TheDIAMONDLINE
AreYouReadytoClimbAboard?
RichardFenton&AndreaWaltz
Copyright©2015byRichardFenton&AndreaWaltzAllrightsreserved.
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Weinviteyoutovisittheauthorsat:www.GoForNo.com
ThisBookDedicatedtoDr.RussellH.Conwell
AuthoroftheoriginalAcresofDiamondsstoryonwhichthisworkoffictionisbased,andamanfaraheadofhistimeintheunderstandingoftheprinciples
ofsuccess.
Andto...YOU.
Thehard-working,success-boundentrepreneur—hungryforallthebestlifehastooffer—andwillingtodowhatittakestogetit.
Which,ofcourse,includesreading.
ToquoteourfriendAndrewCarnegie—whomyou’llgettoknowbetterinthefollowingpages…
“Alibraryoutranksanyotheronethingacommunitycandotobenefititspeople.Itisanever-failingspringinthedesert.”
FOREWORDBYERICWORRE
Ihavelongbelievedtherearetwowaystoshareknowledgewithpeople.Thefirstistopushfactsandinformationoutatpeople.Thesecondistopullpeopleinthroughtheuseofastory.Infact,expertsclaimthatstoriesare22timesmorememorablethanfactsalone.
Ihavenoreasontodoubtthevalidityofthis,andhavealwaysadmiredwriterswhocanteachmealessonthroughastory.
Tothisday,manyofthebooksthathavehelpedmeinmypersonalgrowthjourneyhavebeendeliveredthroughstories.Mylistoffavoritesincludes:
“TheRichestManinBabylon”byGeorgeClason“TheGreatestSalesmanintheWorld”byOgMandino“TheAlchemist”byPauloCoelho“JonathanLivingstonSeagull”and“Illusions”byRichardBach“TheFountainhead”and“AtlasShrugged”byAynRandAlongwithanumberofothers.
“TheDiamondLine”byRichardFenton&AndreaWaltzisdestinedtotakeitsplaceontheshortlistofclassics.
RichardandAndreafirstcameonmyradarscreenwhenIdiscoveredtheirpersonaldevelopmentmasterpiece,“GoforNo!”Andwhentheyapproachedmetowritetheforewordtothisbook,Ididnothesitatetosayyes.
TheDiamondLineisacleverreimaginingofthemotivationalclassic,AcresofDiamonds,byRussellConwell,firstpublishedasabookin1890.InTheDiamondLine,however,youwillbetakenbacktoanimaginarymomentintimebeforethebookwaswritten,havingthechancetomeetsomeofthegreatesticonsinhistory,includingPTBarnum,AndrewCarnegie,FrederickDouglass,andseveralotherinterestingandenlighteningcharacters.
I'msurewe'veallthoughtaboutbeingabletogobackintimeandmeetsomeofourheroes.
InTheDiamondLineyougetthechancetodoexactlythat!
RussellConwellnotonlybelieveditwaspossibleforanypersontobecomerich—hebelieveditwasaperson’sdutytodoso.Furthermore,Conwellfeltthateachofusisstandinginthemiddleofouracresofdiamonds—thateverythingweneedtoachievesuccessandpersonalwealthisrightbeneathourfeet—ifonlyweareabletorecognizeit.
I,too,believethatsuccessis—andhasalwaysbeen—withinyou.
Andnow,withTheDiamondLine,anothertoolhasbeenplacedinyourhandstohelpbringthatsuccesstothesurfaceinyourlife.
-EricWorreAuthorofGoProandfounderofNetworkMarketingPro
www.networkmarketingpro.com
“YoucanjourneytotheendsoftheEarthinsearchofsuccess,butifyou’relucky,youwilldiscoverhappinessinyourownbackyard.”
–RussellH.Conwell
ContentsTitleCopyrightDedicationForeword
IGSBE
GettingtoUnionStation
Katie’sGift
WakinginAnotherTime
MeetingRussellConwell
“IHaveWrittenNoSuchBook”
HattieMay
Ft.Wayne,Indiana
TellMeAboutYourself
MeetingFlorence
TellingoftheFuture
Cleveland,Ohio
Harrisburg,Pennsylvania
FlorenceGetsHerChance
MyAcreofDiamonds
TheWrinkledOldMan
TheInvitationThatWasn’t
TheGreatestPartyonEarth
AndrewCarnegie
ThePurposeofWealth
MySeatattheTable
VoicesoftheDead
P.T.Barnum’sChallenge
LettingGoOfTheDream
EpilogueSixkeylessonsfromtheDiamondLineAboutTheDiamondLine...
TrackOne:
IGSBE
Itwasoneweekbeforethe2014IGSBEConference,andIwantedtogobadly.Mywife,however,wascompletelyagainstit.
“Iknow,Christopher,”Katiesaid.“Butwedon’thavethemoney.Andbesides,Ican’tgetthetimeoff,”Katieadded,“andyousaidthatifweweregoingtogotoIGSBE,we’dgotogether.”
The16thAnnualIGSBEConferencewasbeingheldinNewYorkCity—IGSBEbeinganabbreviationfortheInternationalGatheringofSmallBusinessEntrepreneurs—andIfeltthatattendingtheeventwouldbegoodforourbusiness.
Iremainedsilent.
“Oncethebusinessgrowsabit,wecandoallsortsofthings,”Katiecontinued,fillingtheconversationalvoidcreatedbymyunwillingnesstoaccepttherealityofthesituation.
“Areyougoingtosaysomething?”Katieasked.
Again,Iremainedsilent.
“Well,I’mgoingtobed,”Katiesaid.“Don’tstayuptoolate,andturnofftheTVwhenyoucome.”
Katiekissedmeontheforeheadandwalkedoff.
“I’msorry.You’reright,”Isaid.“Maybenextyear,huh?”ButKatiedidn’thearme.Shewasalreadygone.Therewasdefinitelyanapologyinmyfuture.
Igrabbedtheremoteandstartedflippingthroughchannels,landingonabiographyaboutthelifeofAppleco-founderSteveJobs.
“So,Steve,whatisthekeytosuccess?”theintervieweronTVasked.
“Thekey?I’mnotsurethere’sasingularkey,”Jobsresponded,“butI’dsaytonotletthenoiseofother’sopinionsdrownoutyourowninnervoiceandtohavethecouragetofollowyourheartandintuition.”
I’mtrying,Steve,Ireallyam.
Katiewasright,ofcourse.Therewasnowayshecouldgettimeoffduringtheschoolyear,andmoneyhadbeenextremelytightsinceI’dmadethedecisiontoquitmyjobtofocusonbuildingthehome-basedbusinesswe’dstartedayearearlier.
WWSD?Iwondered.
Stevewouldcreateanothercoolproductandputanotherdentintheworld—werehestillalive,ofcourse.
IgrabbedmyiPad—typedin“eBayacresofdiamonds”—andpressedenter.Iwascurioustoseehowtheone-hundreddollarbidI’dputonan1890,hardcoverfirsteditionofRussellConwell’sclassic,AcresofDiamonds,wasdoing.
Iscrolleddownandsawthecurrentbid:$285.Iwasoutoftherunning.Wayout.IclosedtheiPadandthoughtaboutheadingofftobed,butdecidedtowatchtheendoftheSteveJobsbiographyfirst.
*
“Ihaveanidea,”IheardKatiesayfromthedoorway.“Whatidea?”
“Well,youcouldgoalone.”
“GotoIGSBEalone?Thisisateambusiness,”Isaid.“Eitherwego,orneitherofusgoes.”
“Okay,Christopher,ifyousayso,”Katiesaid.
Evengoingalonewouldbeexpensive,especiallytheairfareandthepriceofahotelroominNewYork.
“Whatifyoutookthetrain?”Katiesaid,makingherwayovertothesofaandopeningmyiPad.“Lookatthis,”shesaidamomentlater.
SheturnedtheiPadsoIcouldseeit.
Rightatthetopofthepagetherewasanadvertisementthatread:
Katieshotmealook.“Ninety-ninedollarsisreallycheap,Chris.And,youknow,ifyouwerewillingtostayatalessexpensivehotelacrosstheriveroverinNewJersey?”
“It’stotallyuptoyou,”Isaid.
Afewkeystrokeslater,IhadpurchasedaroundtripticketonTheDiamondLine.
“Donotneglectthedayofsmallthings,forlittlebeginningshavebigendings.”
–FlorenceScovelShinn
TrackTwo:
GettingtoUnionStation
KatiepulledourblueToyotaSUVtothecurbattheAmtrakstationnearourhomeinNaperville,Illinois,aboutfortymileswestofdowntownChicago.
“Ican’tbelieveI’mgoingtobeawayfromyouforanentireweek,”Isaid.ThiswouldbethelongestKatieandIhadspentawayfromeachotherinthefiveyearswe’dbeenmarried.“Itfeelsweird.”
“I’vegotthreethingsforyou,”Katiesaidwithasmile.
Thefirstwasapapersackfilledwithsandwichesandsnacks,enoughfoodtogetmeallthewaytoNewYorkwithouthavingtospendacent.
Thesecondwasawrappedgiftaboutthesizeofapaperbackbook.Ihadaprettygoodideawhatitwas.
Thethirdwasastackofenvelopesheldtogetherwitharubberband.“Onlyopenoneenvelopeperday,okay?Andnocheating!”shesaid.
Ileanedoverandkissedher.“Thisisgoingtobethebestinvestmentwe’veevermade,Ipromise.”
“Enjoythetripanddoyourbest,okay?”Katiesaid.“Anddon’twaituntilyougettoNewYorktotalktopeople.Youneverknowwhoyoumightmeetonthetrain.”
*
AfterseveralquickstopswearrivedatChicago’sUnionStationwhereIwouldswitchtrains.
ErectedonthewestsideoftheChicagoRiver,UnionStationwasfirstbuiltin1881andremodeledin1925.TheBeauxArtsgreatroom,withitsterracottawalls,marblefloorbroughtinfromTennessee,andeighteenCorinthiancolumnssoaringupwardtotheone-hundred-footvaultedskylightceiling,wastrulyawe-inspiring.DespitehavinglivedintheChicagoareamyentirelife,thiswasmyfirsttimeinthegrand,historicbuilding.
firsttimeinthegrand,historicbuilding.
Ittookmeafewminutestounderstandhowthestationwasorganized—twenty-fourtrackscominginfromboththenorthandsouth—mostofthemunderground,burieddeepbeneathcitystreetsandskyscrapers.
Icheckedthetravelboardbutwasunabletofindanythingmatchingmyticket,soImademywaytothenearestinformationboothandfoundanelderlymandressedinabluesuitandbowtie.Atleasteighty-fiveyearsold,theman’sskinwasaswrinkledashissuit,whichlookedlikeithadneverbeenpressed.Hewasalonebehindthecounterreadinganewspaper.
“Excuseme,”Isaid.“I’mpassingthroughand—”
“Noyou’renot,”themansaidwithoutlookingup.
“I’msorry,what?”
“Isaid,noonepassesthroughUnionStation,”themanrepeated.“Youcanconnectifyouwantto–meaningtogetoffonetrainandthengetonanother—butyoucan’tpassthrough.Thetrickypartisgettingontherighttrain.Picktherightplatform,yougettowhereyou’regoing.Pickthewrongplatform,though,andwhoknows?”
Theoldmanliftedhisgazeandlookedmeover.“Letmeguess,”themansaid.“You’relookingforTheDiamondLine.”
“Yes,howdidyouknow?”Iasked,surprised.
“Youhavethelook,”themansaid.Thenhepointedacrookedfingerandsaid,“TheDiamondLineleavesfromthefarendofthestation,thatway.Walkallthewaytotheend.Andwhenyouthinkyou’vegoneasfarasyoucango,andyouwanttoturnaround…”
“What?”
“Don’t!”themanshouted.“Justkeepgoing,going,going.Understand?”
“Yeah,Iguess,”Isaid.
“Don’tguess,”themansaid,returningtohispaper.“Justkeepgoing.”
Itwasclearthatourconversationhadreacheditsend.
IdidasIwastold,headingoffinthedirectiontheoldmantoldmetogo,andhewasright.
Itwasalong,longway.
Iwalkedforwhatseemedlikeforever—onandon,wellpastwherethetracks
Iwalkedforwhatseemedlikeforever—onandon,wellpastwherethetracksended—andjustasIbegantothinkI’dgonethewrongwayIrememberedwhattheoldmanhadsaid:
“Whenyouthinkyou’vegoneasfarasyoucango,andyouwanttoturnaround,don’t.Justkeepgoing,going,going.”
SoIkeptgoing.
AndthenIsawit.
Asmallwoodensignthatread:
TheDiamondLine≈BoardsHereDaily≈
Isetmybagdownandtookalookaround.That’swhenIrealizedwhyAmtrakwasofferingsuchagreatdeal.
Apparentlytheyhadto.
Iwastheonlyonethere.
“Whateveryoudo,doitwithallyourmight!Workatit,ifnecessary,earlyandlate,inseasonandoutofseason,notleavingastoneunturned,andneverdeferringforasinglehourthatwhich
canbedonejustaswellnow.”–P.T.Barnum
TrackThree:
Katie’sGift
Iglancedatmywatchforthethirdtime,wonderingwhen—orif—thetrainwouldarrive.IwishedI’dbroughtabooktokeepmeoccupied,andthenrememberedthegiftKatiesaidshe’dpackedinmybag.
Iunzippedmybag,foundthegift,andunwrappedit.
ItwasapaperbackversionoftheRussellConwellclassicAcresofDiamonds.Ihadseenan1890hardcoverfirsteditionofthebookbeingauctionedoneBayseveralweeksearlier.Theauctionstillhadseveraldaystogo,butthepricewasalreadywaybeyondourbudget.
Iopenedthepaperback.Ontheinsidefrontcover,Katiehadwritten:
Christopher—Iplannedtogiveyouthisonyourbirthday,butthoughtyoumightenjoyhavingsomethingtoreadonthetrain.Iknowit’snotthefirst
editionyoureallywanted,butIhopeyoulikeitanyway.–Allmylove…Katie.
SuddenlyIheardavoicecallout,“Allaboard!”
Ilookeduptoseeatrainsittingonthetracksrightinfrontofme.ApparentlyI’dbeensoengrossedinKatie’sgiftIhadn’tevenhearditarrive.
Andthetrainwasmoving!
Igrabbedmybagandracedafterit,jumpingonthemetalstepsjustintime.Ienteredtherailcar,stilloutofbreath,andcouldseeIwouldhavenoproblemfindingaplacetosit.
Iwastheonlypersononthetrain.
Ipickedaspottositandsettledin.Andwithnothingelsetooccupymyattention,IreturnedmyattentiontoAcresofDiamondsandbeganreading…
WhengoingdowntheTigrisandEuphratesriversmanyyearsagowithapartyofEnglishtravelersIfoundmyselfunderthedirectionofanoldArabguidewhomwehiredupatBagdad,andIhaveoftenthoughthowthatguideresembledourbarbersincertainmentalcharacteristics.Hethoughtthatitwasnotonlyhisdutytoguideusdownthoserivers,anddowhathewaspaidfordoing,butalsotoentertainuswithstoriescuriousandweird,
ancientandmodern,strangeandfamiliar.ManyofthemIhaveforgotten,andIamgladIhave,butthereisoneIshallneverforget.
Theoldguidewasleadingmycamelbyitshalteralongthebanksofthoseancientrivers,andhetoldmestoryafterstoryuntilIgrewwearyofhisstory-tellingandceasedtolisten.IhaveneverbeenirritatedwiththatguidewhenhelosthistemperasIceasedlistening.ButIrememberthathetookoffhisTurkishcapandswungitinacircletogetmyattention.Icouldseeitthroughthecornerofmyeye,butIdeterminednottolookstraightathimforfearhewouldtellanotherstory.ButIdidfinallylook,andassoonasIdidhewentrightintoanotherstory.
Saidhe,“IwilltellyouastorynowwhichIreserveformyparticularfriends”…andwhenheemphasizedthewords“particularfriends,”Ilistened…andIhaveeverbeengladIdid!
Ifeltmyeyesgettingtiredandloweredthebook.ButwhenIdid,IwasshockedtoseeIwasnolongeralone.Infact,thepassengercarwasentirelypackedwithpeople!Hadthetrainmadeastopandpickedupmorepeople?HadIbeensoengrossedinthebookIhadn’tnoticed?
Ireachedtoturndownthecornerofthepagetomarkmyplace,butbeforeIcould,ahandgrabbedmine.Ilookeduptoseeitwastheconductor,lookingdownonmelikeasternfather.
“Usethis,”theconductorsnarled,handingmeapurplesatinbookmark.“Oneneverfoldsthecornersofapage,notofatrueclassic,andcertainlynotinacivilizedsociety.”
“It’sjustapaperback,”Isaid.
“Oh,itis,isit?”theconductorsaid.Then,withoutwaitingforareply,theconductorcontinueduptheaisle,askingeachpassengerfortheirticketashewentalong.
Oddly,heneveraskedformine.
IplacedthebookmarkinmycopyofAcresofDiamonds,thenpulledoutmycellphonetocallKatie—onlytodiscovertherewasnoreception.
Iwouldhavetocallherlater.
Iclosedmyeyes,thebrightafternoonsunflashingthroughthewindowsoftherailcarlikeahypnoticstrobelight.Beforelong,Idriftedofftosleep,thepaperbackcopyofRussellConwell’sAcresofDiamondssittinginmylap.
“AsIgrowolder,Ipaylessattentiontowhatmensay.Ijustwatchwhattheydo.”
–AndrewCarnegie
TrackFour:
WakinginAnotherTime
ItseemedlikeonlymomentshadpassedwhentheAcresofDiamondsbookfellfrommylapandhitmyfoot,wakingme.
WhenIreacheddowntoretrievethebook,Iimmediatelynoticedthescuffedgraylinoleumfloorhadbeenreplacedwithhighlypolishedwood.
Icouldalsotellitwasnighttime.CouldIhaveslepttheentireday?
Isatupslowlyandlookedaround.Whatinthe…?
