Before Donald Trump told us to Think Big and Kick Ass (the title of his 2007 book written with Bill Zanker), Haanel implored us to do the same thing in Week 21 of The Master Key System. Haanel may not have written “kick ass,” but his message was much the same. When we think big — when we set big goals for ourselves — life becomes more fun, more exciting, and we bulldoze over the smaller problems in life that we encounter.

In other words, we’re here, we’re alive, we’re free to do what we want, and we have the ability — whether we know it or not — to get what we want; so, why aim low?

Aim high!

Think big!

That’s the overall message of Week Twenty-One. Let’s explore it.

The Letter of Transmittal: Prayer and Spiritual Laws

What is prayer?

In paragraph eight you will find that everything which we hold in our consciousness for any length of time becomes impressed upon our subconsciousness and so becomes a pattern which the creative energy will weave into our life and environment. This is the secret of the wonderful power of prayer.

In a nutshell, it’s impressing the subconscious mind with what we want so that it becomes a part of us and therefore “comes into” our life.

Let’s look at Haanel’s definition again so that we can get a clearer picture of what exactly prayer is.

Haanel refers us to point #8.

8. When we realize these facts concerning mind, we understand how we may bring to ourselves any condition by creating the corresponding conditions in our consciousness, because everything which is held for any length of time in the consciousness eventually becomes impressed upon the subconscious and thus becomes a pattern which the creative energy will weave into the life and environment of the individual.

It’s basically the same thing with a few more words.

Take note of a few of those words, though.

When we hold something for a time in the conscious mind, it “eventually becomes impressed upon the subconscious and thus becomes a pattern.”

A “pattern”? To what does that refer.

It refers to everything we have been studying in this Master Key System up until now.

As we change our consciousness, we change our unconscious. That, in turn, changes our actions, our attitude — in short, it changes us at the core.

Thus, new “patterns” are formed. We exhibit new attitudes and demeanor. We take different actions. We “grow up.”

With our new “patterns,” we will use the creative energy and we will be able to find ways to get what we want — to answer our “prayers.”

You see, prayer as explained here isn’t about petitioning the “Lord” or begging for gifts. It’s about changing ourselves. We impress our subconscious mind — our deep-set command center — with what we want, what we want to be, what we want to do and as those thoughts become more and more impressed, we become that for which we ask.

As Haanel would say, we become “vessels” through which Spirit — Life! — works.

That’s why these “spiritual laws” are important. As I keep saying, it’s not about being or not being a theist; i...

It is now 2011 and this was the New Year’s episode of the Master Key Coaching Teleseminars. We discussed Week Twenty — “The Spirit of Things” — from The Master Key System and we even went a little long.

Week Twenty is an important week. Of course, they’re all important weeks, but this one highlights Haanel’s thought processes and further brings our thoughts into the process of The Master Key System.

You’ll see as we go along. So, let’s begin.

Going to 11?

On one of our recent calls, I quipped about going to “11” in 2011. Yes, I got it from the movie Spinal Tap.

I liked it so much, though, that I incorporated it into a cool ad and a cool image you can use as your desktop wallpaper. I hope that it serves to remind you to always — every day — give it your all and then go one step further.

To help you get to and stay at 11, I am offering an awesome deal on books. Please check it out!

Now, let’s really get into Week Twenty of The Master Key System …

The Letter of Transmittal

This week’s Letter of Transmittal is very important and significant. Please keep in mind that all the prior weeks lead to this week and the few remaining weeks.

It is quite a process.

The awesome thing about the LoT this week is that it showcases Haanel’s thought process in regards to this “mind stuff.”

It’s logical. It’s consistent. It falls in line with what we know about him.

It’s also illuminating to us.

God is Spirit.

Spirit is the Creative Principle of the Universe.

Man is made in the image and likeness of God.

Man is therefore a spiritual being.

The only activity which spirit possesses is the power to think.

Thinking is therefore a creative process.

All form is therefore the result of the thinking process.

The destruction of form must also be a result of the thinking process.

Fictitious representations of form are the result of the creative power of thought, as in Hypnotism.

Apparent representations of form are the result of the creative power of thought, as in Spiritualism.

Invention, organization, and constructive work of all kinds are the result of the creative power of thought, as in concentration.

