Written in the Stars

Mr. T. was on the verge of despair as a writer, when he decided to visit an astrologist. He told her the year, day and hour of his birth, and then waited as she consulted books concerning the movement of the stars. Her conclusion was that Mr. T. would meet a friend who would arrange for him to get a good job.

Mr. T. put little stock in what the astrologist said, until he ran into an old friend some time later. The friend told him that he was quitting his job as associate editor of a large magazine. "This is the friend the astrologer spoke of," thought Mr. T. , "and that is the job."

"Who is replacing you at the magazine?" he asked. "They haven't decided yet," the friend answered. "I'm going to apply," said Mr. T. "You're too young," replied the friend. They'll never hire you."

But Mr. T. had confidence. He was sure that he would get the job. It was written in the stars. He approached the manager of the magazine and refused to take "no" for an answer. He was so determined and so confident in his approach that the company relaxed their rules on age and gave him the job.

Mr. T. was understandably elated when he left the publishing house. Then it suddenly occurred to him that he had given the wrong year as the date of his birth. Her reading of the stars could not have applied to him.

Mr. T. had a good job and he was on the way to success. The job, however, and the success he was later to attain was not due to the stars. It was due to his own drive and the conviction that he would succeed.

A person who is convinced that he can succeed, will, in spite of periodic setbacks, attain to ultimate success.

星の予言

　作家としての自分の才能に絶望を感じたTさんは、星占い師を訪ねて行った。彼は自分の生年月日と時間を言うと、占い師が星の動きに関する本を調べるのを待った。占い師は、「彼がよい仕事を世話してくれる友達に会うだろう」という結論をくだした。

　その後しばらくして昔の友だちに会った。大きい雑誌の副編集長をしていたその友だちは、仕事を辞めるつもりだと彼に話した。「これが占い師の言った友だちとその仕事に違いない」とTさんは思った。「だれが君のあとをやるんだい」と聞いた。友だちは、「まだ決まっていないんだ」と答えた。「応募しようかな」と Tさんが言うと、「君は若すぎるから雇ってくれないだろう」と友だちは言った。

　しかし、Tさんには自信があった。就職できると確信していた。星が予言したからである。雑誌の責任者と面接したものの断られたが、彼はその断りを受けつけなかった。彼があまりにも決然とした態度で自信に溢れていたので、会社では、年齢制限の規則を緩め、彼を雇うことにした。

　Tさんは当然のように、意気揚々と出版社を出た。その時、突然、生まれた年を間違って占い師に教えたことに気がついた。占い師が読んだ星の予言は、彼に当てはまるものではなかったことになる。

　Tさんは、今、よい仕事につき、うまくいっている。しかし、仕事も、やがて得るであろう成功も星のお陰ではない。自分の力ときっと成功するという信念の賜物である。成功できると確信する人は、時にはうまくゆかないことがあっても、最後には成功を得るに違いないのである。