Itwasn’tjustthefloorthathadchanged.Everythingwasdifferent.Thetraincarwasold,likesomethingoutofamoviefromtheturnofthelastcentury—yetitlookedbrandnew.Shinybrassfittingsandpolishedoakgleamedspotlessly,asifthetrainhadjustcomeoffthefactoryassemblylineorundergonearestorationbytheSmithsonian.
Iturnedtolookatthemanseatedonmyleftandfoundmyselfdoingadouble-takewhenIsawtheBowlerhatonhisheadandgianthandle-barmustacheonhisface.Hewassomeonestraightoutofahaberdasher’scataloguecirca1880inasharplytailoredbrownsuitwithnarrowlapels,astarchedwingtip-collaredshirt,andafour-in-handtie.
Acrosstheaisle,anothermansatreadinganewspaperandsmokinganenormouspipe.Bytheman’ssidesattwoyounggirls,identicallydressedinlightbluedresses,trimmedinwhitelaceatthecollarandsleeves.Blueandwhitebonnetssatperchedonthegirl’sheads,remindingmeofsomelong-ago-forgottenbutterad.
AsIglancedaround,Isawthateverypersononthetrainwasdressedinasimilarmanner.
“Excuseme,”Isaidtothemanacrossfrommewiththeidenticallydressedgirls.
Themanloweredhispaper.“Mightyoubespeakingtome?”
ItsuddenlydawnedonmeIhadnoideawhatIwantedtoask.
“Daddy,whyisthatmandressedsofunny?”oneofthetwoyounggirlsasked.Shewasright,ofcourse.Iwastheonewholookedoutofplace,havingdressed
Shewasright,ofcourse.Iwastheonewholookedoutofplace,havingdressedcasuallyforthetrip—inrunningshorts,Nikeshoes,andaNewYorkYankeesbaseballcap.
Themanslowlylookedmeoverfromheadtotoe,hiseyesfinallyrestingonmyhat.“AfanoftheKnickerbockers,Isee,”themansaid.
“TheKnickerbockers?”Irepeated.
“Oldestbaseballclubintheleague.Doyoubelievetheirfutureisbright?”
“Daddy,whyisheinhisundergarments?”oneofthegirlsasked,hervoiceloudenoughthatvirtuallyeveryheadinthetraincarturnedinourdirection.
“Bepolite,Sylvia,”saidthegirl’sfather.“Iamcertaintheyoungmanhashisreasons.“ItisclearheisheadinghometoNewYork,andthatisallweneedknow.”
“Actually,I’mfromChicago,”Isaid.
“Chicago?”themanbellowed.“Whyinheaven’snamewouldyouliveinonecity,yetcheerforaballclubfromanother?”Theentirerailcareruptedinlaughterattheman’scomment,whichseemedquitehumoroustoeveryonebutme.
Ineededtoberescued.AndIwas.
“I,myself,amfromthecityofPhiladelphia,yetIprefertheBostonRedStockingsclub,”cameavoice,thelaughtersuddenlydyingdown.“Comesitwithme,youngman,andweshalldiscussourteams.”
*
Istoodandwalkedbacktowherethemanwassittingandloweredmyselfintoanemptyseatoppositehim.
“Ihopeyoudon’tmindmyintrusionintoyourconversation,”themansaid,“butitappearedasifyouneededsomeonetotossyouarope.”
“Thatobvious,huh?”Isaid.
“Further,mayIassumethatyoudonotwishtodiscussthegameofbaseballanymorethanI?”
“Rightagain,”Isaidinagreement.“Baseballisthelastthingonmymind
“Rightagain,”Isaidinagreement.“Baseballisthelastthingonmymindrightnow.”
“Isthereastoryyoufindyourselfwishingtoshare?”
Iwasn’treallysureifexplainingmysituationwassuchagoodidea.Ihadnodesiretobeplacedinastraightjacketandlockedupinsomeasylumsomewhere,butIdecidedtotakeachance.“Well,I’mnotsurewhat’shappening,orhowIgothere,”Isaid.
“Didyouboardthewrongtrain?”themanasked.
“I’mafraidifItoldyou,youwouldn’tbelieveme,”Isaid.
“Well,then,ifthatbethecaseletussimplysitinthepresenceofeachother’scompanyandenjoythesoundofthetrainwheelsonthemetalrailsbelowusastheydeliverustoourdestinations,”themansaidwithacontentedsmile.
Forthenextfiveminutes,themanandIsattogether—neitherofussayingaword—asmymindracedthroughavarietyofpossibilities,noneofwhichmadeanysense.ThenIhadathought.
“Whatyearisit?”Iasked,breakingthesilence.
“Theyear?Why,thisistheyearofourlord,eighteen-hundredandeighty-eight,”themansaidmatter-of-factly.“Praytell,whatyeardidyouassumeittobe?”
Ifeltsickandleanedbackinmyseatandclosedmyeyes.
“Youlookashen,”themansaid.“PerhapsIshouldcallforsomeassistance?”
“No,no,justgivemeasecond,”Isaid,takingdeepbreathsandtryingtocalmmyselfdown.“I’llbefine…”
Iwaswrong.
“Thegameoflifeisagameofboomerangs.Ourthoughts,deedsandwordsreturntoussooneror
laterwithastoundingaccuracy.”–FlorenceScovelShinn
TrackFive:
MeetingRussellConwell
WhenIawokeIfoundmyselfonagurneyinthetrain’shospitalcar,adoctorinawhitecoatstandingoverme.Thedoctortookhisfingersandsqueezedmyneck.
“Doesn’tappeartohavemumps,andnosignofmeasles,”thedoctorsaidtothewell-dressedmanstandingnexttohim.“Inmyopinion,theboyissimplyovertiredandperhapsdehydrated.Ishouldthinkheisinnodanger,butitwouldbebestifsomeoneweretowatchoverhimincaseofarelapse.”
“Youcanreleasehiminmycare,”mynewfriendsaid.“Istheresomethingyouwishtohavemesign?”
“Whatisyourname,son?”thedoctorasked.
“Christopher,ChristopherPowers,”Ireplied.
Thedoctorwrotemynameonaformandhandedittomynewguardian,whosignedhisnameasIattemptedtopullmyselftogether.
“Thereisthesmallmatteroftwodollarsowed,”thedoctorsaid.“Doyouwishtosettleincash,orwouldyouprefertohavethebalancebilledtoyouraccount?”
“Myaccountwouldbepreferable,”mynewfriendsaid.
“Verywell.LetmejustbesureIcanreadyoursignature,”thedoctorsaid,pullinghisreadingglassesfromthepocketofhiswhitecoat.“Mr.RussellH.Conwell,isthatcorrect?”
Ifeltasuddentightnessinmychest.Didhejustsay…?
“Yes,”mynewfriendsaid,“butlikeyou,Iamadoctor—Dr.RussellH.Conwell.”
Mygaspmusthavebeenaudible.
Bothmenturnedandlookedatme,and—forthesecondtimeinlessthananhour—theroomwentblackaroundme.
TrackSix:
“IHaveWrittenNoSuchBook”
OnceI’drecoveredandwe’dreturnedtoourseatsinthepassengercar,Isaid,“YouaskedmeearlierwhatyearIthoughtitwas.Well,theanswertoyourquestionis2014.”
“Gad!Morethanone-hundredyearsfromnow?”Dr.Conwellasked.
Inodded.
Silencehungintheair.
“Andthere’smore,”Icontinued.“Iwasgivenacopyofyourbooktodayasagiftfrommywife,somethingtoreadonthetrain.”
“Andwhatbookmightthatbe?”Dr.Conwellasked.
“AcresofDiamonds,”Isaid.
“AcresofDiamonds?”Dr.Conwellrepeated.“Ihavewrittennosuchbook.”
“Ofcourseyouhave,”Isaid.“AcresofDiamondsisthebookyou’refamousfor.”
“Thatissimplyanuntruth,”Conwellsaid,shakinghisheadfromsidetoside.“DoyounotthinkIwouldknowitif—”
“Thenhowdoyouexplainthis?”Isaid,cuttinghimoffandholdingupthepaperback.
“Letmeseethat!”hesnapped,snatchingthebookfrommyhandandflippingthroughthefirstfewpages.“DearGod,thisismydiamondstory.”
“That’swhatI’vebeentryingtotellyou,Dr.Conwell.”
“Butwheredidthistitlecomefrom?”hesaid,hisfacereddeningwithanger.
“Areyousayingyoudidn’tcomeupwiththetitleAcresofDiamonds?”Iasked.
“Comeupwithit?I’venevereventhoughtit!”Conwellsnapped.“Notthatit’sabadtitle,mindyou—butitisnotatitleofmycreation.Ihavetoldthediamondstorymanytimes,butneverbythisname.”
“Whattitlehaveyoubeenusing?”
“TheArab’sTale,”Dr.Conwellsaid.“Now,Idemandthatyouexplainthisparlortrickofyours.”
Thenithitme.IgrabbedthebookfromDr.Conwell’shandandturnedtothebiographypage.“Yes!Thatexplainsit.”
“Explainswhat?”
“Yousaidthisis1888,right?Well,itsayshereAcresofDiamondswasfirstpublishedbytheJohnHuberCompanyin1890,”Isaid.“Thereasonyoudon’tknowanythingaboutwritingitisbecauseyouhaven’twrittenityet—andwon’tforanothertwoyears.”
“IknownothingofaJohnHuberorhiscompany,”Conwellsaid.“Ihavenotasingleclueastowhotheyare.”
“Well,youwill,”Isaid.
Conwellremainedsilentforseveralseconds,thenaskedinamorefriendlytone,“Andthisbook—thisAcresofDiamonds—doesitdowell?”
“Dowell?Itbecomesaninternationalbestseller.Betweenthebookandthespeech,youearnenoughmoneytobuildTempleUniversity.So,yeah,I’dsayitdoesokay,”Isaidwithabitofjokingsarcasminmyvoice.
“YoumeanTempleCollege?”hesaid.
“I’mguessingthenamegetschangedtoUniversity,”Isaid.“Inanycase,you’retheonewhogetsitbuilt.”
“Areyouquitecertain?”Conwellasked.
“Absolutely,”Isaid.
“Peoplewhoareunabletomotivatethemselvesmustbecontentwithmediocrity,nomatterhow
impressivetheirothertalents.”–AndrewCarnegie
TrackSeven:
HattieMay
Nightfell,thenmorningcame.Butnothinghadchanged.
Ifoundmyselfstillonthetrainintheyear1888withDr.RussellH.Conwell—authorofoneofthegreatestmotivationalbooksofalltime—andneitherofushadtheslightestexplanationastowhatwashappeningorwhy.
“Woulditbefairtoassumethatbookofyourshasinformationregardingmyeventualdemise?”Dr.Conwellaskedaswesatinthediningcarhavingbreakfast.
“Thisbookofyours,”Isaid.“Andtoansweryourquestion,yes;thereisafullbiographyattheback,includingthedateof…”Iallowedmywordstotrailoff,findingitimpossibletosaythewordaloud.
“…mydeath,”Dr.Conwellfinished.
“Yes.”
“Iadmit,everypartofmybeingwishestoreadwhatiswrittenthere,butIamquitecertainthedateofmydemiseisinformationwhichshouldbeknownonlytoGod,”Conwellsaid.“Assuch,itmustremainunknowntome.”
“Ofcourse,”Isaid,feelingsomewhatuncomfortablethatIknewthedateDr.Conwellwasworkingsohardtoavoidknowing—adatethatwasstillthirty-sevenyearsoff.
“However…”
“However,what?”Iasked.
“Withoutyourreferencinganythingwritteninmybiography,mightyoubewillingtoreadmesomeofthestoryfromthatbook?”Conwellasked.
“Idon’tthinkthatwouldhurtanything,”Isaid.Ipulledthebookfrommybagandturnedtothefirstpageofthetext,thenbeganreadingaloud:WhengoingdowntheTigrisandEuphratesriversmanyyearsagowithapartyofEnglishtravelers,makingacircuitoftheearthasthecorrespondentoftheNewYorkTribune…IfoundmyselfunderthedirectionofanoldArabguidewhomwehiredupatBagdad,andIhaveoftenthoughthowthatguideresembledour
barbersincertainmentalcharacteristics.
“Myheavens!”Conwellexclaimed.“ItisexactlyasItellit!”
“Ofcourseitisbecauseyouwroteit,”Isaid.“Well,youwillwriteit.”
“Amazing.”
“Doyouwantmetocontinue?”
“Betteryet,allowmetotellthenextpartasyoureadsilentlyalongandverifymyaccuracy,”Conwellsaid,closinghiseyesasifsearchingforascriptwrittenintheconfinesofhismind.Thenhebegan…
Hethoughtthatitwasnotonlyhisdutytoguideusdownthoserivers,anddowhathewaspaidfordoing,butalsotoentertainuswithstoriescuriousandweird,ancientandmodern,strangeandfamiliar.ManyofthemIhaveforgotten,andIamgladIhave,butthereisoneIshallneverforget.
Dr.Conwellopenedhiseyes.“Well?”
“It’sthesame,”Isaid.“Literally,wordforword.”
Dr.Conwelllookedoutthewindowofthetraincar.Thenheturnedbackandsaid,“DoyouknowwhyIamhereonthistrain?”
“HowcouldI?”Isaid.“Idon’tevenknowwhyI’mhere.”
“IamonmyreturnfromChicago,fromattendingtheRepublicanNationalConventiontonominateacandidatefortheofficeofpresident.”
“Areyourunningforoffice?”Iasked.
“Oh,heavensno!”Conwellsaidwithalaugh.“Iattendedfortheexpresspurposeofmeetingpowerfulmen—moreaccurately,menwithenoughmoneytohelpfundanewchurchinmyhomecityofPhiladelphia.Ourcurrentstructureisburstingattheseams,withmembersofthecongregationstandinginthehallwaysandoutintheyardlisteningtosermonsthroughopenedwindows.”
“Howmuchmoneydoyouneed?”Iasked.
“Iamneitherabuildernorarchitect,butIamtoldtheamountneededis$109,000,perhapsmore.Tomakemattersworse,”Conwellcontinued,“thisamountissomethingIhavepublicallypromisedtoraisebuthave,asofyet,beenunabletosecure.”
“Can’tyoujustbackoutonthedeal?”Iasked.
“Perhaps,”hesaid,“butdoingsowouldresultinthelossofourdeposit.”
“Perhaps,”hesaid,“butdoingsowouldresultinthelossofourdeposit.”
“Howmucharewetalkingabout?”
“Fifty-sevencents,”Conwellsaid.
Icouldn’thelpbutlaugh,thinkingDr.Conwellwasmakingajoke.ButthenIcouldseehowsolemnandserioushewas.
“Itisnottheamount,”Conwellsaid.“Itiswherethefifty-sevencentscamefromthatmakesallthedifference.”
“Why?I’dlovetohearthestory,”Isaid.
“ItwasduringaSundaymorningservice,andlikeallSundayservicesoflate,thechurchwaspackedtothegills.AndthissituationwasespeciallytrueoftheSundayschoolroomoccupiedbythechildren.AnditwasasIwalkedfromonebuildingtothenextthatIcameuponacryingchild.Thechild’snamewasHattieMayWaitt.”
“Whatwasshecryingabout?”
“HattieMaywasdistraughtatnotbeingallowedintothechurchthatmorning,”Conwellcontinued.“Butwhatoptiondidwehave?Therewasnotenoughroomforanothersoul!So,IdidtheonlythingIcouldthinktodo—Ihoistedthesmallweepingchildonmyshouldersandcarriedherthroughthewaitingcrowdsandintothechurch.Itwasbecauseofthis,unbeknownsttome,thatlittleHattieMaydecidedthatshewouldtakeituponherselftoraisemoneytoexpandthechurch,sothatnootherlittleboyorgirlwouldhavetobeexcludedfromaservicethewayshehadbeen.”
“Wow,”Isaid.“That’sreallysomething.”
“Yes,itwasquitesomethingforachildtodoonherown,butthestorydoesnotendthere.IhadnoideauntilamonthlaterwhenHattieMay’sparentscameintomyofficecarryingasmallpiggybankandtoldme…”
Conwellstoppedasiftryingtoholdbacktears.
“Toldyouwhat?”Iasked.
“HattieMayhadcontracteddiphtheria,andpassedaway,”Conwellsaid.“Butnotbeforeshe’dgonetocollectmoneyfromeveryonesheknew—moneythatsheintendedtodonatetothechurch—heldinthatsmallceramicbank.”
“Fifty-sevencents?”Iasked,thoughIalreadyknewtheanswer.
“Yes,”Conwellsaidwithtearswellinginhiseyes.“AndthatiswhyIamhere.Yousee,Idecidedifthatsmall,sweetchildcouldtakeituponherselfto
here.Yousee,Idecidedifthatsmall,sweetchildcouldtakeituponherselftoraisethefirstfifty-sevencentsforanewchurch,then—byGod—mostcertainlyIcouldmanagetoraisetherest.”
“Manyamanacquiresafortunebydoinghisbusinessthoroughly,whilehisneighborremains
poorforlife,becauseheonlyhalfdoesit.Ambition,energy,industry,perseverance,areindispensablerequisitesforsuccessinbusiness.Fortunealwaysfavorsthebrave,andneverhelps
amanwhodoesnothelphimself.”–P.T.Barnum
TrackEight:
Ft.Wayne,Indiana
RussellConwellhadjustfinishedtellingthestoryaboutHattieMayandthefifty-sevencentswhenthedoortothediningcaropenedandtheconductorentered.
“Nextstop,Ft.Wayne,Indiana,”theConductorcalledout,“Nextstop,Ft.Wayne!”
“Howlongwillthetrainbeatthestation?”Conwellaskedtheconductorashestrodedowntheaisle.Theuniformedmancheckedhispocketwatchandsaid,“Thetrainwilldepartthestationinexactlyeighty-twominutes.”
Conwelljumpedtohisfeetwiththeenthusiasmofamuchyoungermanandsaid,“Dressyourselfinsuitableclothing,Christopher,andbequickaboutit.Ibelievethatifweleavethisinstantwewillhavejustenoughtime.”
*
Fifteenminuteslater,afterthrowingontheonlysuitandtieIbroughtwithme,IfoundmyselftryingtokeepupwithDr.Conwell.Iwasinaweofmysurroundings.
