reproduce the same photograph； over and over again。 Yet this
is precisely the course； which many people set； for their own
lives。 Therefore； you must constantly be reminding yourself；
that if you persist in 〃thinking in reverse；〃 you will only
reproduce the same results in your life； over and over again。 If
you wish to change this pattern； on the other hand； you must
look bravely into the bright future； which lies ahead； and see
yourself already doing what you now only dream about doing；
〃someday。〃
Patti's Cruise
Patti Moir first came to my seminar； with her parents；
when she was only eleven years old。 By the age of fifteen she
was already speaking in the seminars and sharing with the
audience the manner in which a concept in the seminar had
moved her from failing miserably in Frenchat schoolto
honor's grades （and in a relatively short period of time； to
boot！）
Five years later she was working with me in the seminar
business。 One day I noticed her attitude seemed to be slipping
badly and it appeared to me that she was not enjoying herself
one iota （note that these are the first telltale symptoms of an
individual who is without a goal）。 So I asked her what it was
she really wanted and her immediate response was； 〃What do
you mean by that？〃 I explained to her； that since she wasn't
working toward anything； she didn't have anything to look
forward to； and this made life extremely difficult； to say the
least。 Then she said； 〃But I don't have any money； so I can't do
anything。〃 I reminded her； however； that it doesn't cost even
one penny to want or to dream。 A radiant smile suddenly came
across Patti's face； and she told me that what she wanted；
more than anything else； was to go on a south sea cruise。 I
said to her； 〃That would probably be a lot of fun。〃 I told her I
had done it a number of times myself； and I described to her
how beautiful it was。 I also expressed my expectation； that she
would have a truly marvelous time。 I pointed out； moreover；
that she would retain the memories from the trip for the rest of
her life and she could then relive them； over and over again；
whenever she desired it。
At this juncture； I asked her what was holding her back。
Again； the same response was forthing from Patti； 〃I don't
have any money。〃 This type of negative thinking had been
crippling her； by preventing her from undertaking something
in her life which she felt was very important。
But the real reason I bring this story up here； is to
illustrate that even though Patti was mature； had no ties and
had no real reason not to go on the trip； her own thinking was
holding her back from doing so。 Clearly； she was a young lady
who was 〃thinking in reverse。〃 She had thoroughly convinced
herself it was a lack of finances which thwarted her desire； but
of course； that just wasn't the case。 Nevertheless； whatever the
source of her real frustration may have been； it was certainly
holding her back from realizing her dream。
Understand； that untold numbers of people are making
the same error Patti madedailyand it is a great tragedy。
Perhaps you have been making this same error in your own
life。 If you have； I hope 〃Patti's story〃 will be the inspiration
you need to get you moving in the direction you wish to go。
In any case； one day Patti and I went to lunch together
and we had a very serious discussion。 I said； 〃Listen Patti； if
you really want to go on a cruise； you must quit looking back
or looking at 〃what is；〃 because looking at present results is a
very mon form of thinking in reverse。 You must mence
to look ahead and you must start applying what we profess in
the seminars。 So go ahead and book your tripmake definite
plansand don't give one thought to anything going wrong。
Know that whatever you need for your goal to materialize； will
begin to be attracted to you； as soon as you accept the idea
that you are going； and make definite plans to do so。 If it is
money that you need； you will have it。 It might not all be in
place until the very last moment； but if you see it； and you
believe it； and you expect it； you most certainly will receive it。〃
I won't bore you with the details of how things all came
together； but I will tell you they came together in wondrous
and unexpected ways。 Eventually； Patti actually attracted
more money than she required for her trip。 I was at the airport
at approximately 6 a。m。 with Patti's parentson the morning
that she left； and it was a tremendously gratifying experience
for me； to see her face aglow with nervous excitement。 Suffice
it to say； she went on her cruise。 She had enough courage to
travel alone and she enjoyed a trip which she will surely
remember all the days of her life。 But what is even more
important than the trip itself is the awareness Patti gained
from the experience。 For she now knows； through her own
personal experience； that if you think in reverse； you will only
see reasons why you can't。 However； if you will but look into
