The Haanel family was of Swedish extraction, but had lived in Silesia, Prussia, before emigrating to Canada and thence to the United States.

His first job was as an office boy for the National Enameling & Stamping Company in St. Louis, and he worked for this firm in varying capacities for fifteen years before striking out on his own as a writer and businessman.

[5] He was a member of the Republican Party,[5] a Freemason and Shriner affiliated with St. Louis Keystone Lodge No.243, (A.F.

[9] During his life, Haanel earned and received several honorary academic degrees, including hon.

Haanel practiced the financial principles he preached, and was a self-made success who owned several major companies.

Among the key points of Haanel's system are what he refers to as the laws of concentration, attraction, and harmonious thinking and action.

Actor and former football player Terry Crews has said about The Master Key System, "I have read hundreds of personal development books, but this is the one that clearly showed me how to visualize, contemplate, and focus on what I truly wanted.

"[11] Original titles Variant editions of The Master Key System Posthumous compilations with written contributions by other authors