“Wherearewegoing?”Iaskedaswemadeourwaydownacobblestonestreetpastwell-dressedmenontheirwaytowork,newspaperboysshoutingabouttheday’sheadline,anddodgingtheoccasionalhorse-drawncarriage.
“Ah!Thisisperfect!”exclaimedDr.Conwellwhenhespiedared-and-white-stripedbarbershoppole.Weenteredtheshopandfounditpackedwithmen,readingtheirmorningpapersandpatientlywaitingfortheirturninthechair.
Wastingnotime,RussellConwellmadehiswaytothecenteroftheroomandbellowed,“Gentlemen,allowmetotellyouatale—atalewhichIbelievewillleaveyouenrichedfarbeyondthefewpenniesIwillaskofyouatthestory’sconclusion!”
IwatchedinamazementaseveryoneloweredtheirpapersandlistenedasDr.
RussellConwelltoldtheAcresofDiamondsstory…
Theoldguidewasleadingmycamelbyitshalteralongthebanksofthoseancientrivers,andhetoldmestoryafterstoryuntilIgrewwearyofhisstory-tellingandceasedtolisten.ButIrememberthathetookoffhisTurkishcapandswungitinacircletogetmyattention.Icouldseeitthroughthecornerofmyeye,butIdeterminednottolookstraightathimforfearhewouldtellanotherstory.ButIdidfinallylook,andassoonasIdidhewentrightintoanotherstory.
TheoldguidetoldmethatthereoncelivednotfarfromtheRiverIndusanancientPersianbythenameofAliHafed.HesaidthatAliHafedownedaverylargefarm,thathehadorchards,grain-fields,andgardens;thathehadmoneyatinterest,andwasawealthyandcontentedman.Hewascontentedbecausehewaswealthy…andwealthybecausehewascontented!
OnedaytherevisitedthatoldPersianfarmeroneoftheseancientBuddhistpriests,oneofthewisemenoftheEast.Hesatdownbythefireandtoldtheoldfarmerhowthisworldofourswasmade.Hesaidthatthisworldwasonceamerebankoffog,andthattheAlmightythrustHisfingerintothisbankoffog,andbeganslowlytomoveHisfingeraround,increasingthespeeduntilatlastHewhirledthisbankoffogintoasolidballoffire.Thenitwentrollingthroughtheuniverse,burningitswaythroughotherbanksoffog,andcondensedthemoisturewithout,untilitfellinfloodsofrainuponitshotsurface,andcooledtheoutwardcrust.Thentheinternalfiresburstingoutwardthroughthecrustthrewupthemountainsandhills,thevalleys,theplainsandprairiesofthiswonderfulworldofours.Ifthisinternalmoltenmasscameburstingoutandcooledveryquicklyitbecamegranite;lessquicklycopper,lessquicklysilver,lessquicklygold,and,aftergold,diamondsweremade.Saidtheoldpriest:“Adiamondisacongealeddropofsunlight!”
Dr.Conwellpausedthenandstrodearoundtheroom,makingeyecontactwitheachandeverypersonthere.Afterhewascertainhehadeachman’sundividedattention,hecontinued:
Thisisascientifictruth!Adiamondisanactualdepositofcarbonfromthesun!TheoldpriesttoldAliHafedthatifhehadonediamondthesizeofhisthumbhecouldpurchasethecounty,andifhehadamineofdiamondshecouldplacehischildrenuponthronesthroughtheinfluenceoftheir
greatwealth.AndhesaidanotherthingIwouldneverforget.
HedeclaredthatadiamondisthehighestofGod’smineralcreations,asawomanisthehighestofGod’sanimalcreations.Isupposethatisthereasonwhythetwohavesuchalikingforeachother!
Theroomeruptedwithlaughter.ItwasclearthatDr.RussellConwellknewhowtoworkaroom.
AliHafedheardallaboutdiamonds,howmuchtheywereworth,andwenttohisbedthatnightapoorman.Hehadnotlostanything,buthewaspoorbecausehewasdiscontented,anddiscontentedbecausehefearedhewaspoor.Hesaid:“Iwantamineofdiamonds!”Andhelayawakeallnight.
Earlyinthemorninghesoughtoutthepriest.Iknowbyexperiencethatapriestisverycrosswhenawakenedearlyinthemorning,andwhenheshookthatoldpriestoutofhisdreams,AliHafedsaidtohim:“WillyoutellmewhereIcanfinddiamonds?”
Well,then,goalongandfindthem.Thatisallyouhavetodo—goandfindthem,andthenyouhavethem!‘ButIdon’tknowwheretogo.’‘Well,ifyouwillfindariverthatrunsthroughwhitesands,betweenhighmountains,inthosewhitesandsyouwillalwaysfinddiamonds.’‘Idon'tbelievethereisanysuchriver.’‘Ohyes,thereareplentyofthem.Allyouhavetodoistogoandfindthem,andthenyouhavethem.’SaidAliHafed:“Iwillgo!”
Sohesoldhisfarm,collectedhismoney,lefthisfamilyinchargeofaneighbor,andawayhewentinsearchofdiamonds.Hebeganhissearch,veryproperlytomymind,attheMountainsoftheMoon.AfterwardhecamearoundintoPalestine,thenwanderedonintoEurope,andatlastwhenhismoneywasallspentandhewasinrags,wretchedness,andpoverty,hestoodontheshoreofthatbayatBarcelona,inSpain,whenagreattidalwavecamerollinginbetweenthepillarsofHercules,andthepoor,afflicted,suffering,dyingmancouldnotresisttheawfultemptationtocasthimselfintothatincomingtide,andhesankbeneathitsfoamingcrest,nevertoriseinthislifeagain.
Conwellpausedagain,waitingforthewaveofangerandfrustrationthatwasabouttocome:
“ThatistheworststoryIhaveeverheard!”oneofthebarbershoppatronsdeclared.“Youwishtoreceivepaymentforsuchmorbidity?”anotherasked.
declared.“Youwishtoreceivepaymentforsuchmorbidity?”anotherasked.“Whatkindofmotivationisittolearnthattheheroisnotonlykilled,buthasthrownhimselfintotheseaduetohisownfailure?”athirdmandemanded.
“Ah,butthat’sthething!”Conwellsaidwithagleaminhiseye.“Thisisbutthefirstchapterofthestory!But,fearnot,forIamabouttowriteabookthatwillchronicleeverydetailofthistale,includinganendingthatwillleaveyoustunnedinamazement!”
“IbelieveIwouldbuysuchabook,”onemansaid.
“AswouldI,”declaredanother.
“Verywell,then,”Conwellsaid,pullingastackofenvelopesfromhisjacketpocketandpassingthemout.“Ifyouwillwriteyournameandaddressononeoftheseenvelopes—andplaceameretwodollarsinside—Ishallmailacopytoyouuponitspublication.”
IstoodandwatchedinwonderasvirtuallyeverymanintheroomdugintotheirpocketsandplacedtheirenvelopesinDr.Conwell’soutstretchedhand.
“Thisbookofyours,Conwell,”amancalledout.“Whatisittitled?”
Dr.Conwellturnedandlookedinmydirection,smiled,andsaid,“ItshallbecalledAcresofDiamonds!”
“Withoutstruggle,therecanbenoprogress.Thosewhoprofesstofavorfreedom,andyetdepreciateagitation,aremenwhowantcrops
withoutplowinguptheground.”–FrederickDouglass
TrackNine:
TellMeAboutYourself
Were-boardedthetraininthenickoftimeandatelunchtogetherinthediningcar.
“Doyouwishtomakeanothervisitwiththedoctor?”Dr.Conwellasked.
“No,”Isaid.“Unlessthey’vegotapsychiatristonboard,Idon’tthinkthereisanythingtheycandotohelpme.”
Conwelllaughed.“So,Christopher,tellmeaboutyourself.Areyoumarried?”
“Yes,”Isaid.“HernameisKatie.We’vebeenmarriedforfiveyearsnow.”
“AndhaveyouandKatiebeenblessedwithchildren?”
“Notyet,”Isaid.“We’replanningtowhenthetimeisright.”
“Trustme,Christopher—thetimeisneverrightforchildren,”Dr.Conwellsaid.“Youjustdecide,moveahead,andhavethem.”
“Whataboutyou?”Iasked.“I’membarrassedtosayIknownothingaboutyou.”“Well,Katie’sathirdgradeschoolteacher,andI’mintheprocessofgettingournetworkmarketingbusinessofftheground.”Itsoundsrathercomplicated,”Conwellsaid.
“ExceptforthedateIgotomeetmymaker,”Conwellsaid.
IwishedIdidn’t.“It’slikecarryinganenormousweight,”Isaid.
“ImaginehowGodmustfeel,”Conwellsaid.
“So,haveyoueverbeenmarried?”Iasked,notrealizingthechordIwasabouttostrike.
“Twice,”Conwellreplied.“MyfirstwifeleftthisEarthin1872,leavingmewithtwosmallchildren.”
“I’msorry,”Isaid.
“Noneedtobesorry,Christopher,”Conwellsaid.“IbelieveGodhasaplan,evenifwedonotknowwhatthatplanisatthetime—likeyou—beinghereonthistrain.Thereiscertainlyareasonforit,thoughwearenotprivytopreciselywhyatthistime.”
whyatthistime.”
Ihopedhewasright.
“Whenmywifedied,IaskedGodwhyhehadtakenher,anddoyouknowhowheanswered?”
Ishookmyhead,no.
“Heansweredwiththegiftofathirdchild—agirl,bymysecondwife—whowouldneverhavebeenbornwithouteacheventinmylifehavinghappenedexactlyasithad,”Conwellsaidwithconviction.“Butenoughaboutme.Tellme,Christopher,howdoyouandKatiemakeyourlivingintheyear2014?”
Again,Irealizedhowdifferenteverythingwas
“Whatisthisendeavorofwhichyouspeak?125yearsearlier.Theconceptofnetworkmarketingdidn’tevenexist.So,howtoexplainit?
“Youknowhowsalespeoplearethebackboneofanybusiness,right?”Iasked.
“Certainly,”Conwellsaid.“Ihavereadthenumberisrapidlyapproachingone-hundredthousand.”
“We’vegotthatmanypeopleinjustonelegofourcompany.”
“Oneleg?”Conwellsaid.
ThiswasgoingtobemoredifficultthanIthought.
“Themainpointisnetworkmarketingcompaniesofferproductsthroughanetworkofpeoplewhodon’treallyworkforthecompany,”Isaid.“Theyworkforthemselves.”
“Entrepreneurialspirits,arethey?”Conwellasked.
“Yes,that’stheperfecttermforit,”Isaid.“Andeachpersonisresponsibleforfindingotherentrepreneurialspiritstojointhem,whichiswhyIwasheadedtoNewYork.”
“Therearen’tenoughoftheseentrepreneurialspiritsavailableinChicago?”
“No,ofcoursethereare,”Isaid.
“HaveyoureadmyAcresofDiamondsbookcovertocover?”Conwellasked.
“Notyet,”Isaid.“I’djuststarteditwhenIboardedthetrain.”
“Interesting,”Conwellsaid.“PerhapsIknowwhyyouareonthetrainafterall.”
all.”
“Really?Why?”
“Well,letusallowthingstoplaythemselvesoutabitand—ifIamright—Ishallsharemytheorywithyou,”Conwellsaid.
“Okay,”Isaid.
“Fornow,mayIaskyouradviceonsomething?”
“Sure,”Isaid,findingitimpossibletoimagineanythingIwasqualifiedtoofferadviceon.
“Agoodfriendofmine—AsaChandler,anentrepreneurialspiritmuchlikeyourself—islaunchinghisownenterprise.Foryears,AsamadehislivingasalowlypeddlerhawkingJohnPemberton’ssyruptorestaurants.However,throughhardwork,AsahasearnedenoughtobuyPemberton’sformulaforthesumof$2,300,anoutrageouspriceforasimpleformula,doyounotthink?”
“Idon’tknow,”Isaid.“What’sthesyrupcalled?”
“PembertoncalledhisdrinkCoca-Cola,”Conwellsaid.“Myfriend,however,isthinkingofchangingthename.”
Ialmostchoked.“Ithinkyourfriendmadeagooddecisioninbuyingtheformula,”Isaid.
“Thatisgoodtohear,”Conwellsaid.“Andwhatofthename?”
“TellhimtostickwithCoca-Cola.”
“ThereisnotapoorpersonintheUnitedStateswhowasnotmadepoorbyhisownshortcomings.
Itisallwrongtobepoor.”–RussellH.Conwell
TrackTen:
MeetingFlorence
ItriedseveraltimestoreachKatie,butitbecameobviousmycellphonewasuseless—itbeingtheyear1888andall.
SoIdidwhatIalwaysdidwhenthingsseemedoutsidemycontrol.
Itookanap.
WhenIwokeupanhourlater,Idiscoveredagirl,wholookedtobesixteenorseventeenyearsofage,checkingmeout.Shehadlongblackhairdowntohershoulders,bigdarkeyes,andcheekbonesthatweresopronouncedshealmostlookedmalnourished.Whatmadeherstandoutmost,however,wasthatshewastheonlypersononthetrainnotwearingahat.
“CanIhelpyou?”Iasked.
“IheardyouspeakingwithDr.Conwell,”thegirlsaid.
“DoyouknowDr.Conwell?”Iasked.
“Notpersonally,”shesaid,“butIhaveheardhimspeakseveraltimes.Dr.Conwellisagreatman.”
“Iagree,”Isaid.“Areyoualonehereonthetrain?”
“Yes,”shesaid.“IamonmywaybackhomeafterseveraldaysspentinChicagotofurthermyartstudies,butIalsointendtobeanauthorandlecturerlikeDr.Conwell.”
Thatexplainedwhyshewaslookingatme.ShewantedtomeetDr.Conwell.“Icouldintroduceyouif…”
“Thatwouldbeappreciated,butitisactuallyyouIdesiretospeakwith.”
Thatcaughtmeoffguard,“Me?Why?”
“Becauseyouknowthingsaboutthefuture,”shesaid.
“So,you’vebeeneavesdropping?”Isaidwithatingeofannoyanceinmyvoice.
“Itisnotasifyouhavebeenatalldiscreet,”thegirlsaid.“Youcouldnothavestoodoutmoreifyouweredressedinagorillacostumeandwearing
havestoodoutmoreifyouweredressedinagorillacostumeandwearingballerinaslippers.”
“Oh?”Ireplied,findingmyselfdefensive,eventhoughthegirlwastotallyright.“Well,youstandoutyourself,youknow.”
“Me?Istandout?”shesaid.“Howso,exactly?”
“Youaren’twearingahat,”Isaid.
“That’syourbestretort?”thegirlasked.“ThatIamhatless?”
Icouldn’thavefeltmorestupidifItried.
“LetmeenlightenyouastowhyIamwithoutahat,”thegirlcontinued.“IdonotwearahatbecauseIdonotlikehatsandrefusetobeaslavetofashion,engagedinthepitifulbehavioroffollowingothersinpursuitofacceptancebydonningthecurrentfads.”
Therewassomethingaboutthegirl—poise,confidence,guts,perhapsalloftheabove—thatcausedmetolikeherimmediately.
Besides,IneededallthefriendsIcouldget.
“What’syourname?”Iasked.
Thegirlrosetoherfeetbeforeresponding.“MynameisFlorenceScovelfromthefinecityofPhiladelphia.”
Istoodandheldoutmyhand.“Mynameis…”
“…Christopher,ofChicago,Illinois,”Florencesaid,takingmyhandandshakingitfirmly.“MayI?”
Florenceloweredherselfonthewoodenseatnexttomeandwastednotimegettingtothepoint.“Now,ChristopherofChicago—withoutthewasteofadditionaltime—pleasetellmeeverythingyouknowregardingthefuture.”
TrackEleven:
TellingoftheFuture
AswasthecasewithDr.Conwell,IwasprettysurethattellingFlorenceaboutthefuturewasabreachofuniversaletiquette,andI’dseenenoughtime-travelmoviestoknowitwasabadideatoscrewaroundwiththespace-timecontinuum.
Florencehadotherthoughtsonthesubject.
“AnyagreementsyouhavewithDr.Conwellarestrictlybetweenyouandhe,”Florencesaid.
“Andtheconsequencesbedamned?”Iasked.
“Yes,”Florencesaid.“Thereareconsequencestoallactions,andmightIremindyoutherewillbeconsequencestoyournottellingmewhatyouknow.”
Shehadapoint.Besides,therewasnousefightingit—FlorenceScovelwasaforceofnaturenottobedenied.“Sowhatdoyouwanttoknow?”
“Iwishtoknowwhatthefutureislike,andhowthingshavechanged.Arepeoplemorecomfortable?Whatwonderfulinventionshavebeencreated?Iwanttoknowitall!”
“Yougotahundredyearstospare?”Isaid.
“Excellentpoint,”Florencesaid.“Howaboutwestartwiththebiggesteventbetweenthismomentandyourtime.”
“Iguessthebiggestthingthathappensisin1969,whentheUnitedStateslandsamanonthemoon.”
“Thatisnotpossible!”Florenceshrieked,causingeveryoneinthetraincartoturnandlookatus.Irealizedmymistakeinstantly.IfIweretoshareinformationaboutthefuture,Iwouldhavetotakeitalittleslower.
“Maybeweshoulddothischronologically,startingtodayandworkingforward,”Isaid.
“Perhapsthatwouldbebest,”Florencesaid,havingcalmeddown.
Thinkingthatfifteenyearsinthefuturewouldn’tbetoomuchofaleapforFlorence,Istartedagain.“In1903,OrvilleandWilberWrightcompletethefirst
Florence,Istartedagain.“In1903,OrvilleandWilberWrightcompletethefirstsuccessfulairplaneflight.”
Iwaswrong.
“DearGod!”Florenceshouted,everyheadturningonceagaininourdirection.Florenceloweredhervoice.“Areyoutellingmethatmanwilltakeflightinamerefifteenyears’time?”
“Theyonlygetoffthegroundforafewseconds,butyes—anditchangestheworld,”Isaidquietly.“Peoplewho’dnevertraveledmorethanafewhundredmilesintheirlivesstartgoingallovertheworld.”
“My,whatIwouldgivetowitnesssuchanevent!”Florencesaid.“Tellme,Christopher,wheredoesthishistoricmomenttakeplace?”