the future with a positive； even expectant attitude； you will see
that you 〃can do。〃 Patti will be able to apply this awareness
toward the achievement of all of her future wishes。
Have you been dreaming of a trip？ If you have； go out
and book your reservations。 It doesn't matter if the
reservations are for six months or a year from now； make them
immediately and then enjoy the anticipation which precedes
the actual event。 I honestly believe that in Patti's particular
case； the excitement leading up to her trip was equally as
enjoyable and exciting as the actual trip itself （not to mention
the enjoyment which she will derive from the memories of her
trip； which she will carry with her for the rest of her life）。
The probable reason that so few people make plans or set
goals； similar to the one discussed above； is that most people
are unablein their own mindto figure out how everything
necessary will e together。 But you must understand； you
need not know how everything will e together。 All you have
to understand is the underlying principle； by which your good
es； namely； everything which you receive in life es by
virtue of the 〃Law of Attraction。〃
The Paul Hutsey story in chapter three is an excellent
example of a conscientious； intelligent； hardworking person；
who was attempting to do something which was tantamount to
a person jumping off the front porch of his home； and then
expecting； somehow； to land on the roofyou know that this is
never going to happen。 Yet Paul had spent twenty years：
1。 letting the sales sheets in his office
control the image that he held of his operation；
and
2。 attempting to improve the results he
was getting through sheer force of will； dogged
determination and long hard hours of
agonizing toil。
Everybody by doing all of these things certainly will
improve their results to some degree； but they will never
witness a dramatic improvement in their results； until they
have first altered the image； which they are holding in their
mind's eye。 Paul Hutsey is a prime illustration of a person who
fully believed he was looking ahead； when in actual fact； he
was guilty of 〃thinking almost pletely in reverse。〃 For he
spent the vast majority of his time consciously focusing on
present results； present thoughts and present images。
If you have been guilty of allowing your salessheets； your
bank account； or the xrays the doctor takes of your body；
control the way you feel； think； or view your sales； financial
position or health； I can assure you thatjust as certain as it's
going to get dark tonightthere will not be any marked
improvement in your life in any of these areas。 On the other
hand； if you will let the present； physical results serve only as
an indication of the images which you have been holding in
the past； and then you proceedby virtue of your own higher
mental facultiesto look into the bright future and to build an
image of the good that you desire （just as Patti and Paul did）；
you will see your image materialize。 But again； as long as you
continue to let your present or past results control your
thinking process； you will never live to see your dreams e
true。
Therefore； look up； look ahead and form the image of the
life you choose to live； then everything you touch or e in
contact with will grow and expand and express itself in a
greater and greater way。
Individuals who are thinking in reverse； very rarely； if
ever； originate ideas which lead them to providing meaningful
service to others。 The reason for this is that they are only able
to see what someone else has already done。 As a result of their
limited mindset； the rewards which they will ultimately
receive in life are destined to be equally limited。
The 333 Story
I was doing a seminar； which ran from Thursday night to
Sunday； at the Deerhurst Lodge； which is a resort
approximately 100 miles north of Toronto。 On the Friday
night； a tornado swept through Barrie； Ontario； a town about
40 miles south of Deerhurst。 The tornado killed a dozen people
and did millions of dollars worth of damage。 On the Sunday
night； as I was ing home； I stopped the car when I got to
Barrie。 I got out on the side of the highway and looked around。
It was a mess。 Everywhere I looked； there were smashed
houses and cars turned upside down。
That same night； another gentleman； Bob Templeton；
was driving down the same highway。 He and I had never met；
however； an idea from my seminar was about to bring us
together in a lasting friendship。 He stopped to look at the
disaster； just as I had； only his thoughts were different than
my own。 Bob was the VicePresident of Telemedia
munications； a pany which owns a string of radio
stations in Ontario and Quebec。 As he stood there viewing the
disaster； he thought there must be something he could do for
these people （with the radio stations he had）。 That thought
kept returning to his mind that night and all the next day。
The following night； I was doing another seminar in
Toronto。 Bob Templeton and Bob Johnso