The greatest salesman in the world – Og Mandino

My favourite quotes from the book The greatest salesman in the world by Og Mandino:

It is indeed a simple task, provided one is willing to pay the price in time and concentration until each principal becomes a part of one’s personality.

Do not aspire for wealth and labor not only to be rich. Strive instead for happiness to be loved and to love and more importantly to acquire peace of mind and serenity.

I consider poverty to be lack of ability, or lack of ambition.

Rewards are great if one succeeds. But the rewards are great only because so few succeed.

Never feel shame for trying and failing, for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

Although I consider myself a good salesman I cannot sell death on departing from my door.

You’re an old man nods wisely and speaks stupidly.

For what is success than the state of mind.

Failure is man’s inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be.

I could bestow upon you great wealth but this would do you great disservice, far better is if you become the world’s greatest salesman on your own.

The only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked doors to failure.

Only a habit can subdue another habit.

As I repeat the words daily it will soon become the part of my active mind, but more importantly it will also slip into my other mind. That mysterious source that never sleeps, which creates my dreams, and often makes me act ways I do not comprehend.

I will not hear those who weep and complain for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny. I will persist until I succeed.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not at the beginning. And it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at 1000th step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it hides unless I turn the corner. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail, I will take another and yet another. I will persist until I succeed.

There is no room in the marketplace for my family. Nor is there a place for market at my home.

If I persist long enough I will win.

Never has there been a map however carefully executed to detail and scale which carried its owner over even 1 inch ground, never has there been a parchment of law that prevented one crime. Never has there been a scroll that produced a penny. Action is the food and drink that will nourish my success. I will act now.

I will pray, but my cries for help will only be cries for guidance. Never will I pray for material things of the world. Only for guidance will I pray.

Oh creator of all things help me, for this day I go out to the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me. I will wonder far from the path which leads to success and happiness, I ask not for gold or even opportunities equal to my ability. Instead guide me that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunity. You have taught the lion and the eagle how to hunt and prosper with the teeth and claw. Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love so that I may be a lion among men and the eagle at the marketplace. Help me to remain humble through obstacles and failures. Confront me with fears that will temper my spirit, yet indulge me with courage to laugh at my misgivings. Spare me some sufficient days to reach my goals, yet help me to live this day, as that would be my last. Guide me in my words that they may be a fruit, yet silence me from gossip that none be malign. Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again, yet show me the way to use the law of the averages. Favor me with alertness to favor the opportunity, yet enable me with patients which will concentrate my strength. Bade me in good habits that the bad ones may drown, grant me compassion for weaknesses in others. Let me know that all things shall pass, yet help me to count the blessings of today. Expose me to hate, yet not be a stranger, yet fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends. But all these things be of thy will. I’m small and lonely grape clutched divine yet that has made me different from all of us. Fairly, there must be a special place for me, guide me, help me, show me the way. Let me become all that you planned for me when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world. Helpe this humble salesman, guide me God!