Points from Think and Grow Rich

As you all know, this won’t be a review but a collection of intriguing ideas from the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This is by far one of the best books ever written, and one of the best books on becoming rich, or acquire that which you desire.

The book starts off with a word by the author. He talks about the Carnegie (Andrew Carnegie) secret. The secret is a collection of ideas but can be recognized throughout the book by this principle – all achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea!

Steps toward Riches (is not a listing of all the chapters, only some)

1. Desire – The starting point
2. Faith – Visualization of, and belief in attainment of desire
3. Autosuggestion – The medium for influencing the subconscious mind
4. Specialized Knowledge – Personal experiences or observations
5. Imagination – The workshop of the mind
6. Organized Planning – The crystallization of desire into action
7. Decision – The mastery of procrastination
8. Persistence – The sustained effort necessary to induce faith
9. Power of the Master Mind – The driving force
10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation
11. The Subconscious Mind – The connecting link
12. The Brain – A broadcasting and receiving station for thought
13. The Sixth Sense – The door to the temple of wisdom

Psychologists have correctly said that “when one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in its appearance.”

When opportunity comes, it appears in a different form and from a different direction than one expects. That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize opportunity.

One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.

Know enough to seek expert counsel before giving up.

Whatever THE MIND OF MAN can CONCEIVE and BELIEVE it can ACHIEVE.

Barnes said, “…I will burn all the bridges behind me, and stake my entire future on my ability to get what I want.” He left himself no possible way of retreat. He had to win or perish!

Six Ways to Turn Desires into Gold.

1. Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of money.” Be definite as to the amount.
2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.
3. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
5. Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.
6. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read – see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.

There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.

The turning point in the lives of those who succeed usually comes at the moment of some crisis, through which they are introduced to their “other selves.”

No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.

Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage.

THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS TO THE MIND EXCEPT THOSE WE ACKNOWLEDGE.

BOTH POVERTY AND RICHES ARE THE OFFSPRING OF THOUGHT.

Repetition of affirmation of orders to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary development of the emotion of faith.

The subconscious mind will translate into its physical equivalent a thought impulse of a negative or destructive nature, just as readily as it will act upon thought impulses of a positive or constructive nature. This accounts for the strange phenomenon which so many millions of people experience, referred to as “misfortune,” or “bad luck.”
There are millions of people who believe themselves “doomed” to poverty and failure, because of some strange force over which they believe they have no control. They are the creators of their own “misfortunes,” because of this negative belief, which is picked up by the subconscious mind, and translated into its physical equivalent.

Faith is the basis of all “miracles,” and all mysteries which cannot be analyzed by the rules of science!

Every man is what he is because of the dominating thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind.

Self-Confidence Formula.

1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life; therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.
2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear and mental picture.
3. I know through the principle of autosuggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it; therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.
4. I have clearly written down a description of my definite chief aim in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.
5. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice; therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself. I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full faith that it will gradually influence my thoughts and actions so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.

Riches begin in the form of thought!
The amount is limited only by the person in whose mind the thought is put into motion. Faith removes limitations! Remember this when you are ready to bargain with life for whatever it is that you ask as your price for having passed this away.

Your subconscious mind recognizes and acts only upon thoughts which have been well-mixed with emotion or feeling.

Six Steps To Stimulate Your Subconscious Mind

1. Go into some quiet spot (preferably in bed at night) where you will not be disturbed or interrupted, close your eyes, and repeat aloud, (so you may hear your own words) the written statement of the amount of money you intend to accumulate, the time limit for its accumulation, and a description of the service or merchandise you intend to give in return for the money. As you carry out these instructions, see yourself already in possession of the money.
   For example: — Suppose that you intend to accumulate $50,000 by the first of January, five years hence, that you intend to give personal services in return for the money, in the capacity of a salesman.
   “By the first day of January, 19.., I will have in my possession $50,000, which will come to me in various amounts from time to time during the interim.
   In return for this money I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the fullest possible quantity, and the best possible quality of service in the capacity of salesman of ……………. (describe the service or merchandise you intend to sell).
   I believe that I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me at the time, and in the proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it. I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money, and I will follow that plan, when it is received.”
2. Repeat this program night and morning until you can see (in your imagination) the money you intend to accumulate.
3. Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it night and morning, and read it just before retiring, and upon arising until it has been memorized.

Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the Seed of an equivalent or a greater Benefit.

Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end.

Anything acquired without effort, and without cost is generally unappreciated.

All master salesmen know that idea can be sold where merchandise cannot.

Right here is the point at which the majority of men meet with failure, because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.