When the creative power of thought is manifested for the benefit of humanity, we call the result good.

When the creative power of thought is manifested in a destructive or evil manner, we call the result evil. This indicates the origin of both good and evil; they are simply words which have been coined in order to indicate the nature of the result of the thinking or creative process.

Thought necessarily precedes and predetermines action; action precedes and predetermines condition.

This is Haanel’s philosophy in a nutshell — from God to man to the nature of good and evil to the creative power of thought.

There are many interesting points to highlight.

First, as we’ve discussed on many prior occasions, it isn’t necessary that you believe in God. It is about the “whole thing” — the world and universe in which we live. Based on that, we know that the nature of this “thing” is creative. Whether it be moons and stars or grass and trees or movies or buildings, it’s about creation.

How do we create? How does “it” create?

By thinking — by the creative power of thought.

If those thoughts destroy — if the results are bad — then we call that evil.

Week Nineteen of The Master Key System was a good way to end 2010 and welcome the New Year. It supplies us with a reminder of our power, the knowledge of what we must do, and the goals for which we should aim.

This is definitely a part of The Master Key System that should be read a few times in order to truly understand the points that Haanel is impressing upon us. I cover three main points here.

* The Vital Force

* Extremes

* Concentration

As we comprehend these points, we are better able to navigate the world in which we live and create what we want. We do this by attaining what Haanel refers to as “the distinguishing mark of genius.”

The Vital Force

Haanel opens Week Nineteen by discussing fear. He describes how to overcome fear in the second paragraph of the Letter of Transmittal.

Of course, the way to overcome fear is to become conscious of power. What is this mysterious vital force which we call power? We do not know; neither do we know what electricity is. But we do know that by conforming to the requirements of the law by which electricity is governed, it will be our obedient servant; that it will light our homes, our cities, run our machinery, and serve us in many useful capacities.

We all possess this “vital force.” Haanel admits that he does not know what it is, but that it is a “primary force which manifests through living bodies.”

It’s life force. Energy.

Perhaps it’s that which makes us want to live, to not only survive but to thrive.

This week is about developing that force within us.

The lesson which I enclose herewith tells of a very simple way of developing this vital force. If you put into practice the information outlined in this lesson you will soon develop the sense of power which has ever been the distinguishing mark of genius.

That “sense of power” is confidence and courage. As we understand this lesson and develop this force within us, we will overcome those feelings of doubt we have. We will become bolder, more willing to push forward, even when the times are trying.

Those are facets of genius.

A genius is only ever known by what he does — what he provides and showcases. If we have not this sense of power, then we will more than likely hide our ideas and thoughts underneath a bushel, allowing only very few — or no one at all — to see.

In order to get what we want, in order to effect changes in the world, we need to let our light to shine. We must be willing to take the criticism. More importantly, we must be willing to be wrong.

Remember, it’s not a big deal to be wrong. As Haanel stated, if we are wrong, then we merely have to try again.

We’ll never know if we are wrong, though, if we don’t try, if we don’t share our ideas.

We will increase our chances of succeeding, though, by following what Haanel relates in this chapter. We’ll get to that in the exercise for this week.

Black and White; Up and Down; Light and Dark: Extremes

In points #5 to #9 we see Haanel waxing philosophical.

5. In the physical world there are innumerable contrasts and these may, for convenience sake, be designated by distinctive names. There are sizes, colors, shades, or ends to all things. There is a North Pole and a South Pole, an inside and an outside, a seen and an unseen, but these expressions merely serve to place extremes in contrast.

6. They are names given to two different parts of one quantity.

Welcome to the Christmas Edition of the Master Key Coaching Teleseminars in which we discussed Week 18 of The Master Key System — “The Law of Attraction.”

I hope that you had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a bigger, better, and more exciting New Year. If you’ve been taking the time to study this philosophy of Charles F. Haanel and if you’ve made the effort to truly understand it, then you will absolutely have an awesome 2011 as you put this philosophy into action. I have no doubt about that. I see the results of this method of thought every day — with myself, with Master Key Coaching clients, and with people who make the news.

With effort and persistence, you too will do exciting things. You have (or are acquiring) the knowledge of your power; you have (or are acquiring) the courage to dare; the only thing for you to do is to allow yourself the faith the do.