Inforpenny,inforapound.
“It’saplacecalledKittyHawk,”Isaid.“IntheCarolinas.”
Florence’seyeswerebrightwithexcitement,asifshewereglowinginside.“Whatelse?”sheasked.“Please,tellmemore!Whathappensnext?”
IfoundmyselfwishingI’dhadahistorybookwithme,orataminimumhavingpaidbetterattentioninhistoryclass.“IguessthenextthingisHenryFord’sinventionoftheassemblyline.Thismakesitpossibletobuildcars—automobiles—cheaplyenoughthatanyonecanownone.Bytheyear1950,peoplewillbedrivingallacrossthecountryonasystemcalledhighways.”
“Canthisallbetrue?”Florenceasked.
Inodded.“Butthere’ssomebadstuff,too,Florence.TheSpanishfluisgoingtokillsomethinglikeone-hundredmillionpeoplein1918orthereabout.IfIrememberright,itmostlykillsyoungerpeople,soyou’regoingtowanttowatchoutforthat.”
“Yousaythisasifitiswritteninstone,”Florencesaid.“Certainlythere’sawaytostopsuchatragedy?”
“Idon’tthinkso,”Isaid.“Thegoodnewsistherearemanyadvancesinmedicine—antibioticsandvaccinesforpolioandmeaslesandsmallpox—whichsavesmillionsofpeoplewhowouldhavedied.”
“Beyondbelief,”shereplied.
“Gettingbacktoourchronology,”Isaid,“thenextbigthingwillbethestockmarketcrashof1929,followedbyTheGreatDepression.But,asusual,AmericacomesoutofitokaybytheendofWorldWarI.”
comesoutofitokaybytheendofWorldWarI.”
“Theentireworldisatwar?”
“Yeah,andthere’sasecondoneagainstGermanyagain.ButJapangetsinvolvedbyattackingPearlHarbor.ThenweinvadeFrance,takeoutAdolphHitler,andthenAlbertEinsteinfiguresouthowtosplittheatomandthenwe—”
“PearlHarbor?”Florenceasked,tryingdesperatelytokeepup.
“It’sinHawaii.”
“There’ssomuchtotakein,”Florencesaid.“Please,Christopher,justtellmethis.Islifebetterinthefuture?”
“Better?Betterisaprettysubjectiveterm,”Isaid.“But,yeah—overallthingsarebetterforvirtuallyeveryone.”
“Thatisgoodtohear,”Florencesaid.“Whatoftheotherinventionstocome?”
Again,Ididn’twanttojumptoofarahead.“Well,wecreateathingcalledtelevision,whichallowspicturestobetransmittedthroughtheairandpeoplecanwatchshowsonaboxinyourlivingroom.Actually,ifmycellphoneworkedwecouldwatchTVrighthereonthetrain.”
“Idonotunderstandwhatyouaresaying,”Florencesaid,lookingdismayed.Ofcourseshedidn’tunderstand.Howcouldshe?
“Acellphoneisatelephoneyoucarrywithyouwhereveryougo,”Isaid,pullingoutmycellandshowingittoher.“Ihavenoreceptionrightnow—probablybecausecellphonetowerswon’tbeinventedforanotherhundredyears—butthebatteryisstillchargedsoatleastthegameswork.”
“Games?Suchaschessandbackgammon?”sheasked.
“Yeah,buttherearealotofothers,too,likeCandyCrushandAngryBirds,”Isaid.“Here,I’llshowyou.”
IshowedAngryBirdstoheronthecellphonescreen.“Thepointofthegameistoflingdifferentkindsofbirdsatthepigs,andtrytokillthem.”
“Pleasetellmethisisnotthebestofwhatthefuturebrings?”Florencesaid.“Murderingpigswithfrustratedfowl?”
“Angrybirds,”Icorrected.“And,no,there’ssomuchmore—indoorplumbing,refrigerators,frozenfood,laptops,electricity,washingmachines,vacuumcleaners,microwaveovens,theInternet.Oh,andpeoplefinallycometotheconclusionthatsmokingcauseslungcancer,”Isaidjustabitmoreloudly
theconclusionthatsmokingcauseslungcancer,”Isaidjustabitmoreloudlythannecessarysothatsomeofthemanysmokersinthetraincarcouldhearmethroughthehazeofpipeandcigarsmoke.
“Smokingkillspeople?”Florenceasked.
“Absolutely,smokingisoneoftheworstthingsyoucando,”Isaidagain,evenmoreloudlythistime.
“Thefutureyoudescribe,itsoundslikeaplaceofmadness,”Florencesaid.
“Yes,Iguessitdoes,”Isaid.
“Pleasedonotmisunderstandme,Christopher,”Florencesaid.“Itsoundslikeaplaceofwonderful,gloriousmadness!Aplacewheretherearenolimits—whetheryouareamanorwoman—andanythingispossible.Andtothinkthereistalkaboutshuttingdownthepatentoffice.”
“Shutdownthepatentoffice?”Iaskedindisbelief.“Whywouldanyonewanttoshutdownthepatentoffice?”
“Thecommissioner,amanbythenameofCharlesDuell,hasthenotionthateverythingthatcanbeinventedalreadyhasbeen,”Florencesaidwithdisgust.“Ihavealwaysbelievedhimtobeafool,andnow—withyourtalesofthemanyfabulousinventionstocome—youhaveconfirmedit.”
Allthistalkaboutinventionssuddenlymademethinkofsomething.“HasAlexanderGrahamBellinventedthetelephonealready?”Iasked.
“Yes,we’vehadtelephonessinceIwasayounggirl.Theyarestillverynew,however,sonoteveryonehasoneyetlikeinyourfuture.”
“Doyouthinkyoucouldhelpmefindone,Florence?”
“Certainly,butunderonecondition.”Florencesaid.
“Yes,I’dbegladtointroduceyoutoDr.Conwell,”Isaid.
“Actually,”Florencesaidwithaslysmile,“Iwashopingyou’dallowmetoplayAngryBirds.”
“Ifyouwanttobehappy,setagoalthatcommandsyourthoughts,liberatesyourenergy,
andinspiresyourhopes.”–AndrewCarnegie
TrackTwelve:
Cleveland,Ohio
Nextstop,Cleveland,Ohio!”theconductorannounced,advisingpassengerswhoexitedthetraintore-boardnolaterthan7:30p.m.
Iglancedatmywatchandsawitwas5:42p.m.
“Ifweleaverightaway,”IsaidtoFlorence,“weshouldbeabletofindaphoneandgetbackbeforethetraindeparts.”
“Ah,Christopher,thereyouare!”Dr.Conwellcalledout,workinghiswayuptheaisleofthepassengercartowardus.“IthoughtClevelandanexcellentopportunitytosharetheAcresofDiamondstaleagain.Wouldyoucaretocomealong?”
“Sure,butwoulditbeokayifIbroughtafriendalong?”Iasked.
“Andwhomightthisfriendbe?”Conwellasked.
“Dr.Conwell,thisisFlorenceScovel,”Isaid.
“Goodevening,Dr.Conwell,”Florencesaid,extendingherhand.“IwaspresentatyourtalkattheBaptistTempleinPhiladelphiatwoyearsago.Veryeye-opening,ifImaysayso.”
Conwellsmiledandlookedpleased.“Itisadelighttomeetyou,Florence.Iappreciatethekindwords.”
“Florenceisgoingtohelpmefindatelephone,”Isaid.“Itprobablywon’twork,butIhavetotryandreachKatie.”
“Thenwebestmovealongifwewishtoaccomplishourobjectives,”Conwellsaid.
*
Dr.ConwellledFlorenceandIdownalongstreetthroughthecenterofCleveland—pastbakeriesandbutchershopsandliveplayhouses—untilwecame
uponafirehouse.
“Ah,theperfectplacetopresentmytalk!”Dr.Conwellexclaimed.
“Doyouthinkthefirestationwouldhaveaphone?”Iasked.
“Iwouldthinktheyshould,”Florencesaid.
“Perhaps,butIwouldthinkthepolicestationabetterbet,”Conwellsaid.“Haveyougotmoney?”
Money?Theanswertothatwasyesandno.
“Here,”Conwellsaid,digginginthepocketofhistrousersandpullingoutseveralcoins.“Makingatelephoniccallisnotaninexpensivematter.”
“Thankyou.FlorenceandIwillcatchuptoyouassoonaswecan,”Isaid,checkingmycellphoneonelasttime—justincase—onlytodiscoverthebatterywascompletelydead.
“Sorry,”Florencesaidwithasheepishgrin.“IhopeIdidnotdestroyit.IwasplayingwithyourAngryBirds,anditwentdarkandstopped.”
“It’sokay,”Isaid.“Thephoneisthemostimportantthing,andithasn’tworkedsinceIgotonTheDiamondLine,andthere’snoreasontothinkit’sgoingtostartworkingnow.”
Unfortunately,findingaphonewasharderthaneitherofusthought.Finally,Florencespottedapoliceofficer.“Couldyoudirectustoyourpolicestation?”Florenceasked.
Thecoplookedmeupanddown,checkingoutmyoddclothing.“Isthismanbotheringyou,miss?”
“Notintheleast,”Florencesaid.“Wesimplyneedtofindatelephone.Isthestationequippedwithone?”
“Wehaveatelephone,”thecopsaid,myspiritslifting.“Butthedevicehasnotbeenoperationalforseveraldays.Awonderfulinventionwhenitoperates.MightIsuggestyoutrythehospital?Itisaboutonemilefromhereinthatdirection.”
Thecoppointedhisfingertothewest,andtenminuteslaterFlorenceandIenteredthelobbyofClevelandGeneral.
*
Thephonelookedjustlikesomethingoutofanoldmovie—awoodenboxmountedtothewallwithahandsetontopinametalcradle—andtwosilverbellsononeside,andacrankhandleontheother.
“HowdoIdialit?”Iasked.
“Youhaveneverusedaphone?”Florenceasked.
“Notonelikethis.Thisthingisasnewtomeasmycellphoneistoyou.”
“Yousimplypickupthehandset,andtelltheoperatorthenameofthepartyyouwishtoconnectto,”Florencesaid.IliftedthehandsetasFlorenceinstructedandplacedittomyear,butnothinghappened.“Oh,Iforgotthatyoumustcrankitfirst.”
Florencereachedoverandcrankedthehandleseveraltimesand—sureenough,amomentlater—anoperatorcameontheline.“Whomdoyouwishtoring?”thefemaleoperatorsaid.
“ThenumberI’mtryingtoreachis—“
“Nameoftheparty,please,”theoperatorsaid.
“Um,hernameisKatiePowers,and—“
“Whatexchangeisyourpartyin?”theoperatorasked.
“Exchange?What’sanexchange?”Isaid.
“Klondike?Spring?Butterfield?”theoperatorasked.“Imustknowtheexchange.”
“Idon’tknow,”Istammered.“HernameisKatiePow—“
“Iamsorrysir,butIcannotmakeyourconnectionwiththeinformationprovided.ThankyouforusingtheBellTelephoneCompany.”
Thelinewentdead.
Iplacedthehandsetbackinitssilvercradle,feelingtotallydefeated.
“Iamtrulysorry,Christopher,”Florencesaid.
Justthen,thebellonthesideofthephonebegantoring.
Iknewthecallcouldn’tpossiblybeforme,ofcourse,butIreachedoutandliftedthehandsetanyway.
Atfirst,allIcouldhearwasaloudcracklingsound,butthen—tomyimmense
Atfirst,allIcouldhearwasaloudcracklingsound,butthen—tomyimmenseshockandsurprise—IheardKatie’svoice.
Itwasveryfaint,asifithadtraveledamillionmiles.
Butitwasher.
“Katie?”Isaidloudly.“Katie,isthatyou?”
“Christopher?”Iheardherask.
“Yes!”Ipracticallyyelled.“Yes,it’sme!”
“Yousoundsofaraway,”Katiesaid.
Shehadnoidea.
“Howdidyouknowtocallmehere?”Iasked.
“Whatdoyoumean?”Katiesaid.“Youcalledme?”
Thiswasgettingcreepierbytheminute.
“Whereareyou?”sheasked.“Whenyoudidn’tcallIgotworried.Areyouattheconference?”
“No,”Isaid,shoutingtomakesureshecouldhearmeoverthecracklingsoundonthephoneline.“I’minCleveland.”
“Cleveland?”Katiesaid.“WhyareyouinCleveland?”
“Somethinghappened,Katie…”
“Areyouinthehospital?Areyouhurt?”sheaskedfrantically.
“It’shardtoexplain,butIthinkit’sgotsomethingtodowiththebookyouboughtme.”
“AcresofDiamonds?”sheasked.ThecracklingsoundwassoloudnowIcouldbarelymakeoutwhatshewassaying.“Tellmewhereyouare.”
“I’monatrainwithRussellConwell,”Isaid.
Therewasalongsilence,thenKatiesaid,“That’snotfunny,Christopher.Tellmethetruth.Whereareyou?”
ButbeforeIcouldrespond,thecrackingnoiseabruptlystoppedandtherewasnothingbutsilence.
“Katie?Katie!”Iyelledintothephone,butitwasnouse.
Shewasgone.
*
WhenFlorenceandIreunitedwithDr.Conwellonthetrain,hewasecstatic.“Theyateitup!”hesaid.“Ireceivedseventy-twodollarsinorders.HowIwishyoucouldhavebeenthere.”
“Thingstooklongerthanwethought,”Isaid.
“Christophertalkedtohiswifeacrosstheexpanseoftime,”Florencesaid.
“Isthistrue,Christopher?”
“Yes,”Isaid.“Idon’tknowhow,butitwasher.ItwasKatie.”
“Itwastrulyamiracle,”Florencesaid.
“Perhaps,”Dr.Conwellsaid.“That,orGodhastakenapositionworkingforMr.Bell.”
“Mostpeopleconsiderlifeabattle,butitisnotabattle,itisagame.”–FlorenceScovel-Shinn
TrackThirteen:
Harrisburg,Pennsylvania
Howdidallthesepeopleknowtobehere?”IaskedasthetrainpulledintothestationinHarrisburg.
“Ihavenoearthlyidea,”Conwellsaid,peeringthroughthepassengercarwindowsatthecrowdgatheredbeneathaseaofblackumbrellasinasteadilyfallingrain.
“Wordofyourtalkmusthavespread,”Florencesaid.
Dr.Conwellpulledhimselfawayfromtheglass.“Wouldeitherofyouliketojoinme?Perhapssayafewwords?”
SharingtheplatformwithaniconlikeRussellConwellwouldbeadreamforsomepeople,butmyfearofpublicspeaking—evenifjustafewwords—madeitimpossibleformetoaccepttheinvitation.
“IthinkI’dliketoexperiencethemomentwiththecrowd,”Isaid.“Butthanks.”
“IdonotcarewhatChristopherwantstodo,”Florencesaid.“IdohaveafewwordsIwouldliketoshare—fromawoman’sperspective.”
*
Minuteslater,Ifoundmyselfinthecrowd—shoulder-to-shoulderwithfivehundredmenandwomeninadrivingrain,workingmywayfromumbrellatoumbrella—eachofwhomhadcometohearDr.ConwelldeliverhisnewlytitledAcresofDiamondstalk.
Finally,thereardoorsofthetrainswungopen,andDr.Conwellsteppedoutontherearplatformofthetraintothunderousapplause,withyoungFlorenceScovelbyhisside.
Dr.Conwellremainedsilent,patientlywaitingforthechantsof“Speech!Speech!”todieaway.Thenheclearedhisthroatandbegan:
Thankyou,dearfriends,forbravingtherainofthisunusuallycoldandrainyday!Itismysincerepromisethatyoushallconsidertheeffortworthwhile.Thatsaid,Iamastonishedthatsomanypeopleshouldcaretohearthisstory,whichisastudyinpsychology,onewhichbreaksallrulesoforatoryanddepartsfromthepreceptsofrhetoric.
Ihavesometimesstudiedforayearuponalectureandmadecarefulresearch,puttingtoomuchworkonit,thenpresentedthelecturejustonce—andneverdelivereditagain!Butthislecture,thishadnoworkonit—throwntogetherperfectlyatrandom,spokenoffhandwithoutanyspecialpreparation,toldfromtimetotimetofriendsatdinner,butneverrisingtothelevelofbeingalecture,anentirefailure.
Untilnow,untilthisverymoment,whereIhavecometopredictthatthislecture—whichInowcallAcresofDiamonds—willbecomethemostfamousofallandwillonedaybefoundinbooksinnearlyeverylibrary.DonotaskmehowIknowsuchthings,buttrustmewhenItellyou,Ido.
The“AcresofDiamonds”aboutwhichIhavementionedaretobefoundinthiscity,inHarrisburg,orforthatmatterfromwhereveryoumayhavetraveledtobehere.Infact,manyhavefoundthem!Andwhatanymanhasdone,anyothermancando.
AndnowIshallsharethetale…
Dr.Conwellpausedforafulltenseconds,allowingtheexcitementtobuild,andthenlaunchedintothestory:
WhengoingdowntheTigrisandEuphratesriversmanyyearsagowithapartyofEnglishtravelers…
Dr.ConwelldeliveredtheportionsofthestoryI’dheardhimsharealready—aboutAliHafedsellinghisfarmandsettingabouttofindthediamonds,onlytofailinhisquest.
JustastheaudiencehadinthebarbershopinFt.Wayne,thecrowdgaspedinhorrorwhenConwellreachedthepointinthestorywhenAliHafedflunghimselfintothesea.
Knowinghowtoworkthecrowd,Dr.Conwellwaitedforthepreciserightmomenttojumpbackin.“Butthereismore!”heshouted.
Whenthatoldguidetoldmethatawfullysadstory,hestoppedthecamelIwasridingonandwentbacktofixthebaggagethatwascomingoff
anothercamel,andIhadanopportunitytomuseoverhisstorywhilehewasgone.Thereseemedtobenobeginning,nomiddle,noend,nothingtoit.ThatwasthefirststoryIhadeverheardtoldinmylife—andwouldbethefirstoneIeverread—inwhichtheherowaskilledinthefirstchapter.Ihadbutonechapterofthatstory,andtheherowasdead!