Your achievement can be no greater than your plans are sound. No man is ever whipped, until he quits — in his own mind.

The Major Attributes of Leadership

1. Unwavering courage
2. Self-control
3. A keen sense of justice
4. Definiteness of decision
5. Definiteness of plans
6. The habit of doing more than paid for
7. A pleasing personality
8. Sympathy and understanding
9. Mastery of detail
10. Willingness to assume full responsibility
11. Cooperation

The Ten Major Causes of Failure in Leadership.

1. Inability to organize details
2. Unwillingness to render humble service
3. Expectation of pay for what they “know” instead of what they do with that which they know.
4. Fear of competition from followers
5. Lack of imagination
6. Selfishness
7. Intemperance
8. Disloyalty
9. Emphasis of the “authority” of leadership
10. Emphasis of title

How To Get the Exact Position You Desire.

1. Decide exactly what kind of a job you want. If the job doesn’t already exist, perhaps you can create it.
2. Choose the company or individual for whom you wish to work.
3. Study your prospective employer, as to policies, personnel, and chances of advancement.
4. By analysis of yourself, your talents and capabilities, figure what you can offer, and plan ways and means of giving advantages, services, developments, ideas that you believe you can successfully deliver.
5. Forget about “a job.” Forget whether or not there is an opening. Forget the usual routine of “have you got a job for me?” Concentrate on what you can give.
6. Once you have your plan in mind, arrange with an experience writer to put it on paper in neat form, and in full detail.
7. Present it to the proper person with authority and he will do the rest. Every company is looking for men who can give something of value, whether it be ideas, services, or “connections.” Every company has room for the man who has a definite plan of action which is to the advantage of that company.

The Thirty-One Major Causes of Failure.

1. Unfavorable hereditary background (it explains it more in detail in the book, and talks about using the Master Mind in this case)
2. Lack of a well-defined purpose in life
3. Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity
4. Insufficient education
5. Lack of self-discipline
6. Ill health
7. Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood
8. Procrastination
9. Lack of persistence
10. Negative personality
11. Lack of controlled sexual urge
12. Uncontrolled desire for “something for nothing”
13. Lack of a well defined power of decision
14. One or more of the six basic fear
15. Wrong selection of a mate in marriage
16. Over-caution
17. Wrong selection of associates in business
18. Superstition and prejudice
19. Wrong selection of a vocation
20. Lack of concentration of effort
21. The habit of indiscriminate spending
22. Lack of enthusiasm
23. Intolerance
24. Intemperance
25. Inability to cooperate with others
26. Possession of power that was not acquired through self effort
27. Intentional dishonesty
28. Egotism and vanity
29. Guessing instead of thinking
30. Lack of capital
31. Name any particular cause of failure from which you have suffered that has not been included in the foregoing list

Relationship of Achievement to Highly Developed Sex Natures

1. The men of greatest achievement are men with highly developed sex natures: men who have learned the art of sex transmutation.
2. The men who have accumulated great fortunes and achieved outstanding recognition in literature, art, industry, architecture, and the professions, were motivated by the influence of a woman.

The Ten Stimuli of the Mind

1. The desire for sex expression
2. Love
3. A burning desire for fame, power, or financial gain, money
4. Music
5. Friendship between either those of the same sex, or those of the opposite sex
6. A Master Mind alliance based upon the harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement
7. Mutual suffering, such as that experienced by people who are persecuted
8. Autosuggestion
9. Fear
10. Narcotics and alcohol

Where “Hunches” Come From.

1. Infinite Intelligence
2. One’s subconscious mind, wherein is stored every sense impression and thought impulse which ever reached the brain through any of the five senses
3. From the mind of some other person who has just released the thought, or picture of the idea or concept, through conscious thought
4. From the other person’s subconscious storehouse

The Storehouse of Personal Magnetism

1. The hand-shake. The touch of the hand indicates, instantly, the presence of magnetism, or the lack of it.
2. The tone of voice. Magnetism, or sex energy, is the factor with which the voice may be colored, or made musical and charming.
3. Posture and carriage of the body. Highly sexed people move briskly, and with grace and ease.
4. The vibrations of thought. Highly sexed people mix the emotion of sex with their thoughts, or may do so at will, and in that way, may influence those around them.
5. Body adornment. People who are highly sexed are usually very careful about their persoanl appearance. They usually select clothing of a style becoming to their personality, physique, complexion, etc.

Man’s greatest motivating force is his desire to please woman!

The Seven Major Positive Emotions

The emotion of:

1. Desire
2. Faith
3. Love
4. Sex
5. Enthusiasm
6. Romance
7. Hope

The Seven