sour； so 〃sour；〃 in fact； they were seriously contemplating
〃closing their doors；〃 and going to work for someone else。
In an attempt to assist them； I visited them on the
premises of their shop and I asked them a series of related
questions。 Then； I 〃sat back〃 and listened very carefully to the
answers which they provided me with。 It wasn't long before I
ascertained； that whenever I asked a question having to do
with their ability as mechanics； they answered with great
enthusiasm and literally overflowing with confidence。 In fact；
they soon had me convinced not only were they very skillful
mechanics； but they were exceptionally hard workers as well。
On the other hand； however； I also discerned； that
whenever I asked them a question which touched upon the
public relation's side of their business； they exhibited
absolutely no enthusiasm； whatsoever。 In fact； an aura of
pessimism and despondency actually came over them。 It was
fairly obvious to me； therefore； the only problem which this
family really had was dealing with their own mental attitudes。
Once I had identified the exact nature of the problem； I
was able to suggest corrective action。 I told them they must
begin to 〃visualize their shop full of cars which needed to be
repaired。〃 I suggested； moreover； that every time they
visualized themselves doing work on a car； they also visualize
themselves vacuuming the inside of the car； washing the
outside； and making sure the windows were spotless。 I pointed
out to them； that because most people don't really understand
very much about the mechanical aspects of a car； the only
thing which they would notice； was 〃how it looked；〃 and since
almost everyone feels better driving a car that looks good；
these little extra touches would soon start paying great
dividends for them。
Approximately two weeks later； I received a phone call
from one of the family members。 She told me that none of
them quite understood how 〃something so basic；〃 could make
such a tremendous difference。 But nevertheless； they had
bee so busy in the next two weeks since I had visited
them； their only problem now was pleting all of the work
which they had attracted to themselves。 The Razor's Edge
difference that changed their business from a loser into a
winner； turned out to be nothing more dramatic than a
hospitable attitude and a few additional touches on each and
every automobile。 Was it worth it？ Just ask the Jacob's family
of Toronto； Canada！
Most educators will admit with some coaxing that the
average individual reads at only about a grade six or seven
level。 The reason for this is we are taught to read by the time
we reach grade six or seven； and then we never bother to
improve our reading skills beyond that point。 You should
realize； moreover； that what is true about 〃reading；〃 is also
true of most other skills which we acquire in life。 Once people
have bee proficient in the basics in any particular field；
they usually choose to stop learning； and of course； from that
point forward they cease to improve。 Since this is true of most
people； it follows that it is only the small minority of people in
any given field who will go on to bee the acknowledged
experts in their chosen vocation。 Therefore； they are the people
who can demand and who will receive the lion's share of the
ine in their field。 （Just reflect upon the vast difference in
the ines of the actors in the movie The Razor's Edge。）
Taking this information into account； consider the job
you are doing presently and ask yourself the following
questions： 〃How good am I at doing it？；〃 and 〃How much better
could I be？〃 Realize； that if you would study your chosen field
for one hour per day； in five years time you would have
studied for 45 fortyhour weeks； which amounts to almost a
full year of study。 Moreover； since you would only be studying
for one hour at any given time； you would be able to give the
material your undivided attention。 Therefore； it would actually
be the equivalent of 〃a full year〃 of concentrated study。 This
means that by the end of the first year； you would already
have put in nine fortyhour weeks of invaluable study time。
Although this amounts to only one hour of study per day； if
you were to follow this schedule rigorously； in a relatively
short span of time you would stand among your peers like a
giraffe in a herd of field mice。
In fact； when you really think about it； you will soon
understand there isn't any petition at all； because there
are so few people in the race； that even the losers are winners。
Therefore； you need not do a tremendous amount of studying
to gain the understanding you require； because again； the
difference between knowledge and ignorance； may be as fine
as 〃the Razor's Edge。〃
Let's get down to specifics againas I have explained to
audiences on numerous occasions； I do a great deal of
studying by listening to educational tapes while I am driving
my car。 I'd like to suggest that you turn your radio off and
