Action Power: The Miracle Way to a Successful New Life

This edition is published by Muriwai Books – www.pp-publishing.com

To join our mailing list for new titles or for issues with our books – muriwaibooks@gmail.com

Or on Facebook

Text originally published in 1963 under the same title.

© Muriwai Books 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

ACTION POWER:

THE MIRACLE WAY TO A SUCCESSFUL NEW LIFE

BY

VERNON HOWARD

This world belongs to the energetic.

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

AN IMPORTANT PERSONAL INVITATION TO YOU, THE READER 4

YOUR FIRST MAGICAL STEP 6

1—LET’S PLUNGE INTO ACTION RIGHT NOW 7

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CLEOPATRA ACTED 7

YOUR HAPPINESS AND ACTION 8

WE ALL NEED EXCITING ACTION 8

YOUR SECRET SERVANT NAMED SERENDIPITY 10

HOW TO BE HAPPILY SURPRISED 10

SIX MAGIC WORDS THAT WORK WONDERS 11

HOW THE SIX MAGIC WORDS SUCCEEDED 11

YOUR THREE KEYS TO GENUINE ACTION 12

1. MAKE IT DEFINITE 13

2. MAKE IT INTERESTING 14

3. MAKE IT REWARDING 14

WHY EASY ACTION IS BEST FOR YOU 14

HOW A SIMPLE QUESTION STARTED A BANK 15

REVIEW YOUR EXCITING ACTIONS 16

2—HOW TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE EASILY 17

HOW TO GET STARTED 17

YOUR THOUGHTS PRODUCE YOUR ACTIONS 18

A SUCCESS STORY 19

PLANNED ACTION WINS THE DAY 20

PLAN 1: IT SPEEDS YOU FORWARD 21

PLAN 2: FOR FAVORABLE CHANGES 21

PLAN 3: TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT 22

AN EASY WAY TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE 22

HOW TO GO INTO ACTION! 23

HOW TO PREVENT DISCOURAGEMENT 24

AN ACTION WORTH $250,000 25

CONFIDENCE-BUILDERS FROM THIS CHAPTER 26

3—ACTIONS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY INSTANTLY 26

WHAT YOUR HAPPINESS DEPENDS UPON 28

HOW OTHER PEOPLE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY 29

HOW TO CREATE HAPPY CIRCUMSTANCES 30

GIVE YOUR ACTIONS THIS HAPPINESS TEST 32

1. IS IT ACTIVELY HOPEFUL? 32

2. IS IT KINDLY TOWARD MYSELF? 33

3. DOES IT CHALLENGE MY ABILITIES? 34

4. IS IT FREE OF COMPLICATIONS? 34

BE ACTION-MINDED 35

THOUGHTS FOR INSTANT HAPPINESS 37

4—WOMEN: HOW TO WIN OVER THE OPPOSITE SEX 37

THE SOUTHERN ROSE 38

THE POWER OF YOUR PERSONALITY 39

SOLVED: THE MYSTERY OF ATTRACTION 40

WHAT EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW 41

HOW TO MAKE A MAN LIKE YOU 42

HE LIKES A BIT OF INITIATIVE FROM YOU 43

HE APPRECIATES YOUR REASONABLE ATTITUDES 44

