Definition – 1. To long or hope for: exhibit or feel desire for <desire success>
Desire is one of those things people just don’t think about until they are in the middle of it.
Thoughts are powerful things when combined with a definite purpose, persistence, and a burning desire
The man who thought his way into a partnership with Thomas Edison
Edwin C. Barnes was a man with a burning desire to work with the great Thomas Edison. He had a very specific or definite desire, to work with Edison, not for Edison. He knew he wanted to work alongside Thomas Edison as an equal, in partnership, not as an employee. This is a crucial difference that set young Mr. Barnes apart from his contemporaries of the time.
Mr. Barnes had two major factors working against his desired goal:
1. He did not know Thomas Edison personally.
2. He was living on the west coast of the United States, while Edison was living on the east coast. Barnes had no money to make the trip to meet Edison.
Many a person would have found the two obstacles daunting and intimidating. Not so for Mr. Barnes. He left all that he knew, packed his meager possessions into a bag and traveled by “blind baggage” across the country. (Blind baggage is to train hop on freight trains)
Upon arrival at Mr. Edison’s laboratory, he announced his intentions to go into business with the great inventor. To look at Mr. Barnes standing in the doorway was to see a dirty, transient drifter. With not a cent to his name, and holding all his worldly possessions on his person. Most people would have slammed the door in his face, but Thomas Edison saw a look in his eye and the demeanor in which he held himself and took note of it. He offers him the job of being a clerk for his business. Not a prestigious job and the least paying of any position within his organization. To Barnes it was the door opening for his partnership with Edison. Never once did he look at the position as working for Edison, but always as working with Edison. This is crucial in understanding the concept of a burning desire. His perception of the situation gave it value where others would have seen none. Eventually, Edwin C. Barnes was given the opportunity he desired, and was able to rise up and work alongside Thomas Edison as a partner by becoming the best seller of Edison’s invention the Ediphone. The slogan became “Made by Edison and installed by Barnes”. This partnership lasted for more than three decades and made Barnes a rich and successful business man.
Key points to think about:
1. Edwin C. Barnes had a burning desire to succeed (partnership with Thomas Edison)
2. He was willing to follow his desire and take the chance of going for it
3. He “burned his ships” and had no way to retreat if things didn’t work out. He staked everything on one spin of the wheel, so to speak.
4. He took the opportunity given to him, and viewed it a positive step toward his goal, and the jumping off point for what he desired most to come to fruition.
5. Barnes thought himself into a partnership with Edison. He thought himself into a fortune. He had absolutely nothing to start with, except the capacity and knowledge to KNOW what he wanted, and the determination to stand by his desire until he reached it.
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We had some guys show up one night … who were “looking for someone”. I refused to open the door and they eventually left. Next day, found an orange spray-painted rock (about the diameter of a quarter) on top of my fence. My house was marked to “hit” for invasion according to the cops. Thank goodness we had a 125lb boxer and I was smart enough to not even open the door AND keep the doors locked all the time. Sketchy stuff can happen at any time 
