clock, sharp on the minute, fix upon a
certain idea and determine to recall it at a certain hour during the
day. Put your whole will into this resolution. Try to imagine what
activities you will be engaged in at the appointed hour, and think of
the chosen idea as identified with those activities. Associate it in
your mind with some object that will be at hand when the set time comes.
Having thus fixed the idea in your mind, forget it. Do not refer to it
in your thoughts. With practice you will find yourself automatically
carrying out your own orders. Persist in this exercise for at least
three months.

_b._ Every night when you retire fix upon the hour at which you wish to
get up in the morning. In connection with your waking at that hour,
think of all the sounds that will be apt to be occurring at that
particular time. Bar every other thought from your consciousness and
fall asleep with the intense determination to arise at the time set. By
all means, get up instantly when you awaken. Keep up this exercise and
you will soon be able to awaken at any hour you may wish.

[Sidenote: _How to Compel Recollection_]

_c._ Every morning outline the general plan of your activities for the
day. Select only the important things. Do not bother with the details.
Determine upon the logical order for your day's work. Think not so much
of _how_ you are to do things as of the _things_ you are to do. Keep
your mind on results. And having made your plan, stick to it. Be your
own boss. Let nothing tempt you from your set purpose. Make this daily
planning a habit and hold to it through life. It will give you a great
lift toward whatever prize you seek.

Rule III. _Search systematically and persistently._

When once you have started upon an effort at recollection, persevere.
The date or face or event that you wish to recall _is bound up with a
multitude of other facts of observation and of your mind life_ of the
past. Success in recalling it depends simply upon your ability _to hit
upon some idea so indissolubly associated with the object of search that
the recall of one automatically recalls the other_. Consequently the
thing to do is to hold your attention to one definite line of thought
until you have exhausted its possibilities. You must pass in review all
the associated matters and suppress or ignore them until the right one
comes to mind. This may be a short-cut process or a roundabout process,
but it will bring results nine tim