It is to everyone's advantage to develop and self-improve. Maria Duval has listed 24 qualities of life which will have a great influence in a person's life if they are practised or learned. Some of them are favourable to financial success while some of them will enhance a person's integrity and reputation.

1. BE SELECTIVE

Don't pursue several aims at the same time, especially if they clash. Devote your attention to your primary objective. Choose Choose between love, money, stability, fame and etc. Unless you already have a very advanced understanding of Universal Cosmic Energy, you can't deal with them all. So it's best to select one or another.

2. BE USEFUL

Nothing succeeds unless it clearly serves collective interests and is therefore useful. Sharing your talents and being helpful is an infallible guarantee of success.

3. BE COMPETENT

This is one of the best ways of fighting off the competition and winning contracts. No one would argue with this rule. A lack of competence leads to needs and poverty, at least in the long run.

4. TAKE AN INTEREST IN WHAT YOU DOING

Even if your job or activity is only a temporary occupation, you are unlikely to achieve your ultimate goal unless you commit yourself fully to your current task. It will be hard to get good results un the future, if you don't get into the habit of working with interest right now.

5. BE FAIR

Don't just look after your own interests. It's no good wanting to receive without giving in return. Don't keep everything for yourself, but don't give it all away either. Try to maintain an even balance.

6. KEEP YOUR WORD

You can only succeed if you inspire confidence, and you will never inspire confidence unless you are true to your word.

7. BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU SAY

When you are dealing with other people, they can instinctively tell whether or not you believe in what you are saying. If you yourself are not convinced, you won't be able to get them to do the things you want them to, no matter how hard you try.

8. BE PERSUASIVE

If you are competent and convinced, you only need to make a bit of effort to share your ideas. You will defintely have to fight to succeed, but you can learn to do this.

9. BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR AIMS

Don't keep changing your opinions or objectives, don't give up at the first hurdle. Choose something and stick to it firmly.

10. USE YOUR TIME WELL

Don't waste your time: this is one of the secrets of success! Don't attempt things which are impossible in the time available. Don't fritter away your time on things which don't matter. Allow just the right amount of time for each thing or invest your time in doing something meaningful or appropriate.

11. USE YOUR MONEY WELL

Regard money as a means, and not an end. It is a means of action and should be used very carefully like a precious tool. Be fully conscious of its value and regard it as a bargaining chip. Having money gives you no right to be arrogant and to despise those who for some reasons don't have much as you. There is a difference between possessing money and allowing yourself to be possessed by money!

Similarly, to succeed you need to have a keen sense of values. You need to understand the other people will only donate their time, money or friendship if they receive something worthwhile in exchange. You need to offer something of value in any kind of transaction, be it business, emotional or etc.

12. LEARN TO OBSERVE AND ANALYSE

You can profit from your mistakes if you know how to observe and analyse. And you will only be able to reproduce a success if you have carefully noted all the factors which contributed to it.

13. LEARN TO CONCENTRATE

Focus intently on one thing at a time. Maria Duval emphasizes this again: good powers of concentration are extremely important and valuable.

14. VISUALISE SUCCESS

Any achievement begins life as a clear vision in your mind. Without visualisation, there would be no works of art, no monuments, no machines, not even simple love.

15. THINK AHEAD

You will never be caught out if you plan an alternative solution in case of problems.

16. MAKE A DETAILED PLAN

Don't expect miracles, expect things to take their natural course. Look for gradual success, and outline each successive step.

17. GET ORGANISED

Make your work fruitful, use effective methods, tools, and people.

18. BE DARING

Leap into action when the time comes - don't procrastinate.

19. KEEP TRYING

It's unusual to succeed straight off, or to succeed every time. You will waste all your initial efforts if you don't keep trying, in spite of how bad things may seem.

20. WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT

Don't embark on anything at an unfavourable time. Learn how to wait for an opportune moment when you have all the resources you need.

21. BANISH YOUR WORRIES

If you allow yourself to be dominated by worries, you will be unconsciously nourishing them with your own strength. You must learn how to "put them in the bin" and forget about them.

22. SHOW INTEREST IN OTHER PEOPLE

Show interest in people around you, even the most humble. Try to succeed as much for them as for yourself. Put yourself out for other people. It's impossible to succeed alone, you can only succeed through and for others.

Successful people show an interest in others. If someone is talking to you about themselves, their family, their health, and you don't seem t be paying attention or are obviously bored and try to turn the conversation the other way round, you will appear indifferent to other people and this can be very detrimental in important situations in life.

23. FIND TRUE FRIENDS

Success only lasts in certain circumstances. One essential condition for success is that you should be blossoming in a climate of friendship and understanding. If you observe successful people, you will often notice that they have faithful friends who support them. And the fundamental reason for this is that they give their friends as much pleasure and help as they receive from them.

24. HAVE THE WILL TO SUCCEED

This factor may be sufficient in itself, in spite of adverse circumstances. It synthesises many other qualities and "crystalises" the indifinite power of Universal Energy for your benefit. This feeling must be very deeply rooted inside you.

Maria Duval advises to learn to identify the qualities you are lacking. They may vary over time. If necessary, don't hesitate to consult the people who know you, and in whom you can have complete trust. Then work on the areas which you are poorer in, learn from successful people, show an keen interest to improve yourself and ample of strong will to succeed. Once you are ready, the Universal Energy will reward you with the fruits that you are seeking for.