Thecrowdnoddedinagreementandrelaxed,knowingtherewasmoretocome.
Whentheguidecamebackandtookupthehalterofmycamel,hewentrightaheadwiththestory,intothesecondchapter,justasthoughtherehadbeennobreak,saying:“Oneday,themanwhopurchasedAliHafed’sfarmledhiscamelintothegardentodrink.Andasthatcamelputitsnoseintotheshallowwaterofthatgardenbrook,AliHafed’ssuccessornoticedacuriousflashoflightfromthewhitesandsofthestream.Hepulledoutablackstonewithaneyeoflightreflectingallthehuesoftherainbow.Hetookthepebbleintothehouseandputitonthemantelthatcoveredthecentralfiresandforgotallaboutit.
Afewdayslater,thissameoldpriestcameintovisitAliHafed’ssuccessor,andthemomentheopenedthatdrawing-roomdoorhesawthatflashoflightonthemantel,andherusheduptoit,shouting,“Hereisadiamond!HasAliHafedreturned?”
“Ohno,AliHafedhasnotreturned,andthatisnotadiamond.Thatisnothingbutastonewefoundrightouthereinourowngarden.”
“But,”thepriestreplied,“ItellyouIknowadiamondwhenIseeit,andIknowpositivelythatisadiamond.”
Thentogethertheyrushedoutintothatoldgardenandstirredupthewhitesandswiththeirfingers,andlo!Therecameupothermorebeautifulandvaluablegemsthanthefirst.“Thus,”theguidesaidtome—and,friends,itishistoricallytrue—“wasdiscoveredthediamondmineofGolconda,themostmagnificentdiamondmineinallthehistoryofmankind,excellingtheKimberlyitself.TheKohinoorandtheOrloffofthecrownjewelsofEnglandandRussia,thelargestonearth,camefromthatmine.”
WhenthatoldArabguidetoldmethesecondchapterofhisstory,hethentookoffhisTurkishcapandswungitaroundintheairagaintogetmyattentiontothemoral.ThoseArabguideshavemoralstotheirstories,althoughtheyarenotalwaysmoral.
Theguideswunghishatandhesaidtome,“HadAliHafedremainedathomeandduginhisowncellar,orunderneathhisownwheat-fieldsorinhisowngarden,insteadofwretchedness,starvation,anddeathbysuicideinastrangeland,hewouldhavehadhisacresofdiamonds.”
Whenhe’dfinished,thecrowdwentabsolutelywildwithapplause.ItwasunlikeanythingIhadeverwitnessed.
Thebiggestsurprise,however,wasyettocome.
TrackFourteen:
FlorenceGetsHerChance
RussellConwellhadjustfinisheddeliveringhisAcresofDiamondstalktotheenthusiasticcrowdwho’dgatheredattheHarrisburgtrainstation.Butthenhedidsomethingnooneexpected.
Conwellturnedtotheyounggirlwho’dbeenstandingontheplatformwithhimandsaid,“Florence,wouldyoucaretoshareafewwordstothegathering?”
Suchaninvitationwouldhavethrownmostpeopleintoastateofutterpanic,butFlorenceseemedcalmandintotalcontrolofherself.Whatanamazingshowingofpoiseforsomeonesoyoung.Wheredoessuchconfidencecomefrom?Iwondered.
WithanairofconfidenceI’msureIcouldnothavemustered,Florencesteppedforwardandbegan…
IfthereisonethingIhavelearnedinmylongandtumultuousseventeenyearsonthisEarth…
Thecommentbroughtimmediatelaughterfromtheaudiencebeforeshecontinued:
…Itisthat,whilewecannotalwayscontrolourthoughts,wecancontrolourwords.Anditistherepetitionoftherightwordsthatimpressesthesubconscious,andwearethenthemasterofthesituation.
InthesixthchapterofJeremiah,weread:“Isetawatchmanoveryou,saying,Hearkentothesoundofthetrumpet.”
Yoursuccessandhappinessinlifedependuponthewatchmanatthegateofyourthoughts,whichsoonerorlater,crystallizesontheexternal.
Sadly,peoplethinkbyrunningawayfromanegativesituation,theywillberidofit,butthesamesituationconfrontsthemwherevertheygo.
Manypeoplearecuttingoutfearpictures,seeingthingsthatarenotdivinelyplanned.However,withthe“singleeye,”manseesonlythetruth.Heseesthroughevil,knowingthatoutofitcomesgood.Hetransmutesinjusticeintojustice,anddisarmshisseemingenemybysendingout
goodwilltoall.
WereadinmythologyofthegiantCyclops,saidtohaveinhabitedSicily.Thesegiantshadonlyoneeyeinthemiddleoftheforehead.
Well,Isaythatyouareindeedagiantwhenyouhaveasingleeye!Everythoughtwillbeaconstructivethought,andeveryword,awordofpower.
Letthethirdeyebethewatchmanatyourgate!If,therefore,thineeyebesingle,thywholebodyisfulloflight!Withthesingleeyeyourbodywillbetransformedintoyourspiritualbody—the“bodyelectric”madeinGod’slikenessandimage!
Byseeingclearlytheperfectplan,wecanredeemtheworldwithourinnereye,seeingaworldofpeace…andaworldofplenty…andaworldofloveandgoodwilltowardoneanother!
Icouldnotbelievemyeyes!JustastheyhadforDr.Conwell,thecrowdburstintowildapplause.
Dr.ConwellsteppedforwardandhuggedFlorence,almostasifhewereaproudfather,andturnedtoaddressthecrowdonelasttime:
Inleaving,Isay—thatshouldyoubethinkingtoyourself,“Whatdoesonesoyoungknowoflife?”ThenyoushallnotbecheatingFlorence;youshallbecheatingyourself!Forsheiscorrect!Weshouldenjoyaworldfilledwithpeace,love,andgoodwillforoneanother,andIwishthesethingsandmoreforeachofyougatheredheretoday.
ButFlorencealsousedanotherword,awordIhopeyoucaughtforitssupremeimportance—itwastheword“plenty.”
Isaythatyoushouldenjoyalifeofplenty,andletmenotmincewords—byplenty,Imeanthatyououghttogetrich!
Thecrowdcheeredandapplauded.
Whatismore,Isayyoushouldnotonlygetrich,Isayitisyourdutytogetrich!Howmanyofyou,mypiousbrethren,arethinkingnow:“DoesDr.Conwell,aChristianminister,spendhistimegoingupanddownthecountryadvisingyoungpeopletogetrich—togetmoney?”Yes,ofcourseIdo!Peoplesay,“Isn'tthatawful!Whydon’tyoupreachthegospelinsteadofpreachingaboutman’smakingmoney?”
Becausetomakemoneybyhonestmeansistopreachthegospel!Thatis
thereason!
TomakemoneyhonestlyistolivethewayGodwishesforusall!Thatismygospel!Thatisthereason!Whatotherreasondoesamanneed?
Virtuallyeverypersonbeganmakingtheirwaytowardtherearplatformofthetrainwithenvelopesstuffedwithcash.
*
Anhourlaterwewerebackinthemainrailcar,headingeastoutofHarrisburgtowardAllentown,Pennsylvania,andthenNewYorkCity.
“YoudorealizewhatamiracleyourbeinghereisandhowmuchIappreciatewhatyouhavedone,doyounot?”Dr.Conwellsaid.
“Me?Ididn’tdoanything,”Isaid.
“Oh,butyouhaveChristopher.Youaretheanswertomyprayers,”Conwelldeclared.“Yousee,whenIwasunsuccessfulinmyendeavorsatraisingmoneyinChicago,IaskedGodtoshowmeaway—tosendamessenger—totellmehowtoraisethemoneymyself.ThenIclosedmyeyes,”Conwellsaid.“AndwhenIopenedthem,thereyouwere.”
“Beginwhereyouare,andwhatyouare.”–RussellH.Conwell
TrackFifteen:
MyAcreofDiamonds
AsIsatinthediningcarthatafternoon,IfoundmyselfthinkinglessaboutthestrangesituationI’dfoundmyselfin,andmoreaboutthereasonwhy.
Whyhadtheuniverseplacedmehere?
Iwolfeddownaplateofbeefstroganoffandwasheditdownwithabigglassofice-coldmilk—courtesyofDr.Conwell—whohadarrangedformetochargemymealstohisaccountsinceIhadnospendablecash.
Iopenedmyjournal,somethingIhadbeendoingforseveralyearsnow,andsummarizedeverythingthathadhappened,startingwiththemomentIwokeuponthetrainandfoundmyselfbackintheyear1888.ThemoreIwrote,themoreIrealizedthingsboileddowntothreeinescapableconclusions:Conclusion#1:Thiswasn’tadream.Iknowwhatdreamsfeellike,andthiswashappeningforreal…
Conclusion#2:WhatwashappeningwasconnectedtoKatie’sgift…
Conclusion#3:TheremustbealessonIwassupposedtolearnfromthis—ifnot,whywasthishappening?
IbegantothinkaboutthemainlessonconveyedintheAcresofDiamondsstory,andDr.Conwell’spremisethateveryresourceapersonneedscanbefoundrightwheretheyare.
Andthat’swhenithitme:
Iwastheguywhowasabandoninghisacresofdiamonds.Thestorywasaboutme.IwasAliHafed,goneofftofindhisdiamond,whenallalongtheywererightthereinmyownbackyard.
Prospectingforbusiness…
Prospectingforpeople…
Prospectingfordiamonds…
Prospectingforgold…
Itwasallthesamething!
IthoughtaboutmynetworkmarketingbusinessandrealizedhowmuchtimeandenergyI’dwastedovertheyearslookingouttheresomewhereformyacreofdiamonds.
AndtheIGSBEConferencewasaperfectexample!WhatwasIexpectingtofindinNewYorkthatdidn’texistathome?WhatresourceswereavailableathousandmilesawaythatwereunavailabletomeinChicago?
Ishovedmyjournalbackinmybag,eagertofindDr.ConwellandFlorenceandtellthemaboutmybreakthrough.Andthen,asimportantasthisexperiencehadbeen…
Iwantedtogetoffthistrain...
IwantedtogetbacktoKatie…
IwantedtogetbacktoChicago...
Iwantedtogetbacktowork!
“Thosewhoreallydesiretoattainanindependence,haveonlytosettheirmindsuponit,andadoptthepropermeans,astheydoinregardtoanyotherobjectwhichtheywishtoaccomplish,andthethingiseasilydone.”
–P.T.Barnum
TrackSixteen:
TheWrinkledOldMan
Istoodtoleavethediningcar,butjustasIdid,amanslidintotheseatontheoppositesideofthetable.
“So,youfigureditout,didyou?”
Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes.ItwasthewrinkledoldmanfromthetrainstationinChicago,theonewho’dgivenmedirectionstowhereIcouldboardTheDiamondLinethirty-sixhoursearlier.
“Whatisthis,somekindofcosmicpersonaldevelopmentworkshop?”Iasked.
“ACosmicworkshop?”theoldmansaidwithalaugh.“Well,yes,Iguessthat’sasgoodadescriptionasany.I’vegottorememberthatone.Butyouhaven’tansweredmyquestion.”
“Whichwas…?”
“Haveyoufiguredoutwhyyou’rehere?”theoldmanaskedagain.
“Yes,”Isaid.“AndwhileIdon’tunderstandhowyoumadeanyofthishappen,thankyou.”
“Don’tthankme—Ididn’tdoanything,”hesaid.“Andwhyareyouactinglikewe’redonehere?”
“What?”
“Son,we’rejustgettingstarted,”thewrinkledoldmansaidwithadevioussmile.
“No!”Isaid.“I’vegottogethometomywife.She’sprobablyworriedsick.”
“Youliketoeat,right?”theoldmansaid.
“Eat?Whatonearthareyoutalkingabout?”
“Stayfordinner,”theoldmansaid.
“Dinner?”Isnapped.“YouneedtotellmehowIgetbackhome.Now!”
Theoldmanstood.“Allingoodtime.Fornow,shineyourshoesandgetyour
Theoldmanstood.“Allingoodtime.Fornow,shineyourshoesandgetyoursuitpressed.And,dearLord,borrowatiefromDr.Conwell.Theoneyouownishideous.”
*
IhurriedtothemainpassengercarandfoundFlorenceandDr.Conwelldeepinconversation.“Sorrytointerrupt,”Isaid.
“WewerejustdiscussingFlorence’sfutureasanauthorandlecturer,”Dr.Conwellsaid.“Youmustadmit,Florencegavequiteanimpressivetalk.Ibelievepeoplewereasenthusiasticoverherwordsastheywereformine,andshewasn’tevenprepared!”
“Thatisnotentirelytrue,”Florenceinterjected.“Ihavealwaysfeltanopportunitytospeakwouldonedaypresentitself,andwhenitdidIwasdeterminedtobeprepared.”
“Sothespeechyougave,youhaditprepared?”
“OfcourseIdid,”Florencesaidbeaming.“Everyoneshouldhaveafewwordspreparedincasetheneedshouldarise.”
“Bravo!”Conwellexclaimed.“Youhavejustprovenmybeliefthatwhenopportunityknocks,onemustbepreparedtoopenthedoor.”
IfeltatingeofjealousyatalltheattentionbeingpaidtoFlorence.“Well,asmuchasI’dliketostayandchat,I’vegottogetreadyforourbigdinnertonight,”Isaid.“Dr.Conwell,woulditbeokayifIhadsomecleaningchargesputonyouraccount?I’llpayyouback.”
“Ofcourse,Christopher,”Conwellsaid.
“Dinner?”Florenceasked.“AreDr.ConwellandIinvited?”
IrealizedIwastakingachance,notknowingwhattheoldwrinkledmanhadinmind,butspokeupanyway.“Ofcourseyou’reinvited.”
“Whattimeshouldwebeready?”Florenceasked.
“Seveno’clocksharp,”Isaid.“And,Dr.Conwell—canIborrowoneofyourneckties?”
*
Weweresittinginthepassengercar,Florenceinalongpurplegownadornedwithwhitelaceandwhiteglovesthatwentpastherelbows,andmeinmyblackwoolsuitandoneofDr.Conwell’sneckties.
“Doyoubelieveinthoughtmanifestation?”Florenceasked.
“Youmeanlikehavingtheabilitytoturnthoughtsintothings?”Iasked.
“Yes!Precisely!”Florencesaid.“Haveyoueverwitnessedit?”
“I’mnotsure,”Isaid.
“Ihave,”Florencesaid.
“Really?”
“Ofcourse,”Florencesaid.“Iwitnessitvirtuallyeveryday.”
“Givemeanexample,”Isaid.
“Iwouldthinkmybestexamplewouldbeyou,Christopher,”Florencesaid.
“Me?”
“Yes,you,”Florencesaid.“Yousee,yesterday—asIboardedthetrain—Icreatedapictureinmymind.AnddoyouknowwhatIpictured?”
Ishookmyhead.
“Ipicturedyou,Christopher,”shesaid.“Imanifestedyouwithmythoughts!Ibelievethatishowyouendeduphereonthistrain.Doyounotsee?”
Istayedquiet.
“WhenIsayImanifestedyou,whatImeanisthatIcreatedtheimageofmeetingsomeonewhowouldhelpmedecidethedirectionofmyfuture,”Florencesaid.“AndthenIheldthatpictureinmymind’seye—neverlettinggoofitforasecond—withthecompletebeliefthatwhatIwantedwouldpresentitself.”
“That’sprettyweird,”Isaid.
“Areyousayingthatyoudonotbelieveme?”Florenceasked.
“No,it’sjustthatIwasstartingtobelievethatIhadmanifestedyou,”Isaid
withalaugh.“BothyouandDr.Conwell,thetrain,andeverythingelse.”
“Whoknows,Christopher,perhapsyouhave,”Florencesaid.“Perhapsweareall—eachandeveryoneofus—manifestingwhatwewantatalltimes,withtheresultofourcollectivebeingtheworldthatsurroundsus.”
Itsoundedcrazy,butwhynot?WitheverythingI’dbeenthroughduringthelastfewdays,Iknewthatanythingwaspossible.
Dr.Conwellthenenteredthetraincar,smartlydressedinawhitedinnerjacketandblackslacks,ablackbowtie,andblackpatentleathershoes.“Sowhendoesthisdinnerofyoursbegin?”heaskedasheapproachedthetwoofus.
Itwasagoodquestion.
IonlywishedIhadananswer.
“Peoplemightnotgetalltheyworkforinthisworld,buttheymustcertainlyworkforallthey
get.”–FrederickDouglass
TrackSeventeen:
TheInvitationThatWasn’t
Dr.ConwellandFlorenceweregettingfrustrated,andIdidn’tblamethemintheleast.Almosttwohourshadpassedandnothinghadhappened.
Thewholethingwasmakingmecrazy.
“Thisisthatoldman’sfault!”Ihuffed.
ConwellandFlorenceexchangedglancesasIsteppedoutontherearplatformofthetraintogetsomeair.WhenIreturnedfiveminuteslater,IfoundDr.ConwellandFlorencewaitingformewithsomberlooksontheirfaces.
“What’swrong?”Iasked.
Conwellclearedhisthroat.“Therailwayporterjustdeliveredinvitationstoaformaldinnerpartybeingheldbymyoldfriend,PhineasBarnum,tobeheldinhisprivaterailcar.”
“Phineas?”Iasked.
“PhineasTaylorBarnum,”Florencesaid.
Ittookamomentformetorealizewhattheyweretalkingabout,andthenithitme.“Areyousayingwe’vebeeninvitedtohavedinnerwithP.T.Barnum?”
“Notexactly,”Florencesaid.
“Itseemsthereareonlytwoinvitations,Christopher,”Dr.Conwellsaidinasubduedtone.“Oneformyself,andasecondinvitationforFlorence.”
“I…Idon’tunderstand,”Istammered.
“Ifitisofanyconsolation,”Conwellsaid,“theonlyreasonwewereinvitedwasbecauseP.T.heardFlorenceandIgiveourtalksearlier.”
“That’strue,Christopher,”Florencesaid.“IamquitesureIwouldnothavebeenincludedhadInotagreedtospeak.”
“Wow!”Isaid,tryingtosoundhappyforFlorence,whilesecretlyseethingandtryingtohidemyanger.
