The summary is:
This is a transcript of an audio recording by Earl Nightingale, who shares his insights on the key to success and failure in life. He claims that the strangest secret in the world is that we become what we think about. He illustrates this idea with examples from history, literature, and his own observations. He urges the listener to plant a worthwhile goal in their mind and work toward it with faith and confidence. He warns that the same law that can lead to success can also lead to misery if we think negatively. He concludes by saying that this is the strangest secret in the world.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
- The text is a transcript of a speech by Earl Nightingale called "The Strangest Secret in the World".
- The main idea of the speech is that we become what we think about, and that we can achieve success by setting and pursuing a worthy goal.
- The speech cites various sources to support this idea, such as Marcus Aurelius, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James, the Bible, and others.
- The speech uses analogies to illustrate the power of the mind, such as the land that returns what is planted, the ship that needs a destination, and the earth-moving machine that needs a driver.
- The speech claims that only 5% of people succeed because they have a clear goal, while 95% fail because they conform, lack direction, or think negatively.