No!  A single turn-down cannot cause the failure of a successful salesman.  If that cashier had not appreciated the worth of the candidate, an officer of some other bank certainly would have had a clearer vision of his value.  The applicant might have been balked temporarily in his ambition.  The best salesman occasionally has to try and try again.  But a successful career for that young man was assured in advance.  From the very start he was “certain to get there.”

On the other hand, if he had risked making a disappointing impression in his new job, he might have taken the first step toward failure.  Suppose he had begun the work for which he was unprepared, and then had made serious mistakes due to his unfitness.  His record would have been blemished.  His ability might have been questioned.  He prevented such possibilities by making sure his preparation was adequate before he accepted his big chance.

[Sidenote:  Preparation Should Be Two-fold]

Your preparation for certain success must be two-fold.  You need to prepare yourself in ability first to perceive; then to appreciate the full value of what you see.  Golden opportunities are all about you.  If you do not recognize them, or if you perceive but slight value in the signs of rich chances to succeed, you will fail because of your unreadiness.

Many a farmer in Oklahoma cursed his “bad luck” after he sold a farm on which a gusher was later discovered.  But the oil had been there all the time.  The “luckless” farmer simply did not perceive the indications of wealth under his plodding feet; or, if he saw signs of oil, he did not realize that they denoted the possibility of millions.

[Sidenote:  Developing Perception]

Perception can be broadened almost immeasurably.  The physical eye, if normal and thoroughly trained, is fitted to be “all seeing.” So can your mind be made capable of widest vision over all the fields of possible opportunity.  Some are within your present mental view, others you can see only after going farther or climbing higher in knowledge.  The biggest possibilities of success cannot be comprehended in their entirety by narrowed mental sight.

The first essential of preparation to succeed is that you open your eyes fully, and look all around you for the opportunities within range of your vision.  There are so many close at hand that your search would better begin right where you are.  Even if eventually you seek far for the best chance to succeed, do so with thorough knowledge of what is near by.  Before you leave your present environment, have an intelligent conviction that you are capable of a bigger or different success than is to be found within your immediate reach.

Also see and comprehend the especial difficulties you will find close at hand.  It does not always pay to remain in “the old home town.”  Often a young man needs to go to a community of strangers to gain appreciation of his ability.  It is likely to be hard for him to win success among people who knew him as a boy and who still regard him as immature.  He may find it much easier to succeed in a neighboring town.