Hollis Baker’s Blog

J. W. Smith lived in the largest house in town. Mr. Smith owned the dry goods store and was on my paper route.

Mr. Smith was kind, gentle, friendly and rich. The first three I could handle but the rich part scarred me into avoiding him at all cost. I figured any rich man had to be dodged as if they were from an alien planet. I was half right. One day I had to knock on his door to collect for the paper. He answered the door. I nearly turned and ran. He invited me in; paid for the paper and started a conversation. He was not an alien. He was just a great man even though he was rich. That started a friendship that lasted for the rest of his life.

One day I was brazen enough to ask about life. He answered in a most unusual manner. He said life was a race from the cradle to the grave in quest of success. Some find it; some don’t. When we speak of success we must define success, he said. Success is the search of a worthwhile, personal goal because you decided to do it. For instance, when you get on your bicycle to deliver the papers you have a goal, a purpose, a destination and you always get there. But Saturday mornings when you ride around town you really never arrive anywhere. But he said there is a key to success and I will tell you what it is some day.

I am sure the wise old man knew he had already spilled more wisdom than my timid mind could absorb.
The following months I wondered just what that key might be, Each evening as I loaded my papers and delivered them I thought about his analogy of success, but what I wanted was the key.

I could hardly wait to collect for the paper each month. Horrified I learned Mr. Smith had suddenly died. I was saddened for the loss of what had become a warm friendship, but anxious for the loss of the key to my future.

Some time later his widow called and asked me to stop by. She gave me a letter Mr. Smith and written to me.

He wrote;

Dear Hollis,

The key to success is, you become what you think about. Now don’t think this statement is just a simple answer to a complex problem. Men put little value upon free things. Your body, your mind, your love are all given free and we take them for granted. You rarely give these things a thought. Most men place great value upon things that cost money. Cars, houses, land, business. In fact most think about these things all the time. But the free things once lost can never be regained. Money is cheap and easy to obtain. We can replace things gained with money. Just remember, Have a personal worth while goal, Think about it daily and with this key you will gain any thing you desire.

Respectfully,

J. W. Smith.

The years fled by and I forgot this mans sage advice. Like Jason searching for the golden fleece far and wide, I scoured the world looking for success. Then one day, like Jason, I returned home and going through old papers I found Mr. Smith’s letter. There upon the paper my Golden Fleece was discovered. A key to success, shining brightly it gleamed in the sunlight of my searching mind.. Eagerly I tried the key upon each locked door and found it worked every time.

From Mr. Smith of the faraway past came success. And it can be yours also. Have a personal worth while goal, think about it daily, and with this key you will gain any thing you desire.