one of the most important； rules governing success in life。
As we go racing down the home stretch； 〃The Vacuum
Law Of Prosperity〃 shows us how to open all of the doors； that
will enable the good that we seek to e to us from all sides。
This is not only a rewarding law； but a truly enjoyable one for
you to learn。 It will help pull all of the other ideas together； to
plete your picture and get you to your desired destination
safely and on schedule。
Before you begin； let me caution you once again； that
reading and memorizing will never 〃make it happen〃 for you。 It
is only understanding and application of the right ideas that
will produce the results you desire。 Think about each idea very
closely。 They are all simple and easy to understand； but you
must act on them。 Keep this book with you。 Continually review
it； and you will begin to see evidence of everything that is
explained in it in your material world。 This entire book has
been prepared with the sincere hope that you will enjoy every
step of your journey into a truly new way of living。
Bob Proctor
Me and Money
The Edgewater Beach Hotel
In 1923； at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago； eight
of the world's wealthiest financiers met。 These eight men
controlled more money than the United States' government at
that time。 They included：
The president of the largest independent steel
pany；
The president of the largest gas pany；
The greatest wheat speculator；
The president of the New York Stock Exchange；
A member of the President's cabi；
The greatest 〃bear〃 on Wall Street；
The head of the world's greatest monopoly；
The president of the Bank of International
Settlement。
Certainly； one would have to admit； that a group of the
world's most successful men was gathered in that place； at
least； men who had found the secret of 〃earning money。〃
Now let's see where these men were twentyfive years
later：
The president of the largest independent steel pany；
Charles Schwab； lived on borrowed money for five years before
he died bankrupt。
The president of North America's largest gas pany；
Howard Hopson； went insane。
The greatest wheat speculator； Arthur Cutton； died
abroad； insolvent。
The president of the New York Stock Exchange； Richard
Whitny； was sent to Sing Sing Penitentiary。
A member of the President's cabi； Albert Fall； was
pardoned from prison so he could die at home。
The greatest 〃bear〃 on Wall Street； Jesse Livermore； died
a suicide。
The head of the greatest monopoly； Ivar Krueger； killed
himself。
The president of the Bank of International Settlement；
Leon Fraser； also died a suicide。
Each of these men learned well the art of earning money；
but it would seem that not one of them had ever learned how
to live the 〃rich life〃； which was their birthright。
It is stories like this one that have caused many well
meaning； but ignorant people to say； 〃See； I told you it is not
good to have a lot of money； it's bad；〃 or； 〃It just goes to show
you that rich people really aren't happy；〃 but of course； that is
just not true。 For although these eight men would appear to
have 〃slid off the track；〃 there are many wealthy people who
are very happy； and who do a tremendous amount of good
with their money； they live healthy； wellbalanced lives。
Consider thismoney will have a greater influence on your
life than almost any other modity you can think of。
Indeed； the sudden loss or acquisition of money will affect
your attitude to a tremendous extent。 Therefore； you must
agree that everyone should have a deep understanding of
exactly what money is； and of the laws governing its
attraction。 Yet； the sad fact is that not one person in ten does。
Niyfive people out of a hundred settle for whatever they
get； wishing they had more all the way from the cradle to the
casket； never understanding that they could actually have had
all they wanted。
Let me digress for a momentas you journey through this
book； you might have a tendency to let your mind wander off；
either thinking about someone you know who has earned a
great deal of money or possibly about someone who has gone
into bankruptcy。 But I want to suggest that you attempt to
keep focusing only on yourself； because what someone else
has or does not have； is not going to affect you and it is your
financial situation that you want to improve。
Money Is Important
One of the most prevalent misconceptions concerning
money； relates to its importance。 For example； how many
times have you heard people say in conversation； 〃Money isn't
everything。〃 or 〃Money isn't important。〃 or 〃I don't care about
money。〃 Well； the people who say these things might not care
about money； but I'll bet their car dealer cares about it； their
grocer does； and so does the person who holds their mortgage。
In truth； there can be no denial of the fact that money is
important to any person living in a civilized society。 Therefore；
to argue that it is not as important as this or that； is absurd。
