Norman Vincent Peale
Recently I had the pleasure of watching “One Man’s Way,” a movie biography of Norman Vincent Peale. Dr. Peale spoke to presidents, royalty, industrialists, scientists, financiers, doctors, lawyers, morticians, sports stars and even carpet cleaners!
Dr. Peale spoke at three Bane-Clene conventions. He was a delightful, unassuming man who had a way of making everyone feel important and changed an untold number of lives with his optimistic and positive advice. In 1952 my wife, Elizabeth, bought his book “The Power Of Positive Thinking,” which was partly responsible for our going into business ten years later.
When we first considered asking him to keynote a convention in 1980, I predicted he would not speak to such a small group. Elizabeth wrote to him and told him of my qualms. He accepted and when he was introduced, he acknowledged the audience, and “That great positive thinking lady, Betty Bane.” She was thrilled when he autographed that original copy of his book for her with a very personal endorsement. It is a treasured memento in our home.
When Dr. Peale arrived for the 1983 convention he had a terrible cold. On the eve of his speech he could barely talk and I was worried about a substitute. As we parted that evening he sensed my anxiety and said, “Bill, if I can’t cure myself with God’s help, I have no right to speak to your people tomorrow.” The next day, he gave an inspiring seventy minute speech in a strong voice and received a standing ovation from seven hundred grateful people.
The last time Dr. Peale addressed our group was in 1986. He was in the twilight of his career, but could excite an audience more than any speaker we ever had. He pointed to his own inferiority complex as being difficult to overcome and said, “You people should be proud of what you do for a living. You make things clean and there are not many industries that can make that statement today.”
He died on Christmas Eve in 1993, at age ninety five. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to hear and actually speak with this great man. He’s no longer with us, but his words and deeds shine as a beacon in the night.
