building a team of mentors _ the art of manliness

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March 11, 2012 A Man's Life , On Manhood , Personal Development The Cabinet of Invisible Counselors Have you ever had a discussion with someone who posed this question: “If you could invite any five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be?” It’s an interesting question to consider, but one that doesn’t have to remain strictly a hypothetical. Now, of course you can’t drag the bones of history’s greatest corpses to your table (“Oh dear, Teddy’s hand just fell off into his soup. Awkward.”). But you can enjoy a form of ongoing conversation with history’s most eminent men, and it can continue far past the dessert course. I believe that every man should create his own personal “Cabinet of Invisible Counselors” — a sort of imaginary team of mentors whom he can consult for advice and inspiration throughout his life. Napoleon Hill’s Invisible Counselors As we discussed in our post about famous Master Mind groups , success guru Napoleon Hill believed that

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  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/03/11/thecabinetofinvisiblecounselors/ 1/6

    March11,2012

    AMan'sLife,OnManhood,PersonalDevelopment

    TheCabinetofInvisibleCounselors

    Haveyoueverhadadiscussionwithsomeonewhoposedthisquestion:Ifyoucouldinviteanyfivepeople,livingordead,todinner,whowouldtheybe?

    Itsaninterestingquestiontoconsider,butonethatdoesnthavetoremainstrictlyahypothetical.Now,ofcourseyoucantdragthebonesofhistorysgreatestcorpsestoyourtable(Ohdear,Teddyshandjustfelloffintohissoup.Awkward.).Butyoucanenjoyaformofongoingconversationwithhistorysmosteminentmen,anditcancontinuefarpastthedessertcourse.

    IbelievethateverymanshouldcreatehisownpersonalCabinetofInvisibleCounselorsasortofimaginaryteamofmentorswhomhecanconsultforadviceandinspirationthroughouthislife.

    NapoleonHillsInvisibleCounselors

    AswediscussedinourpostaboutfamousMasterMindgroups,successguruNapoleonHillbelievedthat

  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/03/11/thecabinetofinvisiblecounselors/ 2/6

    whentwoofmorepeoplemettogetherandblendedtheenergiesoftheirmindsinharmony,asortofthirdbrainwasformedapotentMasterMindthewholegrouphadaccessto.

    Thisthirdbrainallowedeachmemberofthegrouptotapintothesixthsense,whichHilldescribedasthatportionofthesubconsciousmindwhichhasbeenreferredtoastheCreativeImagination.Ithasalsobeenreferredtoasthereceivingsetthroughwhichideas,plans,andthoughtsflashintothemind.Theflashesaresometimescalledhunchesorinspirations.

    HillarguedthatpeopleshouldformtheirownMasterMindgroupsinwhichtheymetinpersoninordertorechargetheirbrains,refinetheirideas,andreceiveinspiration.ButhealsobelievedthatapersoncouldformhisownCabinetofInvisibleCounselors,justashehaddone:

    LongbeforeIhadeverwrittenalineforpublication,orendeavoredtodeliveraspeechinpublic,Ifollowedthehabitofreshapingmyowncharacter,bytryingtoimitatetheninemenwhoselivesandlifeworkshadbeenmostimpressivetome.Theseninemenwere,Emerson,Paine,Edison,Darwin,Lincoln,Burbank,Napoleon,Ford,andCarnegie.Everynight,overalongperiodofyears,IheldanimaginaryCouncilmeetingwiththisgroupwhomIcalledmyInvisibleCounselors.

    Theprocedurewasthis.Justbeforegoingtosleepatnight,Iwouldshutmyeyes,andsee,inmyimagination,thisgroupofmenseatedwithmearoundmyCouncilTable.HereIhadnotonlyanopportunitytositamongthosewhomIconsideredtobegreat,butIactuallydominatedthegroup,byservingastheChairman.

