The Strangest Secret

I’m not sure if you noticed, but the world is a pretty crazy place right now.

I’m not gonna list all the ways it feels upside down, but I can’t help but notice one single trend: everything happening on the outside is impacting people on the inside.

The dumpster fire of social media is making depression rates higher.

Constant news headlines means anxiety is non-stop.

And the distant “finish line” that so many people are striving for seems to be kicked further and further down the road… out of reach.

I was speaking to a group of teenagers recently, and all of these issues were landing hard on their shoulders. Whatever dreams they had seemed to be outpaced and outmatched by fears. And who could blame them?

Their earliest living memories are of a world gripped in recession. They have never known the United States NOT at war in some way. They’ve lived through tumultuous political times, a pandemic, inflation, and all along the way they’ve had to deal with the confidence-sapping effects of social media and the ever present thief of joy… comparison.

Everything happening on the outside is impacting them on the inside.

“But what if,” I asked, “there was a simple mindset shift that could change everything?”

They were eager to learn more.

So I started with the most important sentence, “You become what you focus on.”

Confused at such a simple sentence, several gave me questioning looks. I repeated it again, “You become what you focus on.”

I shared with them that I had recently re-listened to one of the great motivational books of all time: The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale. It’s a quick read and an even easier listen. But the impact this little book can make over the course of a lifetime is extraordinary. And taking a moment to understand the story of its author… Earl Nightingale… provides rich insights for anyone pursuing success.

After growing up in Long Beach, CA, Earl enlisted in the Navy and found himself standing on the USS Arizona in December 1941 facing bombs and bullets from the Japanese air assault on Pearl Harbor. One of only a hundred survivors, Earl had been blown off the ship and had been pulled from the wreckage unconscious. As his world crumbled beneath him, he survived the war and like many other veterans Earl felt his life had been spared for a reason.

He didn’t have much by way of family support. His father abandoned the family when he was 12, and his single mother struggled financially. So after the war Earl knew he was going to have to make his own way.

In particular, one question nagged him: Why were SOME people successful while OTHERS of the same identical background failed? If they came from the same town, and had similar prospects, why did some people succeed over others? That’s what Earl would spend the rest of his life trying to figure out. And so, he turned to books.

He read and studied as much as he could while at the same time growing his small insurance agency.

Then in 1956, wanting to provide motivation to his team, Earl wrote and recorded “The Strangest Secret” which taught this enduring principle: ‘We become what we think about.’

And Earl wasn’t the only one who had discovered this eternal truth. In his book he quoted other greats:

“A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” — Marcus Aurelius.

“A man is what he thinks about all day long.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” — William James.

“The Strangest Secret” went on to sell over a million copies, and was the first spoken-word recording to achieve Gold Record status. Some of the greatest thought leaders and most successful people of our time, Ray Croc of McDonalds, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, and many more… all cite Earl Nightingale as one of their greatest influences.

“And so,” I continued speaking to the teens, “If some of the most successful people of our time point to this book and its ideas… don’t you think we should pay attention?”

Several students nodded. And so I restated the point: “You become what you focus on. If you just watch the news which is designed to rile you up and make you afraid… so you shall be. If you just doom scroll and get sucked away into TikTok… that is all you will ever raise yourself to. If you spend your time around people who think small, belittle others, and carry grudges… you will be no different than they.

“On the other hand… if you focus on people who are better, smarter, and wiser… you will change. If you focus on expanding your world view, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself… you will grow. If you focus on learning kindness, influence, and persuasion, one day you will lead and maybe even employ people who started out on the same level as you. Except while you grew, they only focused on staying small.

“And so I challenge you: show me what you are focused on, then no matter your circumstances and no matter what’s happening on the outside… I will show you who you will become.

“You become what you focus on. What do you want to focus on today?”

Which brings me to you.

What are you focused on? How are you leveling up? What sources of inspiration are you seeking? Who are you listening to… in order to raise your game?

If you are looking for a good place to start, join me and many others who have listened to Earl Nightingale’s The Strangest Secret. Its an old style recording… but you’ll be surprised at how fresh the ideas truly are. No matter what’s happening on the outside, you can control how it impacts you on the inside.

Make it a great week- I’m grateful you focus on spending your time with me!

Christian

PS. If you are looking for more positive content to help you be more successful and influential, check out my podcast: The Go Influence Life! Podcast. The place for people who want to level up their influence in business, leadership, and life. Please share it with others!

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com