HE NEEDS YOUR RESPONSIVENESS 45

YOUR MAN-WINNING ACTS IN REVIEW 46

5—MEN: WOMEN WILL LIKE YOU FOR THESE ACTS 46

YOUR APPLICATION 47

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING! 48

HOW TO THRILL HER 49

HOW TO BE ATTRACTIVE WITHOUT TRYING 50

HOW TO MAKE A WOMAN LIKE YOU 51

SHE WANTS TO BE YOUR ONLY GIRL 52

SHE WANTS CREDIT FOR INTELLIGENCE 52

SHE WANTS TO HEAR NICE THINGS FROM YOU 53

SHE WANTS YOU TO BE A MATURE PERSONALITY 54

SECRETS FOR WINNING HER OVER 55

6—THE GREATEST ACT YOU CAN EVER PERFORM 56

DARING ACTION IS A BASIC HUMAN NEED 57

FIND THE BETTER WAY 58

DO THINGS THE EASY WAY 59

HOW DOES THE DARING MAN ACT? 61

HOW TO DOUBLE YOUR DARING 64

1. MAKE THE DARING DECISION 64

2. DON’T WAIT FOR RESULTS 65

3. DEPEND UPON YOUR NATURAL POWERS 65

SUMMARY OF YOUR DARING ACTIONS 66

7—ACTIONS THAT RELEASE YOUR HIDDEN TALENTS 66

HOW TO RELEASE YOUR RICHER SELF 68

GOLDEN ACTIONS 69

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CREATIVITY 70

A PAIR OF PRODUCERS 71

HOW TO DAZZLE YOURSELF WITH SUCCESS 71

A MAJOR SECRET 72

YOUR DESIRE IS DYNAMITE! 74

YOUR HIDDEN TALENTS IN REVIEW 75

8—HOW TO INFLUENCE OTHER PEOPLE QUICKLY 76

GIVE PERSUASIVENESS YOUR FULL ATTENTION 77

MAKE USE OF HUMAN NATURE 78

YOUR SECRET WEAPON FOR WINNING OVER OTHERS 78

HOW TO GAIN ENDLESS REWARDS 79

A MAJOR PRINCIPLE 80

LIPTON’S TEA 81

CHECK UP ON YOUR POWERS OF PERSUASION 82

1. APPEAL TO SELF-INTEREST 83

2. BE A PERMISSIVE PERSONALITY 83

3. GIVE HIM GOOD REASONS FOR CO-OPERATING 84

4. BUILD THE OTHER PERSON’S SELF-ESTEEM 84

IMPORTANT IDEAS TO REMEMBER 85

9—ACTIONS THAT GIVE YOU MORE FUN IN LIFE 85

DARE YOURSELF! 87

WHY FEEL GUILTY? 87

YOUR CAPACITY FOR PLEASURE AFFECTS EVERYTHING 88

THE FUN OF CONQUEST 89

THE POWER OF M.I.A. 90

WHY YOU WILL SUCCEED 91

YOUR REACTIONS DETERMINE YOUR PLEASURES 92

HAVE FUN WITH THESE ACTIONS 94

10—POPULAR ACTS THAT ATTRACT FRIENDS 94

THE SECRET OF ATTRACTIVENESS 96

THE POWER OF A STRONG PERSONALITY 97

WHAT PEOPLE ADMIRE 98

THE OUTREACHING PERSONALITY 99

WHY BE AFRAID? 101

THE POWER OF SELF-AWARENESS 102

PROMINENT POINTS FROM THIS CHAPTER 103

11—MONEY-MAKING ACTS THAT MAKE YOU RICH 103

HOW YOUR MIND MAKES $$$ 104

THE POWER OF PURPOSEFUL ACTION 105

THOSE SIX MAGIC WORDS AGAIN 107

THE TURNING POINT 107

YOU CAN LEARN THE SCIENCE OF $$$ 108

WEALTH AND PERSONALITY ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED 109

