Book: I Will

Overview
Ben Sweetland’s 1971 book "I Will" distills his prosperity philosophy into a single activating idea: the move from wishing to willing. Where his earlier work explored how belief and imagination shape results, this volume concentrates on the decision impulse that turns desire into organized action. Sweetland argues that the two words "I will" function as a personal command that engages imagination, directs the subconscious, and mobilizes habits, producing measurable change in income, relationships, and character. The book’s emphasis is not on grim self-denial but on purposeful alignment of thought, feeling, and deed.

The power behind the words
Sweetland draws a clear line between "I want" and "I will". Wanting, he says, is passive, often an alibi for delay. Willing is a commitment that selects a goal, fixes an image of achievement, and obligates behavior to match. He reframes willpower away from white-knuckle forcing and toward intelligent decision: choosing a definite aim, forming a vivid mental picture of its attainment, and maintaining the attitude that assumes success. This stance sets up what he calls a success expectancy, the inner posture that prompts resourcefulness, attracts cooperation, and keeps effort consistent.

Mind, image, and the subconscious
Central to the program is Sweetland’s view of the subconscious as a faithful implementer of the dominant picture held by the conscious mind. "I will" statements are designed to saturate that inner picture. He advises readers to write objectives in clear, specific language; repeat them daily with feeling; and visualize outcomes as already real. This practice conditions the self-image to accept larger possibilities and dissolves the friction of doubt. By deliberately replacing negative inner talk with confident assertions, a person reorients attention, notices opportunities previously overlooked, and develops the calm certainty that supports persistence.

From decision to disciplined action
Sweetland treats action as the natural outflow of a firm will. He counsels breaking large aims into immediate, controllable steps and taking the first step at once to prevent the slide back into wishing. He frames setbacks as feedback rather than failure, urging readers to revise methods without surrendering the decision itself. Time is to be treated as capital: start important tasks early, do first things first, and eliminate trivial obligations that dilute will. Habits are built by repetition under the guidance of the chosen aim; after a period of steady practice, the desired behaviors become automatic, freeing energy for higher-level thinking.

Prosperity as service rendered
Consistent with his prosperity teaching, Sweetland anchors "I will" in the ethics of value creation. Wealth is presented as a byproduct of useful service, not a windfall, but the return on imagination, skill, and reliability applied to the needs of others. He recommends adopting a generous, cooperative spirit, expecting good while making good for customers, colleagues, and community. Gratitude is framed as a multiplier; it keeps attention on supply rather than lack and sustains the buoyant mood that nurtures initiative.

Tone, method, and takeaway
The book blends motivational warmth with practical guidance, using anecdotes to show how a clear inner decision reorganizes outer circumstances. Its counsel is simple but cumulative: decide, picture, affirm, act, and persist. Sweetland’s distinctive contribution lies in spotlighting will not as strain but as chosen identity, "the person who will", then using imagination to make that identity feel inevitable. The lasting takeaway is a daily practice: translate every important wish into a definite "I will", reinforce it with vivid mental pictures and confident language, and support it with immediate steps that prove the decision to yourself. Over time, this rhythm fuses belief and behavior, turning intention into tangible results.