A DEFINITE CHIEF AIMThe results of his leadership were remarkable. Never before
in history of industry, I imagine, was there a man who, without
understanding his business in its working details, making no
pretense of technical knowledge concerning steel or engineering,
was yet able to build up such an enterprise.143Mr. Carnegie's ability to inspire others rested on something deeper
than any faculty of judgment.
In his last sentence, Mr. Schwab had conveyed a thought which
corroborates the theory of the Master Mind to which I attributed the
chief source of Mr. Carnegie's power.
Mr. Schwab has also confirmed the statement that Mr. Carnegie
could have succeeded as well in any other business as he did in the steel
business. It is obvious that his success was due to his understanding of
his own mind and the minds of other men, and not to mere knowledge
of the steel business itself
This thought is most consoling to those who have not yet attained
outstanding success, for it shows that success is solely a matter of correctly
applying laws and principles which are available to all; and these laws, let
us not forget, are fully described in the seventeen lessons of this course.
Mr. Carnegie learned how to apply the law of the Master Mind.
This enabled him to organize the faculties of his own mind and the
faculties of other men's minds, and to coordinate the whole behind a
Definite Chief Aim.
Every strategist, whether in business or war or industry or other
callings, understands the value of organized) coordinated effort. Every
military strategist understands the value of sowing seeds of dissension
in the ranks of the opposing forces, because this breaks up the power
of coordination behind the opposition. During the world war, much
was heard about the effects of propaganda, and it seems not an exag-
geration to say that the disorganizing forces of propaganda were much
more destructive than were all the guns and explosives.