This week’s Monday Morning Message from Wm. H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina: What is the Monday Morning Message?
“Increase Fivefold? Say, it will take a life time to do that.” All right, let it take a life time, but begin at once— this very week.
Here’s a little example for you. Suppose you had twenty-eight years to accomplish some definite ideal that would live after you and make the world a better place than you found it. Which of the following would you rather do?
1. Be a preacher and build a church from nothing to 10,000 members.
2. Found and direct a college.
3. Establish and operate an orphanage, and also a home for widows.
4. Edit a monthly magazine of far-reaching influence.
5. Write and publish forty books.
Wouldn’t any one of these five be a life achievement for a really great man? But listen to this: — All five of these lasting works were packed into a short twenty-eight years by one man — the great Charles H. Spurgeon.
Now don’t with just a passing word say, “Spurgeon was a genius,” and then turn to your immediate tasks. He may have been a genius, but remember Carlisle said, ” Genius is an infinite capacity for hard work.”
“Capacity!” Why is it that a man like Spurgeon can live five successful careers when others make a botch of one? It’s because he worked to full capacity.
In the Ford plant an endless belt keeps pushing work at each man to his capacity. Oh, for a push—an endless belt, or, far better still, the inner drive of a great vision such as Spurgeon’s to urge us on to our full capacity this week. To live, to love, to learn, to act at five times last week’s speed! Impossible—not to Purina men and women who scorn little challenges. Gear that life-machine of yours to full capacity and I’ll guarantee at the end of the week you will find your enjoyment in life has increased fivefold. What particular half- filled vessel of your life will you strive to fill to capacity this week?
Set high expectations for yourself and challenge yourself to get the most out of everyday.
Instead of drifting through each day, work with purpose. Keep your goals in mind at all times and continue working to achieve them.