In other words, just go for it!

Working Backwards

I approached our twenty-second episode of these Teleseminars a little differently than prior episodes.

I started with the exercise.

The exercise for Week 18 is very poignant. I would say it is one of the key things you should understand when you’re studying The Master Key System. It’s the thing that all successful people — be they business people, entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists, artists — understand.

As you know, the exercises of late in these deeper chapters of the book are more “ethereal” than the first ones. The exercises in the first third of the book are somewhat “mechanical.” Haanel instructed us to do something and we did it, be it sitting still or imagining something specific such as a friend or place or shape. These exercises were there to “till the soil,” so to speak. They were (and are!) methods to prepare our minds for what was to come.

What came was these “thought exercises.” Yes, we thought about or imagined specific things. These “things,” though, were concepts — ideas! — rather than things.

Peace. Harmony. Connection. Consciousness. These are ideas that mean different things to different people. These are ideas that have been discussed and debated for millennia. These are ideas for which there won’t be simple solutions as if they were simple math problems like “2 + 2 = ?”; rather they are complex problems for which there are a multitude of answers with even more ways at arriving at those answers, like a proof for the Pythagorean Theorem.

I often use as my example college. In your first and second year in school, the classes are primarily “breadth” classes — classes in which you mainly learn the facts about a subject. The tests reflect that, mostly being multiple choice and true-false tests. In your later years, as you get deeper into your major, the classes become more thought oriented, more idea oriented. The tests reflect that as well, being essay exams and papers, where your manipulation or understanding of the facts is important.

That’s where we are now — and have been for a few episodes — in The Master Key System.

The exercise for Week 18 implores us to understand that we — each and every one of us — are creative beings.

This week concentrate upon your power to create. Seek insight and perception.

Week Seventeen — “Symbols & Reality” — is a very important chapter in The Master Key System. It’s so important and so poignant that one caller (our friend “John in Orlando”) said that if he had to choose only one chapter from the book to read for the rest of his life, he would choose Week Seventeen.

There is a lot of insight and philosophy in Week Seventeen. We’ll do our best to get through as much as we can. I can’t implore you enough, though, to take the time yourself to really study this week — as well as all of the weeks. Remember that you’re not only looking for knowledge, you’re also looking for understanding.

I hope that my explication of this week’s teleseminar helps you to understand more.

The Letter of Transmittal

Haanel writes in his Letter of Transmittal for Week Seventeen:

The student who masters the contents of Week Seventeen will not mistake the symbols for the reality; he will be interested in causes, rather than effects. He will concentrate on the realities of life and will then not be disappointed in the results.

I want you to do a favor for me. I want you to refer to the very first episode of these Master Key Coaching Teleseminars. Recall what I said — and wrote.

On that very first call, I listed the five things you should really be getting from studying The Master Key System and Haanel’s philosophy of success. As you know, many people talk about how the book is all about the “law of attraction.” I disagreed. The five things I listed were:

* You will learn how to focus.

To be able to focus is the ability to dedicate your mind (your thoughts) to one problem (or goal) for an extended period of time. By mastering this skill, you’ll far outreach most people, who flitter from one thing to the other without result.

* You will learn how to achieve mental clarity.

Instead of a brain and thoughts beset with “noise,” you’ll see things clearly — rationally. You will rid yourself of the “shibboleths” of your mind.

* You will se the things in the world for what they are rather than what they appear to be.

Instead of seeing symbols and perceptions, you will see things truly — objectively.

* You will learn the greatest skill of all: how to THINK.

* You will learn that the Master Key System is really about solving problems.

Now, please look at #3.

That is a huge part of this book and Haanel’s philosophy of success. I would go even further and say that it is a huge part of living a successful life.

You see, as a person moves from their perceptions of the world — the shadows and shibboleths — to seeing the world and everything in it for what they are, that person gets a clearer picture of things and gets a better grasp on things. No longer are they a victim of errant thoughts and skewed views. They are instead masters of reality.

So, how do you get this level of understanding, this clearness of vision?

Concentration

Another item on the list I provided on the first episode was that you should be learning how to focus. In other words, you will learn to concentrate. You should be able to direct your mind — your thoughts — toward any problem and hold it there until you solve it.