your taperecorder on when you get into your car； as it could
make as big a difference for you； as it has for me。 You should
be aware that those people who drive twentyfive thousand
miles per year spend thirteen fortyhour weeks sitting behind
the wheel of their car。 Therefore； they are in an excellent
position to have a wealth of invaluable information deposited
in their subconscious minds； while they are； otherwise；
engaged in the routine activity of driving。 Remember； it is
virtually impossible to keep exposing your mind to great ideas
without having those ideas expressed in your physical world。
Moreover； it is probably only one idea you need to make the
difference in your life。
Consider this illustrationby merely moving an index
finger a fraction of an inch； a person can transform a cold
piece of metal into a deadly weapon。 Or； by simply shouting
the word 〃Fire；〃 a person can turn a room full of happy people
into a screaming； panicstricken mob。 Obviously； these are
both very negative examples。 Nevertheless； they do graphically
illustrate the important truth； that 〃the Razor's Edge can cut
both ways。〃 In other words； since the law of opposites is at
work in every aspect of life； it follows； that if you are not
consciously striving to move across that fine line to improve
the quality of your life； you could be inadvertently moving in
such a way； that your particular position in life is actually
starting to backslide。
Let me elaborate。 A couple of weeks ago； I was doing a
talk show on the radio。 A lady phoned in and she was in a
fairly negative frame of mind because the reality of her life； as
she perceived it； was far different from what she had dreamed
it would be when she was still a student in university。
Apparently； at that time； she had dreamed of having an
exciting career as a famous author。 However； she felt her
plans had been ruined because she married shortly after
graduation and now had two young children to contend with。
The children； she explained； were still quite young and they
were； as she described it； 〃under my feet； most of the day。〃
She said that due to this circumstance of life； she was unable
to go away by herself to write and this made her feel very
resentful towards her family and towards life in general。
I suggested to her； however； it was not necessary to 〃go
away〃 to write her book； even though it is quite true some
writers do go off to some south sea island； just to write。 But I
assured her； these individuals were in the minority； and there
are； in fact； very few authors who devote all their time to
writing （or who even earn a major portion of their ine；
while engaged in this activity）。 Therefore； I continued； there
was absolutely nothing preventing her from writing at least
one page per dayand if she followed this schedule religiously；
in a year's time she would have pleted a goodsized book
（365 pages）； or possibly two or three smaller ones。 Yes； just
getting out of bed one hour earlier in the morning could be the
Razor's Edge difference which would permit her to realize her
dream。 Moreover； she would have the additional benefit of
having her family near her to provide 〃moral support。〃
First Artificial Heart
As I am writing this particular chapter； the media is
literally inundating us with stories about the 〃first artificial
heart；〃 ever to have been placed in the chest of a human
patient。 The Toronto Daily Star； for example； printed one story
a few days ago； in which it quoted the chief surgeon for the
operation； Dr。 William DeVries。 According to the newspaper；
he said that his credo； with respect to surgery； had always
been〃Rehearse 。。。 rehearse 。。。 and then rehearse some more！
For if you 'stick to' this principle；〃 he continued； 〃when it
es time to perform the actual operation； the procedure will
have bee almost routine for you。〃
Dr。 DeVries is an exemplary case of an individual who
gave that little bit extra。 For he took the time and effort to
rehearse the operation on the screen of his own mind； before
he actually performed it in the hospital operating room。
（Incidentally； that Razor's Edge difference has enabled Dr。
DeVries to bee a world renowned surgeon； who is destined
to be 〃written up〃 in the annals of medical history； not to
mention the fact that it enabled him to prolong the life of one
Dr。 Barney Clark！）
Another excellent illustration of 〃going that extra mile〃 by
trying one more time； is offered in the same historic event。 For
Dr。 Robert Jarvikonly 36 years of ageand the man who
designed the world's first artificial heart； is another prime
Razor's Edge candidate。 For you see； Dr。 Jarvik is also a man
who was rejected； at least three times； by every medical school
in the entire United States of America。 In fact； he was even
advised by one teacher； whose course he was failing； to apply
to dental school。
But Robert Jarvik was a man with a vision； and he would
not be denied it。 He intuitively grasped that he was the master
of his fate； and he must h