    IhadaveryDEFINITEPURPOSEinindulgingmyimaginationthroughthesenightlymeetings.Mypurposewastorebuildmyowncharactersoitwouldrepresentacompositeofthecharactersofmyimaginarycounselors.Realizing,asIdid,earlyinlife,thatIhadtoovercomethehandicapofbirthinanenvironmentofignoranceandsuperstition,Ideliberatelyassignedmyselfthetaskofvoluntaryrebirththroughthemethodheredescribed

    IntheseimaginaryCouncilmeetingsIcalledonmyCabinetmembersfortheknowledgeIwishedeachtocontribute,addressingmyselftoeachmemberinaudiblewords,asfollows:

    Mr.Emerson,IdesiretoacquirefromyouthemarvelousunderstandingofNaturewhichdistinguishedyourlife.Iaskthatyoumakeanimpressuponmysubconsciousmind,ofwhateverqualitiesyoupossessed,whichenabledyoutounderstandandadaptyourselftothelawsofNature.Iaskthatyouassistmeinreachinganddrawinguponwhateversourcesofknowledgeareavailabletothisend

    Napoleon,Idesiretoacquirefromyou,byemulation,themarvelousabilityyoupossessedtoinspiremen,andtoarousethemtogreaterandmoredeterminedspiritofaction.AlsotoacquirethespiritofenduringFAITH,whichenabledyoutoturndefeatintovictory,andtosurmountstaggeringobstacles.EmperorofFate,KingofChance,ManofDestiny,Isaluteyou!

    Hillwouldgreettherestofhisinvisiblecounselorsinasimilarmanner,varyingtheaddressaccordingtothetraitsofcharacterinwhichIwas,forthemoment,mostinterestedinacquiring.

    Inbetweencabinetmeetings,Hillwouldextensivelystudythelivesofeachofhiscounselors,andafterseveralmonthsofthis,hisinvisibleadvisorsbecamemoreandmorerealtohim,tothepointtheyalldevelopedmannerismsandcharacteristicsbefittingtheirpersonalities.Hisimaginarymeetingsbecame

  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/03/11/thecabinetofinvisiblecounselors/ 3/6

    sovivid,infact,thathediscontinuedthem,sothathewouldnotbegintoconfusetheworkingsofhisheadwithreality.But,Hillsaid,Lincolnthencametovisithiminhissleep,andtoldhimhehadagreatworktodoandnottoshirktheduty.SoHillrecommencedthecabinet,andgrewtherostertoover50members,including,Christ,St.Paul,Galileo,Copernicus,Aristotle,Plato,Socrates,Homer,Voltaire,Bruno,Spinoza,Drummond,Kant,Schopenhauer,Newton,Confucius,ElbertHubbard,Brann,Ingersoll,Wilson,andWilliamJames.

    HillbelievedthathisimaginarymeetingswithhisInvisibleCounselorswereofenormousbenefittohislife:

    IstillregardmyCabinetmeetingsasbeingpurelyimaginary,butIfeelentitledtosuggestthat,whilethemembersofmyCabinetmaybepurelyfictional,andthemeetingsexistentonlyinmyownimagination,theyhaveledmeintogloriouspathsofadventure,rekindledanappreciationoftruegreatness,encouragedcreativeendeavor,andemboldenedtheexpressionofhonestthought.

    Somewhereinthecellstructureofthebrain,islocatedanorganwhichreceivesvibrationsofthoughtordinarilycalledhunches.Sofar,sciencehasnotdiscoveredwherethisorganofthesixthsenseislocated,butthisisnotimportant.Thefactremainsthathumanbeingsdoreceiveaccurateknowledge,throughsourcesotherthanthephysicalsenses.Suchknowledge,generally,isreceivedwhenthemindisundertheinfluenceofextraordinarystimulation.Anyemergencywhicharousestheemotions,andcausesthehearttobeatmorerapidlythannormalmay,andgenerallydoes,bringthesixthsenseintoaction.Anyonewhohasexperiencedanearaccidentwhiledriving,knowsthatonsuchoccasions,thesixthsenseoftencomestoonesrescue,andaids,bysplitseconds,inavoidingtheaccident.

    ThesefactsarementionedpreliminarytoastatementoffactwhichIshallnowmake,namely,thatduringmymeetingswiththeInvisibleCounselorsIfindmymindmostreceptivetoideas,thoughts,andknowledgewhichreachmethroughthesixthsense.IcantruthfullysaythatIoweentirelytomyInvisibleCounselorsfullcreditforsuchideas,facts,orknowledgeasIreceivedthroughinspiration.

    Onscoresofoccasions,whenIhavefacedemergencies,someofthemsogravethatmylifewasinjeopardy,IhavebeenmiraculouslyguidedpastthesedifficultiesthroughtheinfluenceofmyInvisibleCounselors.

