INTRODUCTION
It Works may be small in size, but it is giant in impact. Originally published in 1926, this little pamphlet has gone on to sell millions of copies and influence countless lives. It Works was written by Roy Herbert Jarrett (1874–1937), a sales executive based in Chicago who was interested in using metaphysical principles to gain abundance and prosperity in every area of life. His writing became not only popular, but iconic, in the area of mental success.
Rather than spend hundreds of pages on explanation and exposition, Jarrett boiled down his main principles to their most potent. One might easily be fooled by the small size of the content, but if you practice what he proposes, exactly as he proposes, then you will likely experience more success in whatever area you focus on.
I first encountered It Works back in the 1990s, when I worked for a popular bookstore in the Midwest. Customer after customer would come in and ask for “the little red book.” At first, I had no idea what they were talking about, but I quickly learned that they wanted a copy of the pamphlet It Works by R. H. Jarrett. I was intrigued, and finally decided to read it for myself. I was amazed by the depth beneath the simplicity of the message. It’s clear that Jarrett’s material was well-tested before he ever put it down on paper.
Part of the Simple Success Guides series, this St. Martin’s Essentials edition contains the full and complete original edition of the pamphlet. This edition also includes additional features to supplement what you’ll learn from R. H. Jarrett.
First is The Magic Story by Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey. This classic fable has been the inspiration for those looking for more growth and success in business and in life since it was originally published in 1900. Like It Works, The Magic Story is an early variation on the theme of the Law of Attraction. While not as famous as similar books like It Works and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Magic Story has been influential over the decades and is experiencing a resurgence due to its message of positivity and inspiration.
We have also added a number of motivational poems and quotes. These materials are meant to augment the pamphlet’s message, and have been foundational for millions of people looking for inspiration over the last century.
My hope is that you will read and enjoy It Works with an open mind, and then try out Jarrett’s methods for yourself, remembering to follow whatever prompts Life presents to you. I might suggest that you read It Works, make your plan, and then begin to implement its main principles. As you do, allow The Magic Story and the poems to inspire you along the way. In this way, the two parts of the book—It Works and the supplemental materials—can work together to help you stay focused on receiving the most positive experiences possible.
As always, with these writings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the language is of its time. While we want to acknowledge the limitations of the language here, we have not updated the material, choosing instead to leave the works in their original forms.
A final word of advice: make this book your own. We each are responsible for our own response to life, and this book teaches powerful techniques that can help to create a life of positivity and abundance if you use them in the spirit with which they were written. As the title suggests, It Works has worked for many before you, and now these same principles are waiting to help you to experience the life you desire.
—Joel Fotinos
WHAT IS THE REAL SECRET OF OBTAINING DESIRABLE POSSESSIONS?
ARE some people born under a lucky star or other charm which enables them to have all that which seems so desirable, and if not, what is the cause of the difference in conditions under which men live?
Many years ago, feeling that there must be a logical answer to this question, I decided to find out, if possible, what it was. I found the answer to my own satisfaction, and for years, have given the information to others who have used it successfully.
From a scientific, psychological or theological viewpoint, some of the following statements may be interpreted as incorrect, but nevertheless, the plan has brought the results desired to those who have followed the simple instructions, and it is my sincere belief that I am now presenting it in a way which will bring happiness and possessions to many more.
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“IF wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” is the attitude taken by the average man and woman in regard to possessions. They are not aware of a power so near that it is overlooked; so simple in operation that it is difficult to conceive; and so sure in results that it is not made use of consciously, or recognized as the cause of failure or success.
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“GEE, I wish that were mine,” is the outburst of Jimmy, the office boy, as a new red roadster goes by; and Florence, the telephone operator, expresses the same thought regarding a ring in the jeweler’s window; while poor old Jones, the bookkeeper, during the Sunday stroll, replies to his wife, “Yes, dear, it would be nice to have a home like that, but it is out of the question. We will have to continue to rent.” Landem, the salesman, protests that he does all the work, gets the short end of the money and will some day quit his job and find a real one, and President Bondum, in his private sanctorum, voices a bitter tirade against the annual attack of hay-fever.