“Dr.Conwellaskedifwemightbeabletobringafriendalong,”Florencecontinued,“butapparentlythereisonlyroomforsixseatsatthedinnertable.”
continued,“butapparentlythereisonlyroomforsixseatsatthedinnertable.”
“Six?Whoaretheotherthree?”Iasked,thinkingitwasimpossibletofeelanyworsethanIalreadydid.
Iwaswrong.
“TheotherthreeguestswillbeJamesBailey,FrederickDouglassandAndrewCarnegie,”Conwellsaid.
Iknewinstantlywhoeachofthemwere,ofcourse.
JamesBaileywasP.T.Barnum’sbusinesspartner.
FrederickDouglasswasanescapedslave-turned-statesmanwho’dbecomeoneofthemostimportantAfrican-Americansofhistime.
AndAndrewCarnegiewastherichestmanintheworld—atleastinthistime.
IknewthatDr.ConwellandFlorencefeltbadforme,buttheycouldn’tpossiblyhavefeltasbadasIdid.Butmorethanthat,IwasconfusedastowhythewrinkledoldmantoldmetogetmysuitpressedforadinnerpartyheknewIwasnotgoingtobeinvitedto.
TrackEighteen:
TheGreatestPartyonEarth
Thankyouforthegenerousinvitation,Mr.Barnum,”Florencesaid.“YourPullmancarissimplystunning!”
“Kindofyoutosay,”Barnumsaid.
Sharplydressedinacharcoal-graytailcoatwithblacksatinlapelsandawhiteembroideredwaistcoat,P.T.BarnumwaseverybittheshowmanFlorenceexpected.“Idecoratedtheinteriormyself,”Barnumsaidwithpride.
ParttastefulVictorian,part1880’schic,andpartoutlandishgaudiness,theinteriorofBarnum’sPullmancarwaslikeacarnivalonwheels.
Thefloorswerecoveredinexpensiveorientalrugs,withfurnituremadeofpolishedmahoganyandrichupholstery.AndthenthereweretheunexpecteddetailsthathadP.T.Barnumwrittenalloverthem,includingalargeglassjarcontainingwhatappearedtobeaseveredhumanarmpreservedinformaldehyde,astuffedalpacawearingaMexicansombrero,andatribalthronefromAfricamadeoflacquereddeerantlers.
“IagreewithyouMissScovel,”JamesBaileycalledoutfromthebarashepouredhimselfaglassofScotch.“IthinkitfairtosaythatP.T.’srailcarrivalssomeofthebesthotelroomsintheworld.”
UnlikeBarnum,JamesBailey’sappearancewasquiteunderstated.Themanwascladinagreentwo-piecewool-tweedsuitoverastarchedwhiteshirtandablacksilknecktie.
“TryasImighttoreininP.T.’sspending,hehassparednoexpenseondécor.”
“NoneedtodisparagemesimplybecauseIrefusetobecomeatightfistedpenny-pincherlikeyou!”Barnumcalledtohispartner.
RussellConwellsteppedforwardandofferedhishand.“Goodtoseeyou,Phineas.LetmesayhowmuchMissScovelandIappreciatetheinvitation.”
“Yes,Conwell,it’sbeenfartoolong,”Barnumsaid.“HaditnotbeenforyourtalkfromtherearofthetraininHarrisburg,noneofuswouldhaveevenknownyouwereaboardthetrain.”
youwereaboardthetrain.”
“Arewetounderstandyouaretopublishanewbook?”Baileyasked.
“Yes,”Conwellsaid.“ItistobecalledAcresofDiamonds,aswillbemylecturefromthispointforward.”
“Amuchbettertitle,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Whatwereyoucallingit?”
“TheAliHafedStory,”Conwellsaid.
“Yes,simplydreadful,”Barnumsaid.“Speakingoflectures,mightIsaythatwasonewonderfultalkyougave,MissScovel.”
“Thankyou,Mr.Barnum,”Florencesaid.“MightIaskwhereourotherguestsare?”
“Carnegieisbeingfashionablylate,asusual,”Baileysaid.“AndIfeartheconventionhascausedFrederickabitoffatigue.”
“ItwouldbequiteanhonortomeetMr.Douglass,”Florencesaid.“Idosohopehe’llmakeanappearance.”
“I’msurehe’sjusttakingawell-deservedrest,”Barnumsaid.“He’llshowupeventually.”
“SpeakingofFrederickDouglass,wasn’tthatthedamnedestthing?”JamesBaileysaid.“Imagine,theideaofablackmangettingavoteattheRepublicanPresidentialConvention.”
“Indeed!”Barnumreplied.“Firstblackmanevertodoso.”
“Ifeveramandeservedsuchanhonor—black,whiteorotherwise—itisFrederickDouglass,”Conwellsaidinagreement.
“AtoastthentoFredrickDouglass!”JamesBaileysaid,raisinghisglassofScotchandthenrealizingthatneitherConwellnorFlorencehadbeenoffereddrinks.“Whereeveraremymanners?WhatcanIpourforyouboth?”
“Nothingforme,”Conwellsaid.
“Notanotherteetotaler,”Baileysaid.
“Iamafraidso,”Conwellsaid.“Butdonotletmyabstinencestopyoufromimbibingwhateveryouwish.”
“Goodman,Conwell!”Barnumbellowed.“Istoppeddrinkingspiritslongago,andamdamngladIdid!”
“Thatisallverywellandgood,gentlemen,butIwouldverymuchlikeaglass
“Thatisallverywellandgood,gentlemen,butIwouldverymuchlikeaglassofredwine,”Florencesaid.
“Excellent,”JamesBaileysaid.“Ijustnowopenedabottleof1879Lafite-RothschildCabernet.”
“DearGod,”Barnumsnorted.“Anotherperfectlyoperativemindontheroadtodestruction.Youdorealizetheactofmoney-makingrequiresamantohaveaclearbrainandtheabilitytoseethattwoandtwomakefour?Andareyouevenofage?”
“Ishouldthinkseventeentobeoldenoughforaglassofwine,”Florencesaid.“Besides,Ihavegrownupinahomewithprogressiveparentswhowouldthinknothingofit.Theytrustmeenoughtotravelunaccompanied—doyounotthinktheywouldtrustmeenoughtosipaglassofGod’snectar?Andregardingtheactofmoney-making,therearemanythingsthataffectaman’sabilitytodoso,butcertainlyyouhavenoticedIamawoman.”
“ThatwillteachyoutotanglewithFlorence,”Conwellsaid.
“Crackwiseallyouwish,MissScovel,butIcontendthatnoman—orwoman—canmoveuptheladderofsuccesswithoutaclearmindtogivereasontotheirplans.”
“Excusemybusinesspartner,Florence,”Baileysaid,handingheralong-stemmedcrystalglassofredwine.“Phineasistotallyconvincedone’sjudgmentiswarpedbyanintoxicatingdrink—aconceptIdrinktodaily.”
“Thereisnoneedtogetintoatwist,Mr.Barnum,”Florencesaid,raisingherglassandtakingasip.“Asocialdrinkisofnoharmtoanyperson.”
“Ah!Yousay!Yethowmanygoodopportunitieshavepassed,nevertoreturn,whileapersonsatsippingasocialglasswithafriend?”Barnumasked.
“Ifthisishowyoutreatyourguests,Mr.Barnum,onemustwonderhowyoubehavewhenentertainingyourenemies,”Florencesaid.“PerhapsthedifferencebetweenusisthatIknowwhentosetmyglassdown,whileyoudonot.”
“ThisisthefutureI’vebeentellingyouabout,gentlemen,”Barnumsaid.
“Oh?Andwhatfuturemightthatbe?”RussellConwellasked.
“Theoneinwhichwomenhavetakenchargeofcommerce,andwemenaresentofftowashthedishes,”Barnumsaid.
“Jokeasyouwish,Mr.Barnum,butbeingawomaninaman’sworldisfarmoredifficultthanyoumightimagine.Itrequiresthatshethinklikeaman,actlikealady,andlooklikeayounggirl—allwhileworkinglikeadog.”
likealady,andlooklikeayounggirl—allwhileworkinglikeadog.”
Theroomwentquietenoughtohearapindrop,andthenallthreemenbrokeintouproariouslaughter.
“Yourwordisyourwand.Thewordsyouspeakcreateyourowndestiny.”
–FlorenceScovelShinn
TrackNineteen:
AndrewCarnegie
HaveImissedthejoke?”AndrewCarnegiesaidloudlyfromthedoorwayoftherailcar.
Dressedinablackwaistcoat,withhisfullbeardhanginglowonhischestandablackbowlerhatperchedontopofhishead,thelargemanimmediatelybecamethecenterofattention.
“Ah,Andrew!”Barnumsaid.“Beforewarned,youngFlorencehereisnottobetrifledwith.”
“DearGod,donottellmeyouhaveinvitedafeministtodinner?”CarnegiesaidashemadehiswayacrosstherailcartoFlorenceandextendedhishand.“Florence,isit?”
“FlorenceScovel,”Florencereplied.“Apleasuretomeetyou,Mr.Carnegie,andtothedegreeIamafeminist,itisonlybecauseitisrequiredofmetofulfillmydestiny.”
“Andwhatdestinymightthatbe?”JamesBaileyasked.
“Toteachwomenthatlifeisagame,oneofboomerangsinwhichourthoughts,deeds,andwordsreturntoussoonerorlaterwithastoundingaccuracy,”Florencesaid.
“Worsethanafeminist,”AndrewCarnegiesnorted.“Thisyoungladyisarabble-rousingnewthoughtspiritualist.”
“IshouldthinkFlorencetakesthatasacompliment,”Conwellsaid,extendinghishandtoCarnegie.
“Adiscipleofyoursnodoubt,eh,Conwell?”AndrewCarnegiesaidashetookConwell’shandandshookit.
“Jesushaddisciples,Carnegie,”Conwellsaid.“Imerelyhavefriends,andFlorencehereisagoodoneindeed.”
“Pleaseignoremybluster,MissScovel,”Carnegiesaid.“Ihavenothingagainstanywomanwhowishestoplayinthebusinessworld,providingsheisalsowell-behavedinthehome.”
“Well-behavedwomenrarelymakehistory,Mr.Carnegie,”Florencesaid.“Theymakedinner.”
“Iwarnedyou,Carnegie!”Barnumsnorted.“IfyouwishtotanglewithFlorence,dosoatyourownrisk.”
“ImeannodisrespecttoMissScovel,”Carnegiesaid.“Butyoumustunderstand,myattituderegardingawoman’svaluecomesfromyearsintherough-and-tumbleworldofoilderricksandsteelmills.Andintheseendeavors,Isuggest,nowomancouldeverhopetosucceed.”
Florencesmiledbeforeresponding.“Thatisfascinating,Mr.Carnegie.Dotellme,howmanywomenhaveyouhiredtotestthistheoryofyours?”
“Verywell,Igiveup!”Carnegieexclaimed.
*
Tenminuteslater,disguisedasatuxedoedwaiter,IpushedaservicecartintoP.T.Barnum’srailcar.“Excuseme,wherewouldyoulikemetoplacethehorsd’oeuvres?”
“Inthedrawingroom,please,”Baileyresponded.
“Whilethefoodisbeingset,comelookatmylatestcuriosity—ashrunkenheadthatwaspurchasedfromatribesmanontheislandofBorneo,”Barnumsaidasherosetohisfeet.
Havingnointerestinseeingashrunkenhead,Florencewenttothedrawingroomtoperusethemagnificentspreadofappetizers,includingliverpateandtoastpoints,belugacaviar,steamedmussels,jumboshrimpwithcocktailsauce,cracked-wheatcrackers,andminiaturecroissantswithassortedjelliesandjams.
“Thislooksmagnificent!”Florencesaid.Butwhenshelookedup,hereyeswentwideandhermouthfellopen.Thewaiterwasn’tjustanywaiter—itwasme.
“Christopher?”Florencewhispered.“Whatonearthareyoudoinghere?”
“Whatdoesitlooklike?I’mservingappetizers,”Isaid.
“Icanseethat,”Florencehissed.“Wheredidyougetthatuniform?”
“Ihighlyrecommendtheshrimp,”Isaid,ignoringherquestion.“Ihadthreeofthemonthewayover,butstayawayfromthecocktailsauce—toomuch
ofthemonthewayover,butstayawayfromthecocktailsauce—toomuchhorseradish.”
“Didyoustealit?”Florenceaskedinasternvoice.
“No,Florence,Ididnotstealit.”
“Thenpraytell,how…”
“Itradedmycellphoneforit,”Isaidwithagrin,proudofmyresourcefulness.“Imean,thebatteryisdead.Andsincetheguywon’tbeabletogetareplacementforaboutahundredyears,Ifigurethefutureissafeenough.”
Justthen,RussellConwellenteredthedrawingroomandwalkedovertoFlorence.“Notinterestedinshrunkenheads,Florence?IadmitthatI,too,findsuchthings—”
Conwellstoppedspeakingmid-sentencewhenhesawme.“Christopher?”hestammered.
“Desperatetimesrequiredesperatemeasures,”Isaid.
Florencewasnotamused.“ItseemsthatChristopherbelievesthesolutiontohissituationrequiresengaginginanactofsubterfuge.”
Iwasn’thavinganyofit.
“Listen,I’msupposedtobehere!”Isaidabittooloudly.“Youknowhowyousaidthatweallmanifesttheworldaroundus,Florence?Well—ifyou’reright—thenImanifestedthis.AndifImanifestedit,thenthere’sgottobeareason,right?”
Iplacedthefinalplatesonthetableandclosedthecart.
“Whatisyourplan,Christopher?”Conwellasked.
“I’mnotsure,”Isaid.“ButI’lltrytohaveitfiguredoutbythetimeIcomebackwithdinner.”
TrackTwenty:
ThePurposeofWealth
MostpeoplewouldhaveconsideredP.T.Barnum’sdinnerpartyaneveningoffunandmerriment.Florence,ontheotherhand,consideredhertimewiththeseamazingmenanadvancedcourseinsuccessfulliving.Thisbeingthecase,shedirectedtheconversationasquicklyasshecouldtowardthetopicsshewasmostinterestedin.
“SinceIfindmyselfsurroundedbygentlemenofsuchachievement,IthinkitawastedopportunitywereInottoinquireastoyourpersonalattitudesonwealth,”Florencestarted.
“Wealth?Oneneedonlylookaroundthisveryinstanttoknowmyansweronthesubject,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Yougainwealthasquicklyasyoucan,andthenensureeverypennyofitisspentbeforetheylayyouinthegrave.”
“Iamnotsosureaboutthespendingaspect,forIammuchmorekeenongiving,”Conwellsaid,“butIdoconcurwhenitcomestoobtainingwealth.Iwillgosofarastocontenditisnotonlyablessingtoobtainwealth,itiseveryman’sdutytodoso.”
“Here!Here!”JamesBaileysaid,raisinghisglass.“Tothedutyofobtainingwealth.”
“Andyou,Mr.Carnegie?”Florenceasked.“Asyouaretherichestmanintheworld,Iimagineyouhavestrongopinionsonthematter.”
“Youflatterme,MissScovel,butthisverymorningthepapersgavethetitleofrichestmantoMr.Rothschild,”Carnegiesaid.“Thedistinctionbetweenus,ofcourse,isthateverypennyofmywealthmadeitswayintomycoffersbythesweatofmybrowandblistersonmyowntwohands.Mr.Rothschild,ontheotherhand,inheritedhisfortune—anactIconsidertobenothingshortofstealing.”
“Here!Here!”JamesBaileyproclaimed,raisinghisglassagain.“Tohardworkandblisters!”
“Soitistheactofhardworkthatmakestheman?”Florenceasked,aneyebrowraisedinskepticism.
“Ofcourseitis,”Carnegiesnapped.“Doyounotagree?”
“Ofcourseitis,”Carnegiesnapped.“Doyounotagree?”
“RemembertheproverbofSolomon?”P.T.Barnuminterjected.“Hebecomethpoorthatdealethwithslackofhand,butthehandofthediligentmakethrich.”
“Solomonwasawiseman,onewhomostcertainlyengagedintheactionoflabor,”Florencesaid.“ButIhaveseentoomanymenwithbrokenbacks,yearsspentlaboringbehindtheplow—orshovelingoreintothefurnacesinyoursweatshops,Mr.Carnegie—yetIcanseenowealththathascometheirwayfromsuchslavery.Iseeonlythesadnessofliveswastedinstatesofdeepmisery.”
“IfFrederickwerehere,Ibelievehewouldconcur,”Conwellsaid.“Asaslavewhopushedaplowandpickedcottoninthesummersun,Iimaginehewouldagreetheaccumulationofwealthisnotindirectproportiontothesweatthatflowsfromthebrow.”
JamesBaileyraisedhisglassforanothertoast,thenstoppedhimself.Toastingslaveryseemedratherinappropriate.
“Verywell,”Carnegiesaid.“Iconcedethathardworkisnottheonlywaytowealth.AsIpointedout,onecanalwaysinheritit.”
“IamquitecertainFlorenceisthinkingthereisanotherkeynotyetdiscussed,”Conwellsaid.“Florence?”
“Yes,”Florencesaid,takinghercue.“Ibelievethekeytorichesismoreofamentalendeavorthanaphysicalone.”
“Thinkingdoesn’tmovetheplow,”Carnegiesaid.
“Icontendthat,forthegreatestnumberofpeople,thedoorstowealtharelockedbecausetheythinkthemselvesunworthyoftheabundancethatisrightfullytheirs,”Florencesaid.
“Amisguidednotionifevertherewasone,whichIshallchalkuptoyouryouth,”Carnegiesaid.
“Bestwatchyourself,Carnegie,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Florencemaybeyoung,butdareIsaysheisbeyondheryearswhenitcomestothetopicofattainingwealth.”
“Ah!Wewerejustspeakingofyou,Douglass,”Barnumsaid.
EveryonestoodasFrederickDouglass—resplendentlydressedinapurplevelvetwaistcoat,white-starchedshirtwithastand-upcollar,blacksilkcravat,gray-stripedtrousers,andblackboots—enteredtherailcar.
gray-stripedtrousers,andblackboots—enteredtherailcar.
“Ourman,Douglass,risenfromthedead,”Baileysaid.
