building a team of mentors _ the art of manliness
DESCRIPTION
building a team of mentorsTRANSCRIPT
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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
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15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness
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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
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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
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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
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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
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15/6/2015 BuildingaTeamofMentors|TheArtofManliness
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