Hafid is the greatest salesman in the world. He has lived a prosperous life and is one of the wealthiest people in the land. His life on earth is coming to a close and he decides it is time to give away nearly all his wealth. He distributes it to his second hand man Erasmus, the emporium managers, and the remaining to the poor. He has everything he could ever want and chooses to live simply until he is reunited with his wife after one last task. Hafid must give away the scrolls that he received earlier in life that taught him how to be the greatest salesman in the world and pass them on to the next chosen one.
Hafid tells the origin story of how he came into the scrolls. He was rescued by a great salesman when he was a young boy. He had no family and the man named Pathros took him in out of the kindness of his heart. The man made him a camel boy and he learned to handle the camels for the rest of the salesmen. Hafid strived for more, and one day he mustered up the courage to ask Pathros how he could become a salesman for him. The man gives him a chance, he must sell one of their signature robes. Hafid tries for days and is unsuccessful and on one of his last days he sees a family with a newborn child. They all have tattered clothing and the father had given his robe to the newborn child to keep him warm. Hafid peers into the cave and witnesses their struggle. He decides to give the child the robe to keep him warm, and takes the loss on the jacket himself. When he returns to the village a star follows him that is brighter than anyone has ever seen before. Pathros notices the star and asks Hafid to tell him all about his journey thinking he was successful. Hafid tells the story and then when he gets to the end he admits he did not sell the robe and instead gave it away. The man is surprisingly thrilled and says to meet him in a few days. He gives Hafid the chest of scrolls a few days later so he can become the next great salesman. Hafid reads the scrolls, which we get the pleasure of doing as well.
Scroll I: I will form good habits and become their slave.
Only principles endure. You now start a new life where you follow this guide and do not stray away from it. The only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. I will form good habits and become their slave.
Scroll II: I will greet each day with love in my heart.
Be positive, go first, and spread love. Be loving towards everyone, and to those who push you away - walk away.
Scroll III: I will persist until I succeed.
I will consider each day as one blow against the mighty oak. With consistent progress it will eventually come down. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once. If I persist long enough I will win.
Scroll IV: I am unique.
I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand.
Scroll V: I will live this day as if it is my last.
I am indeed fortunate and today's hours are a bonus, undeserved. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. My last day must be my best - keep pushing.
Scroll VI: I will be the master of my emotions.
I am a part of nature and like the tides my mood will rise and fall. Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts. Emotions can be chosen. I will become the master of myself.
Scroll VII: I will laugh at the world.
This too shall pass. Every struggle or hardship in life passes - laugh it off and move forward. As long as I can laugh I will never be poor.
Scroll VII: Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
Today I will surpass every action that I did yesterday. To surpass the deeds of others is unimportant. To surpass my own deeds is all. Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. And when it is done I will do it again and again, and there will be astonishment and wonder at my greatness.
Scroll XI: I will act now.
Action is the food and drink which will nourish my success. I will not avoid the tasks of today and charge them to tomorrow for I know that tomorrow never comes. Only action will determine my value in the marketplace and to multiply my value I will multiply my actions. This is the time, this is the place, I am the person.
Scroll X: Whatever you believe in, don’t be afraid to call upon it for love and support.
Have faith in God. Don’t be afraid to call for help.
In the end, Hafid eventually hands off the scrolls to the apostle Peter. He finds out that the child he gave a robe to was a man named Jesus - who Peter and other followers believed to be the Messiah. The book ends as Hafid learns of this story and hands over the scrolls to Peter because a similar star followed Peter over the desert that followed Hafid years prior.