"Keys to Success in the 21st Century" Home Page

Date Published: April 27, 2025
Date Modified: May 7, 2025

​This book update is for all those who are struggling—like myself, with what is happening in our country, with our youth, with our values and ideals, and with our direction as a democracy. It contains a few words of grounding advice from B. C. Forbes, founder of Forbes Magazine. His insights—derived from his interviews with some of America’s greatest 20th Century industrialist leaders, are as relevant today as they were a century ago.

Maybe, this is the time and place to start our society’s transformation. Ask yourselves: "How do we inspire ourselves and others to see our common shortcomings and integrate these 'Keys to Success' in all our lives?"

Peter E. Greulich, Author and Editor

"Keys to Success in the 21st Century" Edited by Peter E. Greulich

Back cover of "Keys to Success"

This is an anthology of thirty essays focused on achieving success that B. C. Forbes published in Forbes Magazine in the first quarter of the 20th Century. These articles focus on defining success, determining the critical “keys” to achieve success, and encouraging individuals to undertake the challenge—to scale the mountain of success by taking the right paths.

These essays have been shortened, updated and modified by Peter E. Greulich to appeal to a twenty-first-century reader—without changing their initial, overall intent. This editor/contributor has also included at the back of the book an appendix entitled, “Those Who ‘Wrote This Book’ ” which contains a full page picture of forty of the contributors to this anthology along with a one-page write up on each individual’s career or influence on the original author: B. C. Forbes.

Of these individuals Mr. Forbes wrote:

“I do not feel that I have written this book. Its authors, rather, are a hundred or more of our best-known captains of industry, statesmen, writers, and a few sages of former days. Much of the material comes direct from business men who have become recognized as the foremost authorities in their line.

“They have given of their best in the hope of helping others to rise.”

Additionally B. C. Forbes wrote of why he was so dedicated—like many of those he interviewed for these essays, to making a difference in the world:

“The moving motive in establishing Forbes Magazine, in 1917, was an ardent desire to promulgate humaneness in business, then woefully lacking. …

“I would pass on contented if I could conscientiously feel that we have rendered at least a little service to our day and generation, that we have done something towards bequeathing a better world for my four sons and an increasing number of grandchildren.”

It is with this same hope and motivation that I am republishing some of these great essays … targeting a new generation of twenty-first century business leaders with messages to practice cheerfulness, goodwill, courage, loyalty, politeness, self-respect, service, stick-to-itiveness, teamwork, saving and, yes, recreation.

As B. C. Forbes writes in his essay on service:

"Success must no longer be spelled $ucce$$. It must be spelled SERVICE."

Too many twenty-first-century leaders need to hear his guidance.

Sincerely,

- Peter E. Greulich

B. C. Forbes on "Politeness."

​Select one of the images below to proceed directly to the Preface, Introduction, Appendix or "You: The First Key to Success" from "Keys to Success in the 21st Century."

Preface

Introduction

Appendix

The First Key to Success: You

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