The exercises in

We’re at Week Sixteen of The Master Key System — “Gaining Spiritual Understanding” — and as we progress into the latter half of the book, you’ll find two things.

The first is that it will be impossible for me to touch on each and every point that Haanel makes in the course of the chapter. While that would indeed be nice, it would mean either that an episode of our Master Key Coaching Teleseminars would have to be about three hours long or we’d have to discuss it over the course of three or four episodes.

I don’t think either option is very viable. I do touch on the most important — as I see it — points that Haanel is making. For the others, it is imperative that you take the time to read the chapter. There is a lot in the book. You know that. Take the time to read it. Review what I’ve said from the first episode here to where we are now; read the chapters; and then work on what was said and written.

The second thing you’ll be noticing is that I’ll be reading more and more from the book. Haanel makes many of his points very clear. He wrote many things perfectly. I see no need to try to fix what is not broken. Of course, I’ll add some commentary, which hopefully helps you to really grasp it, but the beauty of Haanel’s words stand quite well on their own.

With those two items in mind, I hope that you enjoy what was said. Let’s get into Week Sixteen!

Haanel’s Strange Letter of Transmittal

From the first time I read The Master Key System, I’ve always found the Letter of Transmittal for Week Sixteen somewhat strange. With the prior letters, there was a certain flow from the letter to the chapter proper.

Not so with this week.

Yes, there is a connection, but to me it was never as string as other weeks. It doesn’t line up as nicely.

That being said, Week Sixteen’s Letter of Transmittal does offer a lot about which to think.

The vibratory activities of the planetary Universe are governed by a law of periodicity. Everything that lives has periods of birth, growth, fruitage, and decline. These periods are governed by the Septimal Law.

The Law of Sevens governs the days of the week, the phases of the moon, the harmonies of sound, light, heat, electricity, magnetism, atomic structure. It governs the life of individuals and of nations, and it dominates the activities of the commercial world.

I am not going to get into this too much here. Haanel wrote much about the “Law of Sevens” in his book A Book About You. Get it and read it. I think that you’ll like it.

As you may know, I am not a new Age-y kind of guy. I don’t get into much of the woo that is bandied about as self-help nowadays.

I do like and find a certain validity, though, in this Law of Sevens.

From fads to music trends to business cycles, one can observe them in action. Music trends tend to have a life span of about seven years. Disco segued into punk/new wave which moved to heavy metal then came grunge then hip hop/rap … And each lasted about seven years. (Give or take.)

The financial markets tend to move in seven year cycles. As Haanel indicated further in the letter, there are seven years in each stage of a person’s maturation.

If the number seven sounds familiar, you’ll remember your Bible — Genesis 41: 22-36.

22“In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good,

Week Fifteen of The Master Key System is a pivotal part of the study of this “mindset stuff.” In this section, Haanel gets deep — very deep. He not only discusses the “Natural Laws” that affect us all — and get effects for us all — but he also discusses one of the main points that we should be “getting” from the study of this work: Insight.

Insight is one of those things that is difficult to define. Even Haanel with his powerful prose has difficulty truly encapsulating what it is. Much like love or wisdom, it’s something that one only truly understands when one attains it. In many ways, it’s like describing a color to a blind person or explaining how weightlessness feels to a person who has never experienced it. We all to one degree or another know what it is, but to actually put it in terms is difficult, to say the least.

Haanel attempts to do so, though — and he does an excellent job. Attaining insight, then, is the goal of this week’s lesson and exercise.

Let’s begin at the beginning, though, shall we?

When you listen to the teleseminar (whether you do so right here on this web site, download it it to your computer, or if you get them from the iTunes Music Store), you’ll hear me say that as we progress deeper into these “later” Weeks of the “System,” I’ll be reading directly from the book more and more. That is because Haanel phrases things, in my opinion, quite perfectly many times. I will, of course, expand on things as I see fit, but in many cases, Haanel’s words will be enough.

Natural Laws

In the “Letter of Transmittal” for Week Fifteen, Haanel informs us that we live under certain “natural laws,” which, if we allow them, will “help” us in our times of need. Haanel writes about these laws,

It will explain that these laws operate to our advantage; that all conditions and experiences that come to us are for our benefit; that we gain strength in proportion to the effort expended; and that our happiness is best attained through a conscious cooperation with natural laws.

