers that only need to be called into action in order to become useful.  We cannot imagine for an instant a great violinist going out on the concert platform in ignorance of the condition of his instrument.  And yet failures go out on the stage of life knowing nothing of their strengths and weaknesses—­and still expect to win!

If we are to become successes we must keep success in mind—­banish all thought of losing.  Success is just as natural as anything else.  It is only a matter of the mind anyhow.  We are all successes as long as we continue to think so.  Self-depreciation is a disease.  Once it gets a hold on us—­good-bye!

And that is why it is wise to begin early—­to take hold of affairs while we are young.  Superiority over our fellow man comes from a superiority of mind and body.  A healthy mind breeds a healthy body.  The most superficial study will convince us of this fact.

Appearance counts for much in this world.  We judge largely by appearances.  We haven’t time to know everyone we meet intimately and as a result must base our opinions upon first impressions.  The fellow who comes in an office with his head hanging down between his shoulders and a frown upon his face doesn’t get far with us.  We find ourselves looking over his sagging shoulders toward the individual behind him who comes in with a swinging step and the confidence born of health and good spirits.