A description of the Technique of Living that has been of lasting benefit to over half-a-million men and women.
A SUCCESSFUL LIFE
realized through
PELMANISM
THE SCIENCE OF SUCCESS
IN the intimate and practical affairs of life Pelmanism has proved to be the most popular and successful instrument of education for personal progress ever devised. Not only in the British Empire but throughout the world.
There is every chance for a successful life, an enjoyable life for all. Life does not need to be restricted to mere grubbing. No one’s life need be so restricted.
Even in these troubled days we all may live the larger life—if we so will.
The larger life is the life many people dream of, but feel they cannot attain. To live the larger life is to live without being cramped and restricted by anxiety, over-work, and envy.
All men and women are entitled to live a pleasant natural life consisting of work, leisure enough to enjoy sane pleasures, and money enough to keep out of debt, to keep well within the worry line, and to have enough to spend for the lighter side of life—not just for coal and potatoes and re-soling shoes.
The normal life means an interesting and gainful occupation that absorbs much time and thought and is stimulating because of the progress made. There is a certain serenity acquired by doing work well, by experiencing success, and making money, whether in commercial, professional, scientific or any other form of work, that acts as a lubricant on one’s contact with one’s family, friends, and associates, and creates good feeling and good fellowship.
Besides this, the most absorbing interest—and a man needs minor interests—he may be fond of sports or enjoy riding some hobby. He may collect stamps, old china, raise roses, or follow any one of a thousand secondary interests as a collector or as a student. He will want to travel occasionally, attend the cinema now and again, see the theatre, hear music, enjoy the society of a group of friends, entertain, and be entertained.
These are the aspects of the larger life that make life worth living, and because of the diversion and recreation they afford, act beneficially on the more prosaic interests. All these things you may have thought out for yourself, but perhaps you have not seen how to adjust your own life so as to enjoy them. This, however, you may do, as thousands of others, Pelman students, have done and are doing every day.
To begin with you must realize that within yourself there is an unsuspected storehouse crammed full of abilities and possibilities that you have not yet explored, much less utilized.
Pelmanism cannot give you a single attribute you do not already possess, but it can give you the key to that wonderful storehouse of your unknown abilities, and teach you how to use them for your own good, for the good of your family and friends, and for the good of the Nation.
Every man who makes the most of himself to-day is indeed a patriot, for, by lifting himself, he helps his country directly. That is why we say that every man who makes the most of himself, who uses his "hidden talents" to the utmost, instead of leaving them wrapped in a napkin, to use the Bible parable, is indeed a patriot. The more people occupied and happy, according to their means, the fewer people dependent—the better for all.
One of the lessons Pelmanism teaches is that without being selfish you may be occupied with yourself. In other words, Pelmanism will teach you so to place yourself in relation to your associates and surroundings that, though you will be working primarily for yourself, you will not benefit and improve yourself alone, but in making the best of your opportunities will also make life more liveable for your dependents, friends, and acquaintances.
Conditions since 1939, difficult as they may have been, and still are, have at least exposed certain fallacies: the fallacy of suffering for suffering’s sake, and the fallacy of the social value of poverty. If every man were self-sustaining materially and morally, what would become of our national troubles? They would be lessened to a remarkable degree. If there were no longer any able-bodied men and women on the dole, how much better for the country at large; how much better for those really disabled.
"Know thyself" is wise advice. Once a person knows himself, he will find that he has a certain place, and a certain sphere of usefulness to himself and to others. He has also a certain amount of energy to spend in attaining and maintaining that place in the world which is his place, and his alone. In the vast majority of cases that store of energy is greater far than he dreams it is. Pelmanism will show him how to discover his latent energy, and having discovered it, how to use it.
We hear over and over again that this is the technical age. Quite true. Most people know something of the technique of certain mechanical devices that have become a part of modern life. Technical studies are common in the schools. But the technique that is most valuable of all, is the technique that is most neglected, except by the Pelman Institute. It is the technique of living.