At home it is much the same. Last evening, father declared that daughter Mabel was headed straight for disaster, and today, mother’s allowance problem and other trying affairs fade into insignificance as she exclaims, “This is the last straw. Robert’s school teacher wants to see me this afternoon. His reports are terrible, I know, but I’m late for Bridge now. She’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” So goes the endless stream of expressions like these from millions of people in all classes who give no thought to what they really want, and who are getting all they are entitled to or expect.
If you are one of these millions of thoughtless talkers or wishers and would like a decided change from your present condition, you can have it; but first of all you must know what you want and this is no easy task. When you can train your objective mind (the mind you use every day) to decide definitely upon the things or conditions you desire, you will have taken your first big step in accomplishing or securing what you know you want.
To get what you want is no more mysterious or uncertain than the radio waves all around you. Tune in correctly and you get a perfect result, but to do this, it is, of course, necessary to know something of your equipment and have a plan of operation.
You have within you a mighty power, anxious and willing to serve you, a power capable of giving you that which you earnestly desire. This power is described by Thomson Jay Hudson, Ph.D., LL.D., author of “The Law of Psychic Phenomena,” as your subjective mind. Other learned writers use different names and terms, but all agree that it is omnipotent. Therefore, I call this Power “Emmanuel” (God in us).
Regardless of the name of this Great Power, or the conscious admission of a God, the Power is capable and willing to carry to a complete and perfect conclusion every earnest desire of your objective mind, but you must be really in earnest about what you want.
Occasional wishing or half-hearted wanting does not form a perfect connection or communication with your omnipotent power. You must be in earnest, sincerely and truthfully desiring certain conditions or things—mental, physical or spiritual.
Your objective mind and will are so vacillating that you usually only WISH for things and the wonderful, capable power within you does not function.
Most wishes are simply vocal expressions. Jimmy, the office boy, gave no thought of possessing the red roadster. Landem, the salesman, was not thinking of any other job or even thinking at all. President Bondum knew he had hay fever and was expecting it. Father’s business was quite likely successful, and mother no doubt brought home first prize from the Bridge party that day, but they had no fixed idea of what they really wanted their children to accomplish and were actually helping to bring about the unhappy conditions which existed.
If you are in earnest about changing your present condition, here is a concise, definite, resultful plan, with rules, explanations and suggestions.
THE PLAN
WRITE down on paper in order of their importance the things and conditions you really want. Do not be afraid of wanting too much. Go the limit in writing down your wants. Change the list daily, adding to or taking from it, until you have it about right. Do not be discouraged on account of changes, as this is natural. There will always be changes and additions with accomplishments and increasing desires.
THREE POSITIVE RULES OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
Read the list of what you want three times each day: morning, noon and night.Think of what you want as often as possible.Do not talk to any one about your plan except to the Great Power within you which will unfold to your Objective Mind the method of accomplishment.It is obvious that you cannot acquire faith at the start. Some of your desires, from all practical reasoning, may seem positively unattainable, but, nevertheless, write them down on your list in their proper place of importance to you.
There is no need to analyze how this Power within you is going to accomplish your desires. Such a procedure is as unnecessary as trying to figure out why a grain of corn placed in fertile soil shoots up a green stalk, blossoms and produces an ear of corn containing hundreds of grains, each capable of doing what the one grain did. If you will follow this definite plan and carry out the three simple rules, the method of accomplishment will unfold quite as mysteriously as the ear of corn appears on the stalk, and in most cases much sooner than you expect.
When new desires, deserving position at or about the top of your list, come to you, then you may rest assured you are progressing correctly.
Removing from your list items which at first you thought you wanted, is another sure indication of progress.