The entire Master Key System is about getting us to work via a “conscious cooperation” with these laws. That’s why the prior fourteen weeks have built within us the ability to relax, to clear our minds, to focus, and to think.

As we do the things that Haanel instructs, these laws come into play automatically. It’s not magic, nor is it something mystical; it is life working as it always does.

That’s why I won’t be one of those people who hawks one of those sketchy ways to “take advantage of” the law of attraction. If you think properly, if you have an idea (or a goal), if you work toward your goal and take action on your plans, if you remain focused, if you cast aside irrational fears and doubts, if you do all these things and embrace the hard work of thinking and the courageous acts of doing, then these laws — like the law of attraction — will work right along with you. Automatically.

I’ve seen it happen time after time, again and again. It doesn’t require magic or movies, CDs or anything outside yourself.

“You have found from your study thus far that thought is a spiritual activity and is therefore endowed with creative power. This does not mean that some thought is creative, but that all thought is creative.”

Thus begins Week Fourteen: The Creative Power of Thought in Charles F. Haanel‘s The Master Key System.

Welcome.

For those of you in the United States, this was our Happy Thanksgiving episode. I wish you the best time with friends, family, and lots of food this Thursday as we gather to celebrate our annual holiday of giving thanks for all that we have.

If you don’t live in the States, don’t fret. You are more than welcome to enjoy a nice large meal and give thanks for all that you have as well.

I must say that Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays. It’s not only because of the food and the friends and the family. It’s also because of the sentiment of the day and what it means. Imagine a full day in which one is to think about and ponder all the things one has for which to be thankful. While Christmas has become over the years an over-commercialized shopping fiasco — along with various other holidays — Thanksgiving has always just been about the meal, gathering for the meal, and the thanks — the gratitude. It truly is nice. So, no matter where you are or what you do, you’re more than welcome to give thanks with us.

Negative People and Dream Stealers

Before we discuss Week Fourteen, I want to touch on something that came to my attention this past week. It is something we’ve discussed in a prior episode during our Question & Answer session, but I was reminded of it as I read an article by one Ryan Healy. It deals with how to handle negative people, or, as they are often called, “dream stealers.”

It has been popular in the self-help field for quite a while now that one should get rid of negative people and influences in one’s life. It really came to the forefront when in the book (and movie) The Secret the practice of ignoring even the things one doesn’t want was advocated. Want to lose weight? Then don’t even look at fat people. Looking for wealth? Then don’t even think about the poor.

While allowing a person to behave in the most callous and ignorant fashion is at the top of the list as to why that way of thinking is wrong, it’s also wrong because you’re limiting yourself from opportunities that could be had if you kept your eyes open. (We’ve also discussed that on these teleseminars. Many people advocate ignoring problems or not complaining. I say bring it on because in problems and complaints are opportunities waiting to be taken and solved.)

I think eliminating people from your life based simply on the fact that they are “negative” is simply a bad practice. We’ll get to the reasons in a few. I want to say first, though, that there are cases where you do have to cut negative influences from your life. If someone is a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, they simply can’t associate with the people they did when they used. Those old “friends,” unless they are willing to change their life as well, will simply  have to go. The same also holds true if a “friend” is someone who consistently brings you “down” in a very real and serious sense, such as he steals, or she cheats, or they’re always bringing “drama” with them wherever they go. You get the idea.

In other words, there are times when you have to break ties with people.

This episode — episode #17 — pushes us over the edge and officially half way through our study of The Master Key System. We’re on Week Thirteen: The Dreams of the Dreamer and it contains some of Charles F. Haanel‘s most inspiring prose as well as some of his most poignant observations.

Since Week Thirteen marks us passing the halfway point, I took the opportunity to deliver a special message. This message will not only help you in your study of The Master Key System, but in everything that you do.

You see, most people don’t make it halfway through The Master Key System.

Frankly, most people don’t even make it this far. Most stop by Week Four.

Of course, there are sundry reasons: life interrupts; people get busy with other things; something new and shiny comes along.

Whatever the reason, it’s sad.