The technique of living is not difficult to master. It may be applied to your life, as well as to the life of any man or woman, no matter in what circumstances you or they may be placed. It is based on universal human principles, and is applicable to all. It will help the business man in his fight against competition, aid the student, the artist, the scientist, the politician. It is of infinite help to the mother who wants to run her household and bring up her children so that they shall be a joy to her and others. There is no enumerating the classes of persons who can obtain a direct and immediate improvement in their conditions by mastering the technique of living as taught by Pelmanism, because this technique applies to all of us.
Pelmanism is the practical application of the science of living. It shows you how to get your feet on the ground, and set on the path that leads to your SUCCESS.
Those who master Pelmanism are freed from that false sense of values which is such a handicap in life. They learn the truth of the admonition, "Despise not the day of small things." As has been said, the man who makes a better mouse-trap will find that the world will wear a path to his door.
This is a great world, and there are many people in it. Not every man and every woman can become a conspicious figure, but all can win success. Your success is waiting for you. Find it through Pelmanism.
Studying Pelmanism is like gold-mining, without the gold-miner’s difficulties, without all his trials and tribulations in prospecting for a vein, without the loss of years spent in patient but perhaps fruitless, search. When you take a course of Pelmanism, you know the gold is there, and it only takes you a matter of weeks to acquire the means of changing your whole life for the better.
Pelmanism is a sure way to success if you will give it your loyal effort, your honest endeavour, and a regular and definite amount of time until you have completed the course. A sustained effort over a period of but a few weeks will yield you dividends that will last you your whole life through, and the fifteen Little Grey Books will remain close at hand, ready at any moment, night or day, to give you a steadying encouragement in times of stress, indecision, or fatigue.
That the world has changed there is no doubt. Gone are the days of fainting women, gone also are the days when adversity had a value all its own. We know now that good health, mental, spiritual, and material is what we need. In plain words, we must change, as the world has changed.
It is every man for himself these days: not in the sense of banditry, but in the sense that no man endowed with health and strength has a right to add his burden to his neighbor’s when he can not only bear it but lighten it himself.
Pelmanism will open new ideas of life toy uo; will show you how you too, regardless of your age, sex, race, or creed, your occupation, your vocation, or your inclination, may participate in the larger life.
Pelmanism fires you with energy and determination, and shows you how to succeed. It develops the qualities that mark you out for promotion. It enables you to work more quickly and efficiently. It makes you worth more to your employer, and, therefore, sooner or later—and perhaps sooner than you expect—it enables you to earn more.
PELMANISM in the Services
1914-1946 and afterwards
DURING 1914-1918, the Pelman Institute, in London and throughout the Empire made a real and important contribution to the efficiency of the nation. The value of Pelmanism as a training in personal efficiency was freely acknowledged by leaders in the military and naval forces, as well as by those carrying out the highly responsible civil work which the exigencies of the time demanded. During the Great War no fewer than 160 Admirals and Generals studied the Pelman Course, and their example was followed by over forty thousand other officers and men and women throughout the Services. Good as Pelmanism was in 1914-1918, it is very much better in 1946. Added knowledge and experience have made it so.
PELMANISM was highly recommended by distinguished Admirals and Generals in the last war, and the Pelman Institute possesses thousands of letters from soldiers and sailors who testify to the practical benefits—including accelerated promotion—they have gained from the system.
ONCE again the aftermath of war presents problems of rehabilitation, re-adjustment and return to civil occupations, to a large number of men and women. And once again very many turned, and are turning to the Pelman Course for that guidance in clear thinking so essential when important decisions have to be made.
In this direction Pelmanism is a training power. It is a means by which knowledge is more easily acquired, retained and used; a means through which natural aptitudes find greater expression and by which individual faculties are developed. The emphasis all the time is on use, for with practice and use more knowledge comes: and skill, wisdom and power grow.
The above was excerpted from the Pelman Institute’s publication booklet titled "The Science of Success: PELMANISM". This booklet was referenced as their 90th Edition (Emergency Edition) published in the year 1946.