It is natural to be skeptical and have doubts, distrust and questionings, but when these thoughts arise, get out your list. Read it over; or if you have it memorized, talk to your inner self about your desires until the doubts that interfere with your progress are gone. Remember, nothing can prevent your having that which you earnestly desire. Others have these things. Why not you?
The Omnipotent Power within you does not enter into any controversial argument. It is waiting and willing to serve when you are ready, but your objective mind is so susceptible to suggestion that it is almost impossible to make any satisfactory progress when surrounded by skeptics. Therefore, choose your friends carefully and associate with people who now have some of the things you really want, but do not discuss your method of accomplishment with them.
Put down on your list of wants such material things as money, home, automobile, or whatever it may be, but do not stop there. Be more definite. If you want an automobile, decide what kind, style, price, color, and all the other details, including when you want it. If you want a home, plan the structure, grounds and furnishings. Decide on location and cost. If you want money, write down the amount. If you want to break a record in your business, put it down. It may be a sales record. If so, write out the total, the date required, then the number of items you must sell to make it, also list your prospects and put after each name the sum expected. This may seem very foolish at first, but you can never realize your desires if you do not know positively and in detail what you want and when you want it. If you cannot decide this, you are not in earnest. You must be definite, and when you are, results will be surprising and almost unbelievable.
A natural and ancient enemy will no doubt appear when you get your first taste of accomplishment. This enemy is Discredit, in form of such thoughts as: “It can’t be possible; it just happened to be. What a remarkable coincidence!”
When such thoughts occur give thanks and assert credit to your Omnipotent Power for the accomplishment. By doing this, you gain assurance and more accomplishment, and in time, prove to yourself that there is a law, which actually works—at all times—when you are in tune with it.
Sincere and earnest thanks cannot be given without gratitude and it is impossible to be thankful and grateful without being happy. Therefore, when you are thanking your greatest and best friend, your Omnipotent Power, for the gifts received, do so with all your soul, and let it be reflected in your face. The Power and what it does is beyond understanding. Do not try to understand it, but accept the accomplishment with thankfulness, happiness, and strengthened faith.
Caution
It is possible to want and obtain that which will make you miserable; that which will wreck the happiness of others; that which will cause sickness and death; that which will rob you of eternal life. You can have what you want, but you must take all that goes with it: so in planning your wants, plan that which you are sure will give to you and your fellow man the greatest good here on earth; thus paving the way to that future hope beyond the pale of human understanding.
This method of securing what you want applies to everything you are capable of desiring and the scope being so great, it is suggested that your first list consist of only those things with which you are quite familiar, such as an amount of money or accomplishment, or the possession of material things. Such desires as these are more easily and quickly obtained than the discontinuance of fixed habits, the welfare of others, and the healing of mental or bodily ills.
Accomplish the lesser things first. Then take the next step, and when that is accomplished, you will seek the higher and really important objectives in life, but long before you reach this stage of your progress, many worthwhile desires will find their place on your list. One will be to help others as you have been helped. Great is the reward to those who help and give without thought of self as it is impossible to be unselfish without gain.
IN CONCLUSION
Ashort while ago, Dr. Emil Coué came to this country and showed thousands of people how to help themselves. Thousands of others spoofed at the idea, refused his assistance and are today where they were before his visit.
So with the statements and plan presented to you now. You can reject or accept. You can remain as you are or have anything you want. The choice is yours, but God grant that you may find in this short volume the inspiration to choose aright, follow the plan and thereby obtain, as so many others have, all things, whatever they may be, that you desire.
Read the entire book over again, and again, AND THEN AGAIN.
Memorize the three simple rules on pages thirteen and fourteen.
Test them now on what you want most this minute.
This book could have extended easily over 350 pages, but it has been deliberately shortened to make it as easy as possible for you to read, understand and use. Will you try it? Thousands of bettered lives will testify to the fact that It Works.
Copyright © 2023 by Joel Fotinos