“IfearedImayhaveoverslept,butIseethatisnotthecase,”FrederickDouglasssaid,takingtheonlyemptychairatthetable.
“Tothecontrary,oldchap,yourtimingseemstobeperfect,”BarnumsaidasthedoortothePullmancarswungopenagainandtwotuxedoedwaiterspushedservicecartsintotheroom.
FlorenceandDr.Conwellexchangedknowingglancesandheldtheirbreath.
Sureenough,thesecondofthetwowaiterswasexactlywhotheyexpected.
*
“Wewereinthethroesofadeepdiscussionwhenyouarrived,”CarnegiesaidtoFrederickDouglass.“Caretojoinin?”
“MayIaskthetopic?”Douglassasked.
“Iwassharingmybeliefthatthethoughtsoneholdswithinthemindaretheessentialelementtoacquiringwealth,”Florencesaid.
“Yes,andIwasexplainingtoyoungMissScovelherethatdispensingsuchmisguideddriveltoanunsuspectingpublicbordersonmotivationalmalpractice,”Carnegieadmonished.
“Ifindthistopicinterestingindeed,”Douglasssaid.“Tellmemoreofyourtheory,MissScovel.”
Florencewastednotime.“Itismybeliefthateverygreatwork,everylargeaccomplishment,hasbeenbroughtintomanifestationbyholdingontoavisioncreatedinthemindoftheachiever.”
“Ithinktheyoungladymaybeontosomething,”Barnumsaid.
“Please,Phineas,donotencouragetheyounglass,”Carnegieimplored.
“Now,IamnotsayingthissimplytopropyoungFlorenceup,”Barnuminsisted.“IsayitbecauseIknowittobetrue.EverythingIhaveeverachievedwasindeedcreatedtwice—firstinmymind,andtheninreality.”
“IshouldthinktheBarnum&BaileyCircustobeaperfectexample,”JamesBaileysaid.“IrememberthedayP.T.cametomewiththeideaforthethree
Baileysaid.“IrememberthedayP.T.cametomewiththeideaforthethreerings,andItellyouitwasnothingmorethanthat—anidea—acreationwithintheconfinesofP.T.’simagination.Onlythendidtheideacomeintoexistence.”
“Exactlymypoint,”Florencesaid.“Iseethevisionsofman’screationsasmentalimagesthatprovideaframeworkuponwhichonebeginsbuilding.”
“Likethedrawingsofanarchitect,orthemapsofanexplorer?”Douglassasked.
“Precisely,”Florencesaid.“Itisonlyafterthemapbecomesfirminone’smindthatitcanbecomefirminone’sreality.”
Imovedtheservicecartaroundthetable,settingchinaplatesbeforeeachpersonandfindingmyselffascinatedbytheconversation.IwasalsostartingtogetabitannoyedbyAndrewCarnegie’srudenesstowardFlorence,which,atcertainmoments,borderedonbullying.
“Amanmustdomorethanwishforwealth;hemusttakedecisiveaction,”Carnegiesaid.
“Isaidnothingofwishing,”saidFlorencedefiantly.“Iamsuggestingthatifonewantsabundancetoarrive,theymustexpectitasiftheabundancewastheirsalready.Eachpersonhastherighttotheabundancethatistheirsfortheclaiming,buterroneousbeliefsblockthearrivalofthiswealthintheexternalworld.”
“Purehumbug!”Carnegiesnorted.
“Notsoquickly,Carnegie,”RussellConwellsaid,comingtoFlorence’srescue.“Onthismatter,Icompletelyconcur.”
“Certainlyyouarejoking,Conwell,”Carnegiesaid.“IknowyouareamanofGod,butIwouldneverhavetakenyouforsomesortoffrou-frouspiritualist.”
“Allowmetoshareastory,andsincedinnerisuponus,Ishallkeepitbrief,”Conwellsaid.“Oneevening,atoneofmylectures,ayoungmantoldmeanypersonwithmoneymustbedishonest.Irespondedbytellinghimthereasonhehadnomoneywasbecausethefoundationofhisbeliefswerealtogetherfalse—thatmenlikeCarnegiehere—werebyandlargehonestmenwhocamebytheirwealththroughhardworkanddiscipline.Anddoyouknowwhatthisyoungmansaid?”
“Icanonlyimagine,”Carnegiesaid.
“HesaidhehatedthelikesoftheCarnegiesandtheRockefellerssogreatlythathewasthankfultoGodforhavingmadehimpoor!Well,Idonotwishto
thathewasthankfultoGodforhavingmadehimpoor!Well,IdonotwishtoseemoreofthatkindofGod’spooronthestreets,notwhenthatmancouldhavebeenrichjustaseasily.”
“Thismanofwhomyouspeak,”Carnegiesaid.“Hisopinionsofmeareofnointerest,astheyhavenoimpactonmyabilitytoaccumulatewealth.”
“Youaremissingthepointentirely,Mr.Carnegie,”Florencesaid.“Theyoungman’sopinionsofyouarenotthelocksonthedoortoyourwealth—theyarethelocksonthedoortohisabundance.”
“Well,good,Isay!”Carnegiebellowed.“Thelessthismanhas,themorethatcanbeaccumulatedbyme.”
“Myheartweepsforyou,Carnegie,”FredrickDouglasssaid.“Haveyounotyetdiscoveredthatitistheactofgivingthatopensthewayforreceiving?IprayforyourlastactonthisEarthtobeoneofgiving.”
“AndIpraymylastactonthisEarthwillbetheaccumulationofanotherdollar,”Carnegiesaid.“OnewhichIintendtotaketothegravewithme.”
ThatwaswhenIlostit.
“Amanwhoacquirestheabilitytotakefullpossessionofhisownmindmaytakepossessionofanythingelsetowhichheisjustlyentitled.”
–AndrewCarnegie
TrackTwenty-One:
MySeatattheTable
AndrewCarnegie’sbullyingattacksonFlorencehadfinallydrivenmetothepointwhereIfounditimpossibletostaysilentaminutelonger.
“Thenwhydidyougiveitallaway?”Isaidloudlyenoughthateveryheadatthetableturnedandlookedinmydirection.
“Areyouaddressingme?”AndrewCarnegieasked.
Florenceshotmeawildlook.
“IfImight—”Dr.Conwellbegan.
“Thanks,Dr.Conwell,butI’vegotthis,”Isaid,cuttinghimoff.Itookadeepbreath,turnedtoAndrewCarnegie,andcontinued.“Yes,Mr.Carnegie,Iamaddressingyou.WhatyoujustsaidaboutyourlastactonEarthbeingtomakeanotherdollarandtakeittothegravewithyou?Well,that’snotwhatyouendupdoing.”
“Conwell,isthisaprankofyourdoing?”Carnegiesnapped.“Oryou,Barnum?”
Barnumshruggedandremainedsilent.
“Christopher,pleaseallowmetoexplain,”Conwellsaid.
“Ifyouknowthisman,Conwell,thenexplain—”
“MynameisChristopherPowers,andDr.Conwellhasnothingtodowiththis,”Isaid,takingoffthewhitetuxedoandbowtie.“Idon’texpectyoutobelieveawordofwhatI’mabouttotellyou,butithastodowithyourmoney.”
“Mymoney?Whatcouldawaiterpossiblyknow—?”
“I’mnotawaiter,Mr.Carnegie,”Isaidinterrupting,“andIknowagreatdealaboutyourmoney,startingwiththeassertionthatyou’regoingtotakeitallwithyou—it’sjustnottrue.Themillionsyou’vespentsomuchofyourlifehoarding,well—youchangeyourmindandyougiveitallaway—tolibrariesandcollegesandtofundtheCarnegieMellonUniversityandCarnegieHall.”
AndrewCarnegieshottohisfeet.“Thiscarnivalactofyours,youngman,Iamnotamusedwithitatall.Andtheinstitutionsofwhichyouspeakdonoteven
amnotamusedwithitatall.Andtheinstitutionsofwhichyouspeakdonotevenexist.”
“Theywill,”Isaid.
“Youbetterlistentohim,Andrew,”Conwellsaid.
“Yes,youmustbelievehim!”Florencesaidjumpingin.
“Iamnotsayinganyofthistoamuseyou,sir,”Isaidinascalmatoneaspossible,thoughmyheartwaspoundingoutofmychest.“I’mtellingyouthistoletyouknowthatwhatMr.Douglasssaidearlieristrue—theactofgivingisthethingthatopensthewayforreceiving—andyouwilleventuallyseeit’strueandfindmorejoygivingyourmoneyawaythanyoueverdidearningit.”
CarnegiestormedtothePullmancardoor.“Iwillendurethisnolonger!”Thenheslammedthedoorhardbehindhim.Otherthanthesoundofmyrapidbreathing,itwassoquietyoucouldhaveheardaproverbialpindrop.
“Whatdidyousayyournamewas?”P.T.Barnumasked.
“Thisismyfriend,ChristopherPowers,”RussellConwellsaid,pattingmeontheback.“HeistheyoungmanwhoprovidedmewiththetitleformyAcresofDiamondstalk.”
“What’smore,Christopherisfromthefuture,”Florencesaidinahushedtone.
“Idonotunderstandhowheknowssuchthings,”JamesBaileysaid,“butwhetherthisyoungmanisfromthefutureornot,wehavejustwitnessedanenormouslybravedisplayofheart.DearLord,thenumberoftimesIwantedtogiveCarnegieatasteofhisownmedicine.”Baileyraisedhisglassandsaid,“ToChristopher!Amanofcourage!”
“Iamanequalbelieverthatfortunefavorsthebrave,”FrederickDouglasssaid,raisinghisglass,withDr.Conwell,FlorenceandP.T.Barnumdoingthesame.
“IfIamnotmistaken,Phineas,itappearsasifaseatatthetablehasjustcomeavailable,”Conwellsaid.
“Indeedithas,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Christopher,Idonotsupposeyouwouldcaretojoinus?”
“Allhumanbeingscanaltertheirlivesbyalteringtheirattitudes.Doyourduty,andalittlemore,andthefuturewilltakecareofitself.”
–AndrewCarnegie
TrackTwenty-Two:
VoicesoftheDead
ThenexttwohoursinP.T.Barnum’srailcarwasanon-stopbarrageofquestionsaboutthefuture.
“Whatyouhavesharedisbeyondbelief,”P.T.Barnumsaid,“yetIhavenodoubtthatyouhavespokenthetruth.”
“WereitnotforConwell’sendorsementofthelad,IamunsureifIwouldgivethesefantasticalclaimsanycredence,”JamesBaileysaid.“Quiteamazingandyetdisconcerting.”
“Yes,thatisthewordIhavebeensearchingfor,”FrederickDouglasssaid.“Verydisconcerting.IfeelthatifGodintendedforustoknowoftheseevents,Hewouldspeakhisplanstousdirectly.”
“Inanycase,”RussellConwellsaid,“wemusteachrememberourpledgetogotothegravewithoutsharingawordofwhathasbeensaidheretoanotherlivingsoul.”
“Iagree,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Whatwehavebeenprivytomustgonofurtherthanthistrain.”
“Agreed,”Baileysaid,raisinghisglassonceagain.
“Youhavemywordonit,”Florencesaid.“Yet,itismybeliefthatwehaveallbeenchangedthroughtheknowingofthesethings,whetherwespeakofthemornot.”
Asenseofreliefwashedovermeas,onebyone,eachpersonnoddedtheirheadsinagreement.Atthesametime,IfearedFlorencemightwellhavebeenright.Tellingthemaboutthefuturemayhavebeentheringingofabellthatcouldneverbeun-rung.
*
Afterdesserthadbeenservedbytheotherwaiter,aphotographerarrivedwith
alargeantiquebox-cameraonatripod—atleastthecamerawasanantiquetome.
“Ah,Eakins!”JamesBaileyexclaimedasthephotographerenteredtherailcar.“Everyone,thisisThomasEakins.Hedoesthemostmarvelousphotographs,andIhaveengagedhimtomakeoneofusall.”
“ToobadforCarnegie,”P.T.Barnumsaidwithalaugh.
“Trueenough,buthislossisourgain,”JamesBaileysaid,wavingmeovertojointhegroup.
“No,that’sokay,”Isaid.Afterall,Iwasn’tevensupposedtobethere.
“Nonsense,”Baileysaid.“YoutookAndrew’sseatatthetableand,byGod,youshalltakehisspotinthisphotographicimage.”
Welinedup,thesixofus—Dr.Conwellonthefarleft,followedbyFrederickDouglass,myself,Florence,P.T.Barnum,andJamesBaileyonthefarright—eachofusholdingourfacialexpressionsasstillaspossible.Iwassoexcitedtohavebeenincluded,Imadethemistakeofsmilingbroadly,forcedtoholdtheposetheentiretime.
IttookThomasEakinsfifteenminutestocompletetheelaboratephotographicprocess,whichinvolvedlargesilverplatesandlight-sensitivesilveriodide.Theexperiencemademeappreciatethemanyinventionsofthelastcenturyevenmore.
“Iknowit’sgettinglate,”IsaidonceThomasEakinshadgone,“butifyoudon’tmind,Ihaveafewquestionsofmyown.”
“Questionsforus?”P.T.Barnumasked.“Whatcouldwepossiblyknowthatwouldnotbecomeantiquatedbeforethedayyouwereborn?”
“Notaboutevents,”Isaid.“Myquestionsareaboutbeliefs—thebeliefsandbehaviorsyouhaveusedtoachieveyoursuccess,whichIwouldthinkareprettymuchtimeless.”
“Verywell,then,”P.T.Barnumsaid.“Letmebeginbyadmittingthat—likeCarnegie—ithasalwaysbeenmyaimtoputmoneyinmycoffers.However,unlikeAndrew,Ihavesufferedmanyeconomicreversals.Andevenundertheweightofcrushingfailureandmassivedebt,Ihavealwaysfoundmeanstoremainhappyandgrateful.”
“Icanattesttothat,”Baileysaid.“P.T.believesthenoblestartisthatofmakingothershappy.”
makingothershappy.”
Barnumsmiled,appreciativeofthecompliment.“Promotingone’swaresisasimpleprocesscomprisedoftwosteps;thefirstistofindoutwhattheotherpersonwants,andthesecondistoprovideittothem.”
“Ifearyouarebeingtoomodest,Phineas,”RussellConwellsaid.“DonotforgetthatyoungChristopherhereisseekingthetruthaboutyoursuccess,andyouhaveminimizedyourtruestrengths.”
“Yes,Mr.Barnum,pleaseexpanduponyourthoughts,”Florencesaid.
“Verywell,”Barnumsaid.“Ishalladdthatonemustbeconstantlywillingtoblowone’sownhorn,foratthecoreofeverysuccessfulendeavoristheactofpromotion.Andmakenomistake—withoutpromotion,somethingterriblehappens…andthatsomethingisnothing.”
“Yoursuccessisbeyondremarkable,Mr.Barnum,”Florencesaidafterthelaughterdiedaway,“butIdohaveabonetopickwithyou.”
Barnumarchedhiseyebrows.“Andwhatbonemightthatbe,MissScovel?”
“Itisinregardstoyourbeliefthatallspiritualistsarefrauds,”Florencesaid.
“Ah!Ishouldwellhaveknownyouwouldattackmethere,”Barnumsaidwithalaugh.“Don’tgetmewrong,MissScovel,Ihavenoquarrelwithentertainerswhousehypeandhumbugtopromotethemselves,butIhavenothingbutcontemptforso-calledspiritualmediumswhoclaimtheabilitytohearthevoicesofthedead.Tome,suchpeoplearecharlatanswhodeservetobejailed,nothailed.”
“Yes,Ihaveheardofyourstandingoffertopay$500toanyoneprovidingproofoftheabilitytodoso,”Florencesaid.“Andthisoffer,doesitstillstand?”
“Indeeditdoes,”P.T.Barnumsaid.
“Verywellthen,”Florencesaidassherosetoherfeet,crossedtherailcarandpulledabookfromtheshelf.“AllowmetoreadapassagefromVoltaire’sCandide,”Florencesaidbeforebeginningtoreadanexcerpt:
Therewasneveranythingsogallant,sospruce,sobrilliant,andsowelldisposedasthetwoarmies.Trumpets,fifes,hautboys,drums,andcannonmademusicsuchasHellitselfhadneverheard.Thecannonsfirstofalllaidflataboutsixthousandmenoneachside;themusketssweptawayfromthisbestofworldsnineortenthousandruffianswhoinfesteditssurface.Thebayonetwasalsoasufficientreasonforthedeathofseveralthousands.
Thewholemightamounttothirtythousandsouls.Candide,whotrembledlikeaphilosopher,hidhimselfaswellashecouldduringthisheroicbutchery.
Florenceclosedthebook.“IfIamnotmistaken,VoltaireisquitegonefromthisEarth,ishenotMr.Barnum?”
“Heisindeed,”Barnumconceded.
“Andwouldyouconcur,Mr.Barnum,thatwehavejustheardhiswordsfrombeyondthegrave?”Florenceasked.
“Looklikeshehasyou,oldboy!”JamesBaileysaidwithatouchofgleeinhisvoice.
P.T.Barnumstoodandpulledarollofbillsfromhispocket.“Ishallpayyouyourdueforyourcleverness,Ms.Scovel,ononecondition.”
“Andthatconditionbeing…?
“Thatyoupromisetotellnooneofthisloopholeinmyoffer,”P.T.Barnumsaid.
“Thankyou,Mr.Barnum,”Florencesaid.“Butbeforeyoureturnyourbillfold,Ibelieveyoualsoowe$500toourfriendChristopher.”
“ToChristopher?ForwhatdoIowehim?”P.T.Barnumbarked.“Hehasdemonstratednosuchclevertrick.”
“Tothecontrary,”Florencesaid.“Allowmetodothedemonstration,thistimewithclevernessinvolved.”FlorenceturnedtowhereIwassitting.“Christopher,canyouhearmyvoice?”
“Yes,Florence,Ihearyou.”
“Andwhatabouttheothersinthisroom?Haveyoubeenabletohearthemaswell?”
“Yes,Ihave,”Isaid,suddenlyrealizingwhereFlorencewasgoing.