    WhyCreateYourOwnCabinetofInvisibleCounselors

    Nurtureyourmindswithgreatthoughts.Tobelieveintheheroicmakesheroes.BenjaminDisraeli

    WhileNapoleonHillhadapenchantforthemetaphysicalthatdoesntjivewitheverymansworldview,regardlessofwhetheryoueverexpectLincolntoshowupatyourbedside,formingyourownCabinetofInvisibleCounselorscanbeverybeneficialtoyourlife.

    AsHillmentionedabove,formingsuchacabinetcanprovideyouinspirationinmanyforms.

    First,yourcabinetcannotonlyspurimpressionsofthemoreabstractvariety,itcanalsogiveyoupracticalideasyoucanexperimentwithimplementingintoyourlife.Ilovelearningaboutthehabitsofgreatmen,suchashowtheynapped,usedapocketnotebook,setuptheirstudies,andimprovedthemselvesindifferentareas.Nowitscertainlynotthecasethatjustbecauseagreatmandidsomething

  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

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    oneway,thenitsthebestwayforeveryonetodoit,oreventhebestwayformetodoit.ButIfigureitsalwaysworthashot,aseveniftheideadoesntworkforme,itoftenservesasajumpingoffpointfortheinventionofamethodallofmyown.Sometimestheresnoneedtoreinventthewheelifsomeonesalreadyputinthetimetofigureoutthebestsolution,itsourprivilegetotakeitandrunwithit.

    Yourcabinetcanalsohelpbuoyyouupwhenyourestrugglingwithadifficultdecisionoraretemptedtogiveuponsomething.AskingWhatwould____do?inacertainsituationcankeepusgoingintherightdirection.

    WhenAndrewCarnegie(moreonhimlaterthismonth)wasaboy,hewouldoftenturntotheexampleofScottishheroWilliamWallaceforinspiration:

    ThereweretworoadsbywhichtoreturnfrommyuncleshouseintheHighStreettomyhomeinMoodieStreetatthefootofthetown,onealongtheeeriechurchyardoftheAbbeyamongthedead,wheretherewasnolightandtheotheralongthelightedstreetsbywayofMayGate.Whenitbecamenecessaryformetogohome,myuncle,withawickedpleasure,wouldaskwhichwayIwasgoing.ThinkingofwhatWallacewoulddo,IalwaysrepliedthatIwasgoingbytheAbbey.Ihavethesatisfactionofbelievingthatnever,notevenupononeoccasion,didIyieldtotemptationtotaketheotherturnandfollowthelampsatthejunctionoftheMayGate.IoftenpassedalongthatchurchyardandthroughthedarkarchoftheAbbeywithmyheartinmymouth.Tryingtowhistleandkeepupmycourage,Iwouldplodthroughthedarkness,fallingbackinallemergenciesuponthethoughtofwhatWallacewouldhavedoneifhehadmetwithanyforce,naturalorsupernatural.

    ContemplatingwhatWallacewoulddokeptCarnegiegoingthroughmoreseriouschallengesashegrewolder,causinghimtolaterreflect:

    Ifthesourceofmystockofthatprimearticlecouragewerestudied,IamsurethefinalanalysiswouldfinditfoundeduponWallace,theheroofScotland.Itisatowerofstrengthforaboytohaveahero.

    And,Iwouldadd,itisatowerofstrengthformantohaveaheroaswell.

    Finally,maintainingaCabinetofInvisibleCounselorscankindlewithinyou,asHillputitsowell,anappreciationfortruegreatness.Hillbelievedthatallmindsvibratedwithenergy,andthatallthehighestandmostrefinedvibrationshistorysgreatestthoughtswerepickedupandstoredforeverintheether.OnesmembershipinaMasterMind,whetherrealorimaginary,allowedapersontotuneintothissignalandtapintotheuniversesvastTempleofKnowledge.

    Ifthatsoundsalittlefarout,reallytheideahereissimplythatthemoreyousurroundyourselfwith,thinkabout,study,andengagewithgreatmindsinpersonorinbooksthemorethatgreatnessrubsoffonyou.Whatyouspendyourtimedoing,youbecome.Youcancallitconnectingwithenergy,soul,orarchetypesorjusttheworkingsofnaturallawwhateveryouwanttothinkofitas,theeffectisthesame.

