This is the tenth in a series of articles based on the teachings found in the success classic "The Science of Getting Rich", written in 1910 by Wallace D. Wattles. This book—now in the public domain--is essential reading for anyone who wants to become wealthy. It served as inspiration for the hit film, "The Secret".

As indicated in previous articles of this series, you must use your thoughts to communicate your wants to the original substance. We’ve also seen that in addition to using your mind to focus continually on what you want, you must also act so that you’re ready to receive all of the good that the universe will be moving toward you in response to your positive thoughts. As for the way in which you should act, Mr. Wattles explains in Chapter 12 of "The Science of Getting Rich" that you need to act efficiently.

First of all, remember that the universe works on the principle of expansion and advancement. Since the universe wants society to move forward, it will come to the aid of those who more than fill their present place, thus helping to speed up the progress of the world. The way to more than fill your present place is to do all that you can do where you are. To quote "The Science of Getting Rich":

"You can advance only by being larger than your present place, and no one is larger than his present place who leaves undone any of the work pertaining to that place. The world is advanced only by those who more than fill their present places."

There are countless people who go to work and simply comply with the bare minimum in their job description. They do what they’re told to do by their boss and not one thing more. These people will never get ahead. In order to do things in "a certain way" you have to go beyond your job description and do more than is expected of you. This is what it means to more than fill your present place.

When you begin to think in a certain way, massive forces are set to work on your behalf, and much may depend on you doing a simple act which is to open the door to great opportunities. Your failure to do even one small thing can cause a long delay in getting what you want. Therefore, do everyday all that you can do on that day.

However, it is important that you don’t overwork or rush frantically about trying to do the greatest number of things in the shortest possible time. What counts is the efficiency of each separate act. Every inefficient act is a failure, and the more inefficient acts you do, the worse off you are. In order to move forward, you must do enough things, no matter how common place, in an efficient manner.

So how do you act in an efficient manner? If you dwell often on what you want, this will become so firmly fixed upon your mind that throughout the day you need only to refer mentally to that image to cause your best effort to be put forth. As Mr. Wattles indicates, "Every act can be made strong and efficient by holding your vision while you’re doing it and putting the whole power of your FAITH and PURPOSE into it."

Mistakes come from acting out of fear or acting hastily because you think someone else is going to beat you to the thing you want to do. Fix your attention on the mental image of what you want and begin to give thanks that you’re getting it; this will strengthen your faith and renew your purpose. Keep your mind close to the supreme mind by reverent gratitude and you will act efficiently.

The idea is not to act for the sake of acting, but to act with purpose. You act with purpose when you’re taking steps to get what you want, to achieve the mental picture you’ve constructed in your mind. Actions are the last component of the creative process, and they must be in alignment with your mental picture.

In addition, as you begin to move toward larger life, you will increase the magnetic pull toward you of everything that is good. Life attracts life, and the more that you develop yourself in mind, body and soul, the more alive that you become.

Do everything that you can do everyday, but do it without haste, worry, or fear. If you don’t do any inefficient acts—that is, if you don’t act out of doubt or fear--, and if you do a sufficient number of efficient acts—by concentrating on the vision of what you want with faith and purpose--, you will become rich.