FlorenceturnedbacktoP.T.Barnum.“MayIcontendthateachofusinthisrailcarshallhaveleftthisEarthlyplanelongbeforeChristopherisborn,yethehasheardourvoicesclearly.Inthatway,Mr.Barnum,toChristopherweareallquitedead.”
“Ihopeyouhavedeeppockets,P.T.,”Conwellsaid.“ItseemsthatFlorencehasbestedyouagain.”
“Ifyouwishtobegreat,youmustbeginwhereyouare,andwhatyouare.”
–RussellH.Conwell
TrackTwenty-Three:
P.T.Barnum’sChallenge
Inthespiritofequalplay,Ihaveabonetopickwithyouaswell,MissScovel,”P.T.Barnumsaid.
“Dotell,”Florencesaid.
“Regardingyourbeliefthatonecanturnmentalvisionsintorealthings,”Barnumsaid.“Isityourpositionthatthiscanbeachievedforanythingonewants,largeorsmall?”
“Mostcertainly,”Florencesaid.“Ifonewishesathingbadlyenoughandcanholdthevisionofitinthemind’seyelongenough,itmust—byuniversallaw—manifestintherealworld.”
Barnumnoddedasifinagreement,thencontinued.“Andisityourbeliefthatthisprocesscanbeusedforanyquantityofthingsonewisheswithoutlimit?”
“Ifeelasifyouareexaminingmeduringatrial,”Florencesaid.
“Tothecontrary,MissScovel—Iamnotexaminingyou;Iamexaminingyourtheory,”Barnumsaid.“So,pleaseanswer.”
“Yes,theprocessworksforanyonethingandforanynumberofthings,”Florencesaid.
“ThisiswhereIbelieveyouhaveitwrong,”Barnumsaid.“WhileIamonboardwiththegeneralconcept,Ibelievethereasonmanypersonsarekeptpoorisbecausetheyaretoovisionary.Everyprojectlookstothemlikecertainsuccess,and,therefore,theykeepchangingfromonebusinesstoanother,alwaysinhotwater,alwaysundertheharrow.
“Cloudingone’smindwithvisionsofthisandthat—ofmoreandmoreandevenmoreafterthat—isthefollyoffools!Icontendthatmanyamanhasacquiredafortunebydoingonethingthoroughly,whilehisneighborremainspoorforlifebecausehehas‘halfdone’many.
“WereItobeaskedforthesinglekeytosuccess,mostwouldassumemyanswerwouldbetheartofshowmanshiporthepowerofpromotion,butitisnot,”Barnumsaid.“Myanswerwouldbecontainedinasingleword…”
Evertheshowman,P.T.Barnumpausedforseveralsecondsbeforedelivering
Evertheshowman,P.T.Barnumpausedforseveralsecondsbeforedeliveringtheanswer,andIfoundmyselfontheedgeofmyseat.
“Focus,”Barnumsaidfinally.“ThatistheboneImustpickwithyourtheory,MissScovel.Inmyexperience,successfulmendonotscattertheirpowers—theyfocusononethinganddothatthingwithboldness!Theyengageinonekindofbusinessonly,andsticktoitfaithfullyuntiltheyhavesucceeded,knowingtheconstanthammeringofasinglenailwilldriveithomeatlast.Whenaman’sundividedattentioniscenteredononeobject—andoneobjectalone—themindwillconstantlybesuggestingimprovementsofvaluethatwouldescapehimifadozendifferentsubjectsoccupiedhisbrainatonce.Manyafortunehasslippedthroughaman’sfingersbecausehewasengagedintoomanyoccupationsatatime.”
“Asonewhoagreeswholeheartedlywithyourbeliefs,ImustsaythatP.T.hasmadeagoodcase,Florence,”Dr.Conwellsaid.
“Iagree,”JamesBaileychimedin.“Thereisgoodsenseintheoldcautionagainsthavingtoomanyironsinthefire.”
ThegroupwentsilentandwaitedasFlorenceconsideredherresponse.Finallyshespoke.“Sincemyearliestyears,Ihavebeenpossessedbytwodreams;onetobecomeanartist,andtheothertobeanauthorandlecturerlikeDr.Conwell.AndthoughIbelieveapersoncanmanifestanythingtheywish,personalexperiencesuggestsonecannotmanifesteverythingtheywishallatonceandthatholdingtwogoalsinonemindatthesametimemayindeedbeonegoaltoomany.”
Florenceopenedherpurseandwithdrewthe$500shehadwonfromP.T.Barnumminutesearlier.“Ibelievethisbelongstoyouagain,Mr.Barnum.”
Barnumshookhishead.“Iprefertoinvestthosefundsinyou,Florence,foryouaretherarestofbirds.Ihavenodoubtthatonedayinthefuture—longafterwehaveallpassedandlaystillinourgraves—yourwordswillbeheardbymillions,andtheyshallhelpchangetheworld.”
“Doyoureallybelievethat,Mr.Barnum?”Florenceasked.
“Mostcertainly!”Barnumsaid,turningtohisbusinesspartner.“James,leadusinonelasttoast.”
“Yes,whynot?”Baileysaid,raisinghisglass.“Here’stothecrazyones.Themisfits.Therebels.Totheroundpegsinthesquareholes.Theoneswhoseethingsdifferently!”
Waitasecond,Ithought…
Justthen,AndrewCarnegieappearedintherailcardoorway.“Tothosewhoarenotfondofrules,whohavenorespectforthestatusquo.Youcanquotethem,disagreewiththem,glorifythemorvilifythem…”
Iknowthis…
“…abouttheonlythingyoucan’tdoisignorethem,”FrederickDouglasssaidchimingin.“Becausetheychangethings.Theypushthehumanraceforward.Andwhilesomemayseethemasthecrazyones,weseegenius...”
That’swhenIrealizedeveryonewasrecitingthewordsfromthatfamousAppleTVcommercial,theonetheydidfortheSuperBowlin1984.
“It’stwointhemorning,Christopher,”Conwellsaid.“Cometobed.”
Butitwasn’tConwell’svoicecomingfromhismouth—itwasKatie’s.
Iopenedmyeyesandfoundmyselfonthesofa,thelivingroomdarkexceptfortheTV,andKatiestandingoverme.
“It’stwointhemorning,Christopher,”Katiesaidagain.“Cometobed.”
ThenInoticedthetelevisionwasstillon,theSteveJobsbiographyjustending.
“Thepeoplewhoarecrazyenoughtothinktheycanchangetheworld,”SteveJobssaid,“aretheoneswhodo.”
IreachedoverandturnedofftheTV.
Andthen—sittinginthedarknessbutawakenow,Iknew…
Katiehadn’tsuggestedItakethetrainafterall.
TherehadbeennoticketonTheDiamondLine.
NospeechesinClevelandorHarrisburgfromtherearplatformofthetrain.
NoFrederickDouglass,noFlorenceScovel,nodinnerpartyinP.T.Barnum’sPullmancar.
Noneofitwasreal.
Ithadallbeenadream.
TrackTwenty-Four:
LettingGoOfTheDream
IdidnotblameKatiefornotbelievingme.Afterall,whointheirrightmindwouldbelievethatI’dspentthreedaysona
trainintheyear1888withRussellConwell,P.T.Barnum,JamesBailey,AndrewCarnegie,FrederickDouglassandFlorenceScovel?
AndthemoreIpushed,themoreItriedtogetKatietounderstand—tobelievethatwhatI’dexperiencedwasreal—thecrazierIsounded.SoIdecidedthebestcourseofactionwastosimplyletitgo.
Well,almost.
TherewasnowaytoletgoofthelessonsI’dlearnedonTheDiamondLine…realornot.
TherewasnowayofforgettingtheperspectivesI’dlearnedfromthelegendsI’dmet…realornot.
TherewasnowayofreleasingthefeelingIhadactuallytraveledbackto1888…realornot.
Morethananything,therewasnoignoringtheobvioustruthofthemainlessonI’dlearned—thateveryresourcerequiredtobesuccessfulwaswithinmygrasp—hereandnow—rightwhereIwas.
Ihadfoundmyacresofdiamonds.
*
Theseconddayafterthedream,Iwenttothecomputerand—onebyone—IpulleduptheWikipediapagesforeachofthepeopleI’dmetduringthedream,beginningwithRussellConwell:
RussellConwellFebruary15,1843–December6,1925
BorninSouthWorthington,Massachusetts,Conwellwasawell-knownBaptistminister,lecturerandphilanthropist.HeisbestknownasthefounderandfirstpresidentofTempleUniversityinPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,andforhisinspirationallecture,AcresofDiamonds.
AcresofDiamondsoriginatedasaspeechthatConwelldeliveredover6,000timesaroundtheworld.Abookbythesametitlewasfirstpublishedin1890bytheJohnY.HuberCompanyofPhiladelphia.TempleUniversitywasbuiltfromtheincomeearnedfromthisbookandspeech.
ThenImovedontotheothers…
PhineasTaylor(P.T.)BarnumJuly5,1810–April7,1891
BorninBethel,Connecticut,P.T.Barnumembarkedonanentertainmentcareerataveryearlyage,becomingafamousauthor,publisher,politicianandphilanthropist.ButhewillforeverberememberedmostforfoundingtheBarnum&BaileyCircuswithbusinesspartnerJamesBailey.Barnumsufferedastrokein1890duringaperformance.Priortohisdeath,BarnumgavepermissiontotheEveningSunnewspapertoprinthisobituarybecausehewantedtoreadofhisowndeath.
JamesAnthonyBaileyJuly4,1847–April11,1906
AnAmericancircusringmasterwho,togetherwithshowmanP.T.Barnum,establishedtheBarnumandBailey’sCircus(forwhichBaileywasinstrumentalinobtainingJumbotheElephant)in1881.UponP.T.Barnum’sdeathin1891,BaileypurchasedthecircusfromBarnum’swidow.BaileycontinuedtouringtheeasternUnitedStatesuntilhetookhiscircustoEurope.ThecircuswassoldtotheRinglingBrothersin1907,ayearafterBailey’sdeath.
FrederickDouglassFebruary1818–February20,1895
Asocialreformer,lecturer,statesman,abolitionist,earlysupporterofwomen’ssuffrage,andauthorofseveralautobiographiesinwhichheeloquentlydescribedhisexperiencesasaslave,includingLifeandTimesofFrederickDouglass,publishedin1881andrevisedin1892.Attheageof
12,thewifeofaslaveownertaughtDouglassthealphabet,thoughillegalandagainstherhusband’swishes.Douglasswouldlaterbequotedassaying,“Onceyoulearntoread,youwillbeforeverfree.”
AndrewCarnegieNovember25,1835–August11,1919
AScottish-AmericanindustrialistwholedtheexpansionoftheAmericansteelindustryinthelate19thcentury,Carnegiebecameoneofthehighestprofilephilanthropistsofhistime.Inanarticletitled“TheGospelofWealth”(publishedin1889afteraneardeathexperienceinatrainaccidentayearearlier),Carnegiecalledontherichtousetheirwealthtoimprovesociety,settingoffawaveofphilanthropyunlikeanythingseenbefore.
FlorenceScovelShinnSeptember24,1871–October17,1940
BorninNewJerseyandeducatedinPhiladelphia,FlorenceScovelShinnwasanAmericanartistwhobecameoneofAmerica’sNewThoughtspiritualteachersandmetaphysicalwritersofhertime.Sheisbestknownforherbooks,TheGameofLifeandHowtoPlayIt,(1925)andTheSecretDoortoSuccess,(1940).Scovelwasquotedassaying,“Theinvisibleforcesareeverworkingformanwhoisalways‘pullingthestrings’himself,thoughhedoesnotknowit.Owingtothevibratorypowerofwords,whatevermanvoices,hebeginstoattract.”MotivationalauthorLouiseHayacknowledgesFlorenceScovelShinnasanearlyinfluence.
Iknowitsoundedstrange,butImissedthemallalready.Atleasttherewereplentyofbooksandreadingmaterialsavailabletome—entirelibraryshelvesworth—soIcouldvisitthemanytimeIwished.
Buttherewasonethingthatreallybotheredme.
ItwasFlorence’sbiography.
I’dknownwhoeachoftheotherswerebeforethedream.Theywerefamous.I’dreadthingsbythemandaboutthem.I’dstudiedtheminschoolandhadseenbiographiesaboutthemonTV.
ButFlorence?
Iwas100percentcertainIhadneverheardthenameFlorenceScovelbeforethenightofthedream.
YeteverysinglethinginherinternetbiofitexactlywithwhatI’dexperienced,
YeteverysinglethinginherinternetbiofitexactlywithwhatI’dexperienced,whatIknewaboutherasayoungwomanwithlimitlessgoalsanddreams.
Rightdowntoherage.
HerbiographysaidshewasborninSeptember1871.Inmydream,itwas1888.
Seventeen.
Inanycase,evenifithadbeenadream,theFlorenceI’dmetonthetrainhaddoneeverythingshesaidshewantedtodo.Seventeen-year-oldFlorenceScovelhadturnedherthoughtsintorealityandmanifestedthelifeofherdreams.
Imaginethat.
EPILOGUE
OneYearLater...
ThefinalworkshopattheIGSBEhadjustconcluded,andKatieandIweretryingtogeteverythingwe’daccumulatedoverthethreedaysintoourbags.
“Youwereright,”Katiesaid.“Theconferencewasamazing.”
“Youwereright,too,”Isaid.
“Aboutwhat?”
“Aboutnotcomingherelastyear,”Isaid.“Itwastooearlytocomethen.AndifIhadcome,Idon’tthinkIwouldhavemadethemostofit.”
Whichwasentirelytruebecauseitwasn’tuntilafterthedreamthatIbeganworkingthebusinessthewayIshouldhavefromtheverystart.AttendingIGSBEnow—havingbuiltasolidbusinessoverthelastyear,rightwhereIwasandwiththeresourcesIhadwithinmyreach—madegoingtotheconferenceanaddedbonus,notaHailMary.
“Comeon,”Katiesaid,glancingatherwatch,“we’regoingtomissourtrain.”
No,itwasn’ttheDiamondLine—therewasnoDiamondLine,Iknewthatnow.We’dtakenthestandardAmtrakservicefromChicagotoNewYork,whichwasagreatidea.
Katie’sidea.
ItwasalsoKatie’stospendafulldayonthewaybackinPhiladelphiatoseetheLibertyBell,and—ofcourse—tovisitTempleUniversity.
*
KatieandIwerefinishingourtourofTempleUniversity,thefinalstopbeingtheschoollibrary.
Asweclimbedtheconcretestairstothelibrarydoors,Katiestoppedme.“Chris,look.”
Itwasabannerthatread:AcresofDiamonds,125thAnniversary,1890-2015.
Onceinside,wediscoveredtherewasatributetoDr.RussellConwell,anentireareawithcopiesofallthebookshe’dwritten,historicalphotographs,andmiscellaneousmemorabiliafromacenturyearlier.
Andthereitwas.
Aphotograph,rightinthemiddleofthedisplay.No,Itakethatback.Itwasnotaphotograph…
Itwasthephotograph.
Awide,blackandwhiteglossyprint—theedgeswornandyellowedwithage—withthesixofusstandinginaline,holdingourfacesperfectlystillforthecamera.
“Katie”wasallIcouldmanagetosay,stilltryingtowrapmybrainaroundwhatIwasseeing.
“What?”Katiesaid.
“Thephoto,”Isaid.
(Fromlefttoright):Dr.RussellConwell,FrederickDouglass,UnidentifiedPassenger,FlorenceScovel-Shinn,P.T.BarnumandJamesA.Bailey.(FromthePhineasTaylorBarnumcollection,takenaboardTheDiamondRailroadLine,
circa1888.PhotographCredit:ThomasEakins.)
“Howisthispossible?”Katieasked.
“Idon’tknow.”
“I’msorryIdidn’tbelieveyou,”Katiesaid.“It’sjustthat—”
“Youdon’thavetoapologize,”Isaid.“I’dalmoststoppedbelievingitwasrealmyself.”
ButnowIknew.
Theentirethinghadnotbeenmyimagination.
Ithadhappened.
Ihadbeentherewiththerestofthem…
OntheDiamondLine.
SIXKEYLESSONSFROMTHEDIAMONDLINE
-1-
Everythingyouneedtosucceedcanbefoundwhereyouarenow.
-2-
Itisyourdutytobecomerich.
-3-
Focusononethingatatime,anddoitwithboldness.
-4-
Successisascienceanyonecanmaster.
-5-
Donotwishforabundance—expectit.
-6-
Whatyouthinkaboutmostmusteventuallymanifestitselfinreality.
AboutTheDiamondLine...
TheDiamondLineisafictionalstoryaboutarealperson–Dr.RussellH.Conwell–authorofaveryrealbook,AcresofDiamonds,oneofthemost
motivationalbookseverpenned.
Additionally,Dr.ConwelldeliveredhisAcresofDiamondsspeechover6,000times,withavinylrecordingreleasedin1916,followedbyaliveradiobroadcast
in1923.
WhileweattemptedtostaytruetoConwell’soriginalAcresofDiamondsstory,TheDiamondLineisultimatelyaworkoffiction.Assuch,weallowedourselvessignificantcreativelicense.Forexample,thereisnohistoricalrecordthatRussellConwellevermetatimetraveleronatrain.But,beyondlittlethingslikethat,themajorityofthedates,locations,inventions,etc.,areasaccurateand
realaspossible.
AbouttheAuthors....
RichardFenton&AndreaWaltzarethefoundersofCourageCrafters,Inc.,andhavemadeittheirmissiontohelppeoplereprogramthewaytheyfeelabout
failure,rejectionandhearingtheword“NO!”
Asinternationallyrecognizedkeynotespeakers,RichardFenton&AndreaWaltzhavespokentosomeofthelargestandmostsuccessfulorganizationsintheworld,includingThePamperedChef,AmericanExpress,Primerica,UtilityWarehouseLtd.,Aloette,Samsonite,RE/Max,Kleeneze,TommyHilfiger,and
manyothers.
TheyaretheauthorsofthebestsellingbookGoforNo!®,TheFearFactoryandMillionDollarYear.
ForinformationonGoforNo!®orabouthavingRichardFenton&AndreaWaltzspeaktoyourgroup,visittheirwebsite:
www.GoForNo.com
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