Chapter 1. You're wrong, Norman Vincent Peal. The author of "The Power of Positive Thinking" believed that success was determined by the way you thought about yourself and your abilities. Our advice: Forget about yourself and focus on other people and other ideas. These are the things that can make you successful in real life.

Chapter 2. "Hey, Dad, how about $50 million?" When Donald Trump decided to go into the real estate business, he turned to the one person who could do more for him than any other person. It doesn't matter how smart or aggressive your are, you'll do much better in life if you have a rich parent or a horse to ride.

Chapter 3. The long shots. There are all kinds of horses. The odds on some are much higher than on others. These long shots are to be avoided if possible.

Chapter 4. The medium shots. Long shots are based on finding something inside yourself. The medium-odds horses are ones where you depend partially on yourself and partially on outsiders.

Chapter 5. The short shots. Short-odds horses are ones where you depend totally on outsiders for success. Here are six of the most important short shots. One comes with wedding bells.

Chapter 6. The company horse. If you choose to join a big company, you're on a 50-to-1 horse. You'll have to learn about the power of a personal connection. There's also an easier way to ride this horse.

Chapter 7. The product horse. You can ride this kind of horse without having an ounce of creative talent. Recognizing the talent in others is the key to success.

Chapter 8. The idea horse. You don't have to generate your own idea. Other people's ideas will do fine. Here's a guide to distinguishing the good from the bad.

Chapter 9. The other-person horse. Finding a boss to ride can be very rewarding. The trick is figuring out with whom to cast your lot. Our list of things to look for in a boss might surprise you.

Chapter 10. The partner horse. Quite often two people are better than one in a venture. The reason: Few people are good judges of their own ideas. Loners fall prey to their egos.

Chapter 11. The spouse horse. Marriage is becoming more and more an economic partnership. Your spouse can do five obvious things for your career or your business.

Chapter 12. The family horse. The family connection can be a powerful asset for one's career. It's surprising to us why so many ignore this horse to "do their own thing."

Chapter 13. There are no second acts. Many successful entrepreneurs sell their first business and then try to start a second one. It seldom works. Here's why it's harder the second time around.

Chapter 14. Excuses, excuses. If you're ready to stop making excuses and start riding, here's a list of seven guidelines to help you search for your horse. Follow them and you're off to the races.