WEALTH COMES FROM CLEAR THINKING 110

A B C’S OF MONEY-MAKING ACTION 110

ENRICH YOURSELF WITH THIS REVIEW 112

12—RELAX YOUR NERVES AND HAVE MORE ENERGY 113

1. RELAXATION SPEEDS YOUR SUCCESS 113

2. RELAXATION BRIGHTENS YOUR PERSONALITY 114

3. RELAXATION SUPPLIES THIS SURPRISING REWARD 114

4. RELAXATION CONQUERS FEAR 115

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TENSION 116

LIFE ITSELF CONTAINS NO CONFLICT 117

YOUR PAIR OF ENERGIES 117

THE GOLDEN CITY 119

1. LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE 120

2. DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO 121

SOME ENERGETIC IDEAS FOR REVIEW 122

13—SECRET ACTIONS THAT PERFORM MIRACLES 122

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS 123

WHAT DETERMINATION MEANS 124

THE VALUE OF INFORMED ACTION 125

A SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUE 126

ACT WITH FULL POWER! 126

HOW TO STOP WASTING YOUR ENERGY 128

HOW TO REMOVE OBSTACLES QUICKLY 129

WHAT ACTION CAN DO FOR YOU! 131

MIRACLE-MAKING POINTS 132

14—ACTS THAT SOLVE YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS 132

BELIEVE THAT THE ANSWER EXISTS! 134

HOW TO TURN LOSS INTO PROFIT 135

HOW NORMAN FELL ASLEEP 135

WHY YOU SHOULD BE A REBEL 136

THE POWER OF NEGATIVE ACTION 137

HOW TO ABANDON USELESS ACTIONS 138

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T DISLIKE YOURSELF 139

HOW TO CONQUER MOUNTAINS! 140

GO OVER THESE PROBLEM-SOLVERS 141

15—HOW TO MAGICALLY GET WHAT YOU WANT 141

WIN WITH POINTED ACTION 142

PICTURED ACTION 142

INVESTIGATE! 143

THE POWER OF INDIVIDUAL ACTION 143

TAKE AUTHORITY 144

SELF-ACTION 144

ACT FREELY 145

OBSERVANT ACTION 145

WHY YOU SHOULD FUMBLE 146

SELF-UNDERSTANDING ACTION 146

YOUR DESIRE IN ACTION 147

IT’S SO OBVIOUS 147

THOROUGH ACTION 148

PERSONAL ACTION 148

INTERESTING ACTION IS DYNAMIC! 148

HOW TO REPEAT SUCCESS 149

MAGICAL METHODS FROM THIS CHAPTER 150

16—YOUR GUIDE TO EXCITING ACTION 150

WHAT I WANT 151

MY MAGIC ACTIONS FOR WINNING IT 151

INSPIRING IDEAS 151

APPENDIX 153

ACTION CARDS: HOW THEY CAN WORK FOR YOU 153

100 AIDS TO SUCCESSFUL ACTION 160

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 164

AN IMPORTANT PERSONAL INVITATION TO YOU, THE READER

IN A FEW MOMENTS YOU WILL BE SAILING UPON WHAT COULD well be the most exciting voyage you have ever taken.

We are about to explore together the fascinating world of Action. We will solve quite a few mysteries about this dynamic force, and also make some rich discoveries.

Quite often a lack of success in life can be traced back to a lack of right Action. Many people produce powerful thoughts, but neglect to channel their mental energies into active programs. The purpose of this book is to show you how to make the act as powerful as the thought. This is what Shakespeare had in mind when he urged, Be great in act, as you have been in thought.

The exciting truth is, Right Action is the greatest single power in the world. And it is your personal power, as you will delightfully discover as we adventure ahead.

Right Action can do anything. For every problem, there is a corrective Action. For any obstacle, there is an overcoming Action. For all heartache, there is a happy Action. For each desire, there is a fulfilling Action.

You will shortly make friends with dozens of people who used their personal Action Power for achieving great things. Let’s meet a few of them right now:

Alfred the Great acted so wisely and so energetically that he became one of the most honored kings to wear the English crown.

A daring lady spy named Rose Greenhow acted so charmingly that she was visited constantly and eagerly by the President of the United States.

Harry Houdini, the famous escape artist, used his magic Action Power to become one of the greatest entertainers ever to appear on the stage.

The wife of Nobel Prize winner Rudyard Kipling acted with such prompt wisdom that she rescued one of the most beloved poems ever penned.

The clever American showman, P. T. Barnum, once used his vital Action Power to earn $336,000 in ten days.

Dr. Gideon Mantell’s persistent actions resulted in one of the most astonishing discoveries in the history of mankind.

In his own way, each of these people used his inner Action Power to win personal success.

You, too, in your own way, can use your Action Power to achieve the special prizes you want. How come? Because the scientific principles of Action belong to the man who simply takes them. Employing a principle of Action might be likened to owning your own pleasure boat—you need only climb aboard and let it carry you enjoyably to your destinations.

What can Action do for you?

It can make success your daily habit.

Who can use it?

Anyone who wishes to change his life.

Where can you start?

Right where you are at this very moment.

So...let’s now adventure together toward your miraculous Action Power, and gain an exciting new life!

VERNON HOWARD

YOUR FIRST MAGICAL STEP

Perform your first act of magic right now!

Before starting this book, please turn to Chapter 16 on page 195. Read the information about your twelve guides to action.

By doing this you will already be on your way toward an exciting future. You will start changing your life through Action Power.

1—LET’S PLUNGE INTO ACTION RIGHT NOW

WHAT IS INACTION?

That’s when you watch someone else kiss the girl.

What is action?

That’s when you step up and kiss the girl yourself!

There you have just about the simplest explanation possible of the difference between an empty life and one of exciting action. The really thrilling life is one where you personally take part in everything pleasurable. One of the saddest realizations a person can have is that he is not actively participating in his own life.

Later in this chapter I want to give you six magic words. They will place you in the very center of richly rewarding action.

The happy truth is, no one needs to be left out of life’s riches. One woman who discovered this truth told me, "For a long time I’ve been enviously observing life from a distance. But I’m all through with that. From now on I’m going to live."

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CLEOPATRA ACTED

As we go along in this book you will learn of dozens of effective actions that get you what you want. I’d like to tell you a classic story that introduces you to several of them.

You probably remember a few things about that fabulous beauty, Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile. At one time she was in lively competition with her brother for the throne of Egypt. To add to her problems, the Roman armies of Julius Caesar had just landed at Alexandria. Conquest and loot were their first objectives.

But Cleopatra was as clever as she was beautiful. She reasoned that if she could reach Caesar ahead of her brother she could win the Roman ruler over to her side of the fence. So off she set with only one servant to sell her case to the Emperor of Rome.