    Onecanspillalotofinktryingtodefinewhattruemanlinessis,butattheendofthedayitssomethingyousimplyfeelyouknowitwhenyouseeit.AndIfindthatwhenImreadingaboutandengagingwiththelivesofgreatmen,thatfeelingbecomesveryrealandverycleartome.Manlinessismademanifest.

    HowtoCreateYourOwnCabinetofInvisibleCounselors

  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/03/11/thecabinetofinvisiblecounselors/ 5/6

    Showmethemanyouhonor,andIwillknowwhatkindofamanyouare,foritshowsmewhatyouridealofmanhoodis,andwhatkindofamanyoulongtobe.ThomasCarlyle

    1.Pickthemembersofyourcabinet.Youcanchooseasmanypeopleasyoudliketobecomepartofyourimaginaryteamofadvisors.Theycanbelivingordead,realorfictional,famousornot.YoucanputinJesusorMuhammad,orJesusandMuhammad.Youcanthrowinyourgrandpaandyourcollegerugbycoach.TheodoreRooseveltandAtticusFinch.SherlockHolmesandRonaldReagan.

    Now,Iknowitsterriblyunfashionablethesedaystoengageinanythingthatevenmildlysmacksofheroworship,butinvitingmenintoyourcabinetdoesntmeanyouthinktheyareperfectremember,amandoesnthavetobeperfecttobeinspiring.Infact,youmaypickmenwho,whiletheymaynotbeexamplestoyouofwellroundedmanliness,demonstratedcertaincharacteristicsyoureallyadmireandwanttoworkon.Forinstance,youmightloatheLBJspoliticsandpersonallife,butreallyadmirehisskillasatoughnegotiator,andthusbringhimintoyourcabinettoadviseyouonthatpoint.

    2.Learnasmuchaboutyourinvisiblecounselorsaspossible.Inorderforyourcounselorstoadviseyou,youneedtolearnasmuchabouttheirlivesandgetasmuchintotheirmindsasyoucan.Thismeansdivingintotheirautobiographies,biographies,andwritings.Nowifyouhaveaverylargecabinet,Iwouldrecommendpicking57coremembersthemenyouadmirethemostandreallygoingindepthwiththeresearchontheirlives.

    Ivesaidthisbefore,andIllsayitagain:oneofthebestwaysofworkingonyourmanlinessisreadingthebiographiesofgreatmen.Itreallydoeshelpshapeandinspireyou.

    3.Consultwithyourcounselors.Youcandothishoweveryoudlike.YoucanbelikeNapoleonHillandhaveregularmeetingswithyourinvisiblecounselors,whereyouimaginehavingveryindepthconversationswiththem.Personally,whetheritsbecausemyimaginationissofeeble,orIjusthaveahardtimegoingthere,Isimplyreadupongreatmen,takenotesonpointsthatparticularlystickouttome,andfiletheinformationawayinmycranium.Then,whenIamfacingsomethingdifficult,Isearchthroughmybrainfilestofindacounselorwhocanperhapsshinesomelightontheproblem.ForexamplewhenIfeeldiscouragedbecauseofcriticism,IthinkofhowTRwasmockedasastatelegislatorandhisinjunctiontostayinthearena.WhenImgrapplingwithatoughdecision,IthinkofGeneralEisenhowerpacingtheroomontheeveofDDay,tryingtodecidewhethertopostponetheinvasionforthearrivalofbetterweather,withthousandsoflivesdependingonhischoice.WhenImphysicallyuncomfortable,IthinkoftheGIshuddlinginthecoldattheBattleoftheBulge.WhenIfeelrestless,Ithinkofthehappinessmygrandfatherfoundinlivingagoodandsimplelife.

    Youcanconsultwithyourcabinetinwhateverwayworksforyou.Youmayalsowishtohangupapictureorposterofacoupleofthemenyoumostadmiretoserveasadailyreminderofthekindofmanyouwanttobecome.

    WhowouldyouincludeinyourCabinetofInvisibleAdvisors?Shareyourpickswithusinthecomments!

    Sources:

    ThinkandGrowRichbyNapoleonHill

    TheAutobiographyofAndrewCarnegie

    IllustrationbyTedSlampyak

  • 15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness

    http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/03/11/thecabinetofinvisiblecounselors/ 6/6

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