In the Letter of Transmittal for Week Five of The Master Key System, Charles F. Haanel wrote that “the world is awarding its richest prizes to the thinkers.” He continued:

Matter is powerless, passive, inert. Mind is force, energy, power. Mind shapes and controls matter. Every form which matter takes is but the expression of some preexisting thought.

That’s not only powerful, it’s empowering!

Why? Because thought . . .

. . . obeys natural laws; it sets in motion natural forces; it releases natural energies; it manifests in your conduct and actions, and these in turn react upon your friends and acquaintances, and eventually upon the whole of your environment.

You can originate thought and . . .

. . . since thoughts are creative . . .

. . . you can create for yourself the things you desire.

That is the importance of thinking.

Real thinking.

True thinking.

Raising yourself from being a “hewer of wood” to a thinker.

That’s how you reap the richest prizes.

You need only scan the financial news for a few seconds to realize that that is true. The people who think — the people who solve problems or entertain or inform — in a creative fashion are the ones who reap the greatest rewards.

“Here’s to the Crazy Ones,” an advertisement (of all things!) made by Apple displays this perfectly.

When you see things differently, you might be seen as crazy. Then again, so were . . .

. . . Nikola Tesla . . .

. . . Albert Einstein . . .

. . . Glenn Miller . . .

. . . and so many others.

And time passed.

And what was called crazy had become the norm.

If someone told you a few years ago you would be connecting with people on a web site called Facebook, would you have believed them or would you have thought them nuts?

How about micro-blogging on a tool called Twitter?

Or having the world’s music library at your fingertips?

Or any of the modern marvels we handle and experience every day?

People created those things.

They saw in their mind what could be, no matter how crazy it sounded.

And then they made it possible, no matter what difficulties they encountered.

And you can do it, too, no matter what your past or present circumstances.

Because you’re a student of The Master Key System.

And there are no obstacles, only opportunities.

So you will see the world in a different way and . . .

. . . you will see solutions to problems.

And for your thoughts?

For your efforts?

For your accomplishments?

You shall receive the richest prizes.

—

People who accomplish the most are those who read the best books.