The Great Gatsby’s Plan for Success
When I read biographies, autobiographies, or management articles and textbooks, I am always struck by one common ground among all successful people: they all set goals. I guess all normal human beings do that every day; They have a mental plan of what they will accomplish during the day or in the short term.
However, for successful people, the goals they set for themselves are short-term and long-term. And they write down those goals. This is the secret to success, as uncommitted written plans, goals, and objectives are often nothing more than dreams. A concrete written list will make you a doer, a mental list a wayward dreamer.
While many readers search for Jay Gatsby’s hidden magic formula for wealth and success, I’m sure they simply overlook Gatsby’s self-improvement program. But make no mistake; there we find the roots of his success.
Here’s an exchange between Jay’s father and Nick Carraway, the narrator:
Jay’s father: “Jimmy was destined to get ahead. He always had some resolutions like this or something. Do you realize what he has to do to improve his mind? He was always great for that. He once told me he was like a pig and I hit him for it. “
Nick: “He was reluctant to close the book, read each article aloud and then looked at me enthusiastically. I think he rather expected me to copy the list for my own use.”
Nick was not about to copy the list because he is already a well-educated, well-connected, Yale-educated, and wealthy man. Not a self-made man. For others, however, we can see that from a young age Jay Gatsby had contracted with himself to become a success.
Gatsby’s schedule:
Get out of bed ………………………………………. . ..6.00 …………….. AM
Dumbbell exercise and wall climbing ………………… 6.15 – 6.30 ………. ”
Study electricity, etc ………………………………… 7.15 – 8.15 …. …… ”
Works …………………………………………. ……….. 8.30 – 4.30 …….. PM
Baseball and sports …………………………………. 4.30 – 5.00 …. …… ”
Practice elocution, balance and how to achieve it … 5.00 – 6.00 ………. ”
Study necessary inventions …………………………… 7.00 – 9.00 ………. “
What can we learn from this program? We learn that he is an early riser; that takes care of both your body and your mind. What is moving is that his vision of success included a person or an image, a cultivated and balanced image. As the story unfolds, we learn that he uses everything that was on his schedule, from wall climbing (maybe social climbing) to inventions, baseball, and sports.
His general resolves:
Without wasting time on Shafters or [a name, indecipherable].
No more smoking or chewing.
Bathe every other day.
Read one improvement book or magazine per week.
Save $ 5.00 [crossed out] $ 3.00 per week.
Be better with parents.
Conclusion:
That Jay Gatsby went on a quest to get rich, there is no doubt. That he achieved riches by making cuts and dubious deals with shady figures, there is no doubt. The text is quite clear. The question that remains is: would he have been successful without a written contract with himself?
No architect, builder, or contractor would embark on building a home without home plans. Success needs a plan.
