It would seem the writer of Ecclesiastes (Jewish Scriptures, a.k.a. Old Testament) was right. There is nothing new under the Sun. We only think it's new because we have either forgotten or did not bother to learn the lessons from those who have gone before.
Much of the search of meaning and purpose that is being explored at the beginning of this new century (from our perspective) is very much a case of “been there, done that, got the tee-shirt to prove it.” The MasterKey System written by Charles Haanel in 1912 is a classic example.
Yes, it’s dated. Yes, it’s written in quaint language that is sometimes hard to understand. Yes, some of the scientific knowledge of the time has been superceded. But if you can see past all that cosmetic stuff there are some real gems that can be mined, brought out into the light of day and buffed up to once again shine brilliantly for all to admire.
Charles Haanel was obviously a very deep thinker. It comes through, very clearly in his work. We have evidence that this book strongly influenced the (now) more widely known Napoleon Hill. It’s also strongly rumoured that it was this very book that influenced Bill Gates to drop out of college and pursue his dream of ‘a computer on every desk’ Many of the modern ‘cutting edge’ advances in personal development that have made their promoters fortunes, both large and small, are, in fact, outlined in this work.
Not that I am suggesting for one moment that these people are making their fortunes by marketing the ideas of others. Rather, I am saying that what they now present as both new and innovative has been around for a long, long time.
I am personally indebted to Charles Haanel for the systematic way he presented his material. It provides a framework for me to find appropriate places for what until now has been not much better than a jumble of thoughts. I am continually amazed at how the concepts that Haanel developed in his work are so much in keeping with the place I have reached, quite independently, after some 16 years of my own personal development journey. But then, why am I so surprised? After all, there is nothing new under the sun.
Graham Hunt is Thinker-in-Residence for The Ultimate Success Center. At his site www.the-ultimate-success-site.com, you can access Charles Haanel's original work for yourself.
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