You see, I’ve been studying The Master Key System for about fifteen years. I’ve been publishing it for over ten years. Through all that time, I’ve seen amazing things happen because of an intelligent application of all that the book teaches.

I began with nothing — NOTHING! — and now I not only publish all of the books by Charles F. Haanel, I also publish over a dozen others — with more on the way!

I’ve had book translated and published in so many countries that I can barely count them. China. Japan. India. Russia. Germany.

I’ve been blessed to meet and work with some of the most amazing people you can imagine — from Master Key Coaching clients to fellow publishers like Tracey Jones at Tremendous Life Books.

And more great things are on the way. (Stay tuned!)

I’m not the only one applying Haanel’s ideas and methods, though. Other people are as well — and they are being greatly rewarded.

* One person became debt-free, secured over $100,000 in capital, and opened her own practice. All in under ONE YEAR!

* Another person built her dream business — a beautiful bed & breakfast.

* Yet another person saved their business from collapsing and then went on to double their profits.

* A fellow we coached in Haanel’s methods got his dream job.

The stories I’ve heard and the things I’ve seen would make your head spin.

But they all come down to one thing: Committment.

Are you willing to commit to learning this “stuff”?

More importantly, are you willing to commit to applying it?

Even with all this opportunity — from the free Master Key to free coaching — most people drop out. They don’t commit. They look for something new. They continue on their fool’s quest for the “silver bullet.” Whatever…

This applies to just about everything we do in life! Think about people who hop from one opportunity to the next,

This is Week Twelve of The Master Key System — “The Power of Concentration.” There is a lot in this chapter. Not only does it contain two of Haanel’s most famous lines that are quoted extensively on the Internet and Twitter, it also contains insight into two of Haanel’s most famous “laws”: the law of attraction and the law of love.

As if that weren’t enough, the exercise for this week is powerful — and we do our best to explain it on the many various levels that it can be explained. It’s a deep one. I hope that my explanation of it gives you some clarity about it.

In the “Letter of Transmittal” for Week Twelve, Haanel, in the first paragraph, gives us the quote that has become somewhat famous. This one line encapsulates the entire philosophy of The Master Key System. It’s the outline of why we’re studying this book as well as what we’re to do with the knowledge we gain from it.

You must first have the knowledge of your power; second, the courage to dare; third, the faith to do.

That’s everything that we’ve been discussing in a nutshell.

We must have the knowledge of the power that we possess: the power to think, to focus, to mold reality. When we know what we have, we can then use it to our advantage. When we have that, we can then dare to dream — and dream big! We can make big plans and pursue big goals. That’s when we do, because we have faith in out thoughts, our plans, and the actions that we will take.

To me, that’s one of the best lines ever written in the personal development genre. I use it on my emails (you do receive them, yes?) and even on my invoices. Commit it to memory. Reflect on it often. More importantly, out it to use by following what it dictates.

Later in the Letter of Transmittal, Haanel writes that

[T]he time and thought which most persons waste in aimless effort would accomplish wonders if properly directed with some special object in view.

That right there sums what Week Twelve is about. Are you the constant flitterer, jumping from one goal to another? Do you have one plan today then another the next? Do you approach life in a happy-go-lucky kind of way?

If you do, then let’s review points #1-9.

1. There is no purpose in life that cannot be best accomplished through a scientific understanding of the creative power of thought.

2. The power to think is common to all. Man is because he thinks. Man’s power to think is infinite, consequently his creative power is unlimited.

3. We know that thought is building for us the thing we think of and actually bringing it nearer, yet we find it difficult to banish fear, anxiety, or discouragement, all of which are powerful thought forces and which continually send the things we desire further away, so that it is often one step forward and two steps backward.

4. The only way to keep from going backward is to keep going forward. Eternal vigilance is the price of success. There are three steps, and each one is absolutely essential. You must first have the knowledge of your power; second, the courage to dare; third, the faith to do.

5. With this as a basis you can construct an ideal business, an ideal home, ideal friends, ideal environment. You are not restricted as to material or cost. Thought is omnipotent and has the power to draw on the Infinite bank of primary substance for all that it requires. Infinite resources are therefore at your command.

6. But your ideal must be sharp, clear-cut, definite; to have one ideal today, another tomorrow, and a third next week,