Cleopatra had no idea of what she could say to Julius, but she did know what she was going to do. And what she did was something Caesar never forgot! She wrapped herself in an Oriental rug and had herself carried to Caesar’s headquarters. The shapely princess was unrolled at Caesar’s feet—and what a dramatic meeting that was! The Roman ruler was delightfully impressed with the lovely lady who was clad about as scantily as modesty permits.

As you might guess, that spectacular entrance sold Caesar on the spot. He not only placed Cleopatra on the throne of Egypt but practically turned his home town of Rome over to her.

The Queen of the Nile knew a thing or two about successful action. For one thing, she knew what she wanted. And that, as we will discover in going through these pages, is half the game.

Another thing. She knew the secret of persuading other people to her way of thinking. That is certainly a necessary and profitable type of action that you will discover in Chapter 8.

Finally, this energetic Egyptian enchantress used a type of action that wins when all else fails—daring. The pleasures and profits of daring action will also be taken up in later pages.

YOUR HAPPINESS AND ACTION

Another type of action needed by everyone is the kind supplying inner peace. It’s no good making a million dollars if your heart aches. There is no point in being president of your company if you are enslaved by agonizing emotions. It’s useless getting applause during the day if you toss restlessly on your bed at night.

Happiness is in action, and every power is intended for action; human happiness, therefore, can only be complete as all the powers have their full and legitimate play. (Thomas)

A book by Dr. Albert Ellis and Dr. Robert A. Harper carries this message:

In many important respects, then, it would appear that action, particularly when it takes the form of creative, intensely absorbing activity, is one of the mainstays of happy human living...{1}

Genuine action gives you the double value of exterior prosperity and inner quietness.

There is a reason why a man doesn’t have both, but there is no reason why a man can’t have both.

When you plunge into genuine action, you get right results.

When you act wrongly, you get wrong outcomes.

It is really as simple as that.

Genuine action is the final secret of successful living.

WE ALL NEED EXCITING ACTION

Who, do you suppose, needs more action?

You. I. Everyone. All of us need the magic power of exciting action if we are to live happily and productively.

We must have it. Every day. In variety. Life is action. Man is born for action; he ought to do something. (Aloysius)

A panel of experts in human relations, including a psychiatrist, clergyman, and a municipal judge, once interviewed several hundred people in an effort to help them enrich their lives. What did they find? Underlying the many problems and yearnings was this major complaint:

Not enough satisfying action.

Our own need for richer action causes us to respect those men and women who act. Notice how we admire people who get things done. We look up to the business executive who plows through difficulties to establish a financial kingdom. We admire the artist or musician who creates a lasting work of art. We recognize and appreciate the acts of parents who guide their children, or the teacher who patiently trains young minds.

In a lighter note, we even admire this type of action:

He floats through the air

With the greatest of ease,

The daring young man

On the flying trapeze.

His actions are graceful,

All girls he can please,

And my love he has stolen away.

Here we have a man who could please all the girls, especially one.

How come?

Well, now, because he was a man of action. A rascal maybe, but at least he wasn’t dull!

A psychologist from one of our colleges uses a large cardboard picture to illustrate our need for swinging forward. The picture shows two bells, each in its own tower. One bell is swinging merrily; the other is motionless and silent. Below the motionless bell the crowds walk by, ignoring it. But below the swinging bell everyone looks up with interest and appreciation.

Let that remind you, the point is made, that it’s the swinging personality who attracts success.

Act up! There are delightful surprises awaiting the man who will simply plunge into persistent action, more action, energetic action, any action.

I want to tell you about one of these surprises. Let’s call it:

YOUR SECRET SERVANT NAMED SERENDIPITY

Have you ever succeeded at anything by employing your secret servant called serendipity?

No doubt you have. Dozens of times. Probably, however, you didn’t call it by that curiously rhythmic word. (Say serendipity aloud a few times and it will probably run through your head for awhile!)

What is it?

Well, it boarded Columbus’ ship, the Santa Maria, and steered her toward the New World.

Serendipity assisted John D. Rockefeller to establish his financial empire.

It secretly served Charles Goodyear when that inventor accidentally discovered the vulcanization of rubber.

Serendipity means that you discover something of value when on the track of something else. It means that while you are working for a certain result a better one turns up. It’s an unexpected and delightful prize. The businessman who makes a profitable contact while having fun at a party is helped by serendipity. So is the woman who goes shopping for shoes and runs across just the right earrings.

This curiously beneficial power was given the catchy name of serendipity by British novelist Horace Walpole. In one of his books, The Three Princes of Serendip, he tells about people who find wondrous treasures while searching for other things. You’ll find the word defined in larger dictionaries.

Serendipity is always at your