I suppose the greatest influence on my Real Estate career in the beginning was the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It was that book that gave me the seed for change. Through my reading I developed the concept that anything the mind of man can conceive and believe, coupled with burning desire, he can achieve. This concept engulfed me; body, mind and spirit. At the time I was working as a skilled-trades welder at Ford Motor Company. Although I did not know it at the time, I was the youngest, yet most highly paid welder at Ford Motor Company. I had reached my plateau at the age of 27. It was time to find new goals and new mountains to climb. After obtaining my license I had the blessing of a mentor, Ron Spencer, who guided, helped, encouraged and taught me the ways of Real Estate and the way to success. We studied the Tom Hopkins sales techniques and practiced, drilled and rehearsed. In the middle of the 1970s we probably sold more farms in the Midwest than any other small brokerage. I learned the power of positive thinking. I learned the secret of never seeing failure as a failure, but only as a learning experience.  “I never see failure as failure but only as the negative feedback that I need to change my direction. I never see failure as failure but only as the opportunity to develop my sense of humor. I never see failure as failure but only as an opportunity to practice my techniques and perfect my performance. I never see failure as failure but only as the game I must play to win.” Tom Hopkins wrote it; I believed it. In these times it might benefit us all and remember the basic truths, the things that got us where we are and helped to make us who we are.