Chapter 42"I Direct Your Attention To ... 'J'J
It is a cliche often used by public speakers:
"I direct your attention to ... " Nevertheless, the directing
of close attention is essential to the success of anyone
attempting self-improvement.
The ability to direct your attention-to con-
centrate it-will almost, in itself, guarantee your success.
First, looking at it negatively, the failure to
control the direction of your attention is the cause of many
avoidable troubles.
From the irritated remark, "You're not paying
attention to a single word I say"-to the fatal highway acci-
dent, inattention is as deadly to popularity as it is to driving.
In view of the fact that the human mind, acting
subconsciously, does so many vital things with perfection
without any conscious attention at all, it is perplexing that
in many activities this is not the case, and controlled con-
scious attention is required.