Some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. But alibis cannot be used for money. The world wants to know only one thing – have you achieved success?

As you read the list, examine yourself carefully, and determine how many of this alibi’s, if any, are your own property.

IF only I didn’t have a wife and family…

IF only I had enough “pull”…

IF only I had money…

IF only I had a good education…

IF only I could get a job…

IF only I had good health…

IF only I had time…

IF only times were better…

IF only other people understood me…

IF only conditions around me were different…

IF only I could live my life over again…

IF only I did not fear what “they” would say…

IF I had been given a chance…

IF now I had a chance…

IF only other people didn’t “have it in for me”…

IF nothing happens to stop me…

IF only I were younger…

IF only I could do what I want…

IF only I had been born rich…

IF only I could meet “the right people”…

IF only I had the talent that some people have…

IF only I dared assert myself…

IF only I had embraced past opportunities…

IF only people didn’t get in to my nerves…

IF only I didn’t have to keep house and look after children…

IF only I could save some money…

IF only the boss appreciate me…

Young Gunsaulus went to Mr. Armour’s office and the million dollars was presented to him. With the money he founded the Armour Institute of Technology, now known as Illinois Institute of Technology.

The necessary million dollars came as a result of an idea back of an idea was a desire which young Gunsaulus had been nursing in his mind for almost two years.

Observe this important fact … he got the money within thirty-six hours after he reached a definite decision in his own mind to get it, and decide upon a definite plan for getting it!

There was nothing new or unique about young Gunsaulus vague thinking about a million dollars, and weakly hoping for it. Moreover, the principle through which Dr. Gunsaulus got his million dollars is still alive! It is available to you! This universal law is a workable today as it was when the young preacher made use of it so successfully.

He knew the astounding truth that ideas can be transmuted into cash through the power of definite purpose, plus definite plan.

If you are one of those who believe that hard work and honesty, alone, will bring riches, perish the thought! It is not true! Riches, when they come in huge quantities, are never the result of hard work alone! Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.

Generally speaking, an idea is an impulse of thought that impels action, by an appeal to the imagination. All master salesmen know that ideas can be sold where merchandise cannot. Ordinary salesmen do not know this-that is why they are “ordinary.”

There is no standard price on ideas. The creator of ideas makes his own price, and if he is smart, he gets it. Thinking and speaking will not work alone; you need to do some action and an intensive planning, if you want to fulfill whatever ideas that comes in to you.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

While Dr. Gunsaulus was going through college, he observe many defects in our educational system, defects which he believed that he could correct, if he were the head of a college. His deepest desire is to become the directing head of an educational institution in which young man and women would be taught to “learn by doing”.

He made up his mind to organize a new college in which he could carry out his ideas, without being handicapped by orthodox methods of education.

He needed a million dollars to put the project across. Where was he to lay his hands on so large a sum of money? That was the question that absorbed most of this ambitious young preacher’s thought.

But he couldn’t seem to make any progress. Every night he took that thought to bed with him. He got up with it every morning. He took it with him every where he went. He turned it over and over in his mind until it became a consuming obsession with him. A million dollars is a lot of money. He recognized that fact, but he also recognized the truth that the only limitation is that which one sets up in one’s own mind.

Being a philosopher as well as a preacher, Dr. Gunsaulus recognized, as do all who succeed in life, that definiteness of purpose is the starting point fro which one must begin. He recognized, too, that definiteness of purpose takes an animation, life, and power when backed by a burning desire to translate that purpose into its material equivalent.

He knew all these great truths, yet he did not know where, or how to lay his hands on a million dollars. The natural procedure would have been to give up and quit, by saying, “Ah, well, my idea is a good one, but I cannot do anything with it, because I never can procure the necessary million dollars.” That is exactly what the majority of people would have said, but it is not what Dr. Gunsaulus said. What he said, and what he did is so important that I now introduce him, and let him speak for himself.

 ”One Saturday afternoon I sat in my room thinking of ways and means of raising the money to carry out my plans. For nearly two years, I had been thinking, but I had done nothing but think!

“The time had come for action!

What do you think Dr. Gunsaulus will do to raise the million dollars?

See you all on the next chapter.