But once in a while, you come across someone who seems to take it all one step further, who seems to broaden the entire definition of success. It is one thing to be prosperous in one business and quite another to triumph in several areas.

But that's just what Melvin Powers has done.

A prominent book publisher for more than 40 years, Powers has also found the time to produce television infomercials, pen successful books, teach business classes, breed champion Arabian horses, and write hit songs. What's more, he approaches this active life with an attitude that stresses challenge and fun.

"Work just isn't work for me," he says, laughing. "I'm basically having a good time and feeling good about things nearly every day."

As president of the Wilshire Book Company, Powers specializes in self-help and inspirational books, helping millions of readers seek the best in life. A native of Boston, he moved to Los Angeles and has since sold thousands of books through the mail, becoming one of the country's leading mail-order experts. Powers was first to publish Dr. Maxwell Maltz's Psycho-Cybernetics, a volume that has sold more than five million copies.

In addition to the self-help category, the company also publishes books in a wide variety of other areas, from cooking and health to games and sports. Powers is the only publisher listed in the Writer's Market who invites writers to call him directly with book ideas.

"I've had a lot of success doing that," he explains. "Even if I am not interested in the writer's idea, I can get to know him and explain exactly what I do want. It can lead to something later on."

Success in the mail-order business eventually led Powers to share his expertise with students in the Los Angeles area. For years he has taught at community and state colleges in Southern California. At a trade show sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 1980 he developed the idea of a book detailing the mail-order business.

"Many people came up to me after I spoke and asked whether I had a book available," he says, laughing. "I realized then that there were a couple hundred enthusiastic people in that room who might have purchased a book if I had had one. That's when I decided to write one."

The result was How to Get Rich in Mail Order, a comprehensive volume that has sold more than 500,000 copies to date. Using his extensive marketing background, Powers sold the book through full-page newspaper and magazine ads, classified ads, radio and television commercials.

"People in general aren't willing to do what it takes to be successful today, so that leaves big opportunities for those who are willing to work."

Although Powers has often approached business ventures as "hobbies," he has also been successful with those ventures, breeding champion Arabian horses, and writing popular songs with songwriter Tommy Boyce (who wrote "Last Train to Clarksville" for the Monkees). Such achievements have elicited praise from the public.

"It has nothing to do with a Midas touch," he says. "It's the willingness to work and become knowledgeable in a given field. I never look for the pie-in-the sky. I go one step at a time and do my homework. That way, when I finally start something, it usually goes well."

The type of work ethic Powers describes is a trait he sees lacking among many Americans and one that he hopes can be addressed nationally.

"We need a national campaign for pride and excellence in this country," he explains. "We need to stop bashing the Japanese and concentrate on making good products ourselves. There's no reason we can't turn this thing around."

Despite America's problems, Powers feels today's entrepreneurs have the same chances for success he had when he started.

"People in general aren't willing to do what it takes to be successful today," he maintains. "So that leaves big opportunities for those who are willing to work. I think any field today is wide open."

Powers counsels entrepreneurs to provide good value in a product or service and listen to the customers who may have legitimate complaints. He also advises business people to continue their education on an on-going basis through trade shows, trade publications, seminars, books, magazines, and other materials available free at most public and college libraries.

Powers himself often spends daily driving time listening to inspirational cassette tapes.

"Things like that can really help you," he says. "By filling your mind with positive thoughts, you won't be so discouraged if there are temporary setbacks in business. You have to listen to the winners, not the losers in life, and then think like a winner yourself."