For nothing can take the place of money in the arena in which
it is used！
Money Is A Servant
Now that I have affirmed the importance of money； let me
backtrack to add this one word of caution always remember；
money is a servant； you are the master。 Be very careful not to
reverse that equation； because many people of high
intelligence have already done so； to their great detriment。
Unfortunately； many of these poor souls loved money and
used people； which violated one of the most basic laws
governing true financial success。 You should always love
people and use money； rather than the reverse！
Another myth many people like to accept about money is
that it only es as a result of 〃luck〃 or 〃good fortune。〃 For
instance； whenever people gather to talk about someone they
know who has been financially successful； there is always
someone among them who will say； 〃Harry was just lucky；〃 or
〃Harry was just in the right place at the right time。〃 But I want
to assure you in no uncertain terms； that although 〃luck〃
obviously plays some part in financial success； it is never
sufficient in and of itself。 Money is an effect and it must
always be earned。 Believe me； there are no free rides in this
life and the only people who are making money the easy way
either work in the mint or are on their way to jail； if they have
not already arrived there。 Therefore； always bear in mind that
while 〃good fortune〃 is a factor in financial success； it must
always be coupled with effort and hard work！
Money Must Circulate
A third thing you should know about money is that it is
valuable only as long as it is being used。 Once it has been
taken out of circulation； it bees as worthless as the 〃old
newspapers〃 or 〃empty beer cans〃 that have been stashed
away in the attic。 To understand the truth of this principle；
consider the following story。 On a bookshelf； in my home； I
have a silver beer stein that was given to me as a gift for a
speech I made。 Now； whenever I go into my house； I take all
the change from my pockets and put it into the cup。 Then；
when the cup is almost filled； I give it to one of my children； or
one of two young cousins。 Each of them takes turns receiving
the cup and of course they eagerly anticipate their turn。 The
point I want you to notice； however； is that while the cup is
being filled； the money in it has absolutely no value
whatsoever； it just sits there； serving no useful function and
not even drawing any interest。
However； as soon as the cup is filled and the money is
turned over to one of the kids； it literally 〃flies into action。〃 For
instance； just last week； T。 Jay； one of my young cousins；
received the money。 He immediately took it from my hand；
rushed off to a golf school and purchased several golf lessons
with his inheritance。 Now； I can't honestly say what the golf
pro did with the money once he got it； but I do feel fairly safe
in saying that he didn't just return it to a cup on his book
shelf！ No； there really isn't any dispute about it； money is not
meant to be taken out of circulationrather； it is meant to be
used； enjoyed and circulated！
This brings me to an even more dramatic illustration of
the same principle： namely； the story of 〃old Mr。 Chapman。〃
Mr。 Chapman was an elderly gentleman who lived a few doors
down the street from our family when I was just a boy。
Although there was a tremendous age difference between us；
Mr。 Chapman and I became fast friends and I often used to
watch him pushing his small junk cart up and down the
block。 You see； Mr。 Chapman worked as a junk dealer and he
made his living by picking up the things other people had
thrown away。 As the years went by； however； Mr。 Chapman
became more and more stooped from his arduous labors and
one day； shortly after World War II； he passed away。 Since he
lived alone and apparently had no close relatives living nearby；
the police entered his house to take stock of his possessions。
Not surprisingly； they found the house littered with many old
furnishings and assorted memorabilia from Mr。 Chapman's
past。 However； much to their amazement； the police also
discovered over one hundred thousand dollars （100；000） in
old bills packed in boxes throughout the house！
Quick to pick up on so unusual an occurrence； the
Toronto Daily Star carried a frontpage story the next day
about Mr。 Chapman； in which it asked the obvious question：
why would an individual worth well over 100；000； choose to
keep his money stashed away in old boxes strewn haphazardly
throughout his house？
Although I e； I asked
myself a similar question： namely； why would a person like
Mr。 Chapman choose to live like a veritable pauper； when he
had so much money at his disposal？ He could have used his
money for his own enjoyment。 He could have invested it to
earn a return for himself and to help create jobs for other
people； or he could have just deposited it in the bank and
earned interest on his money。 But instead； he chose to put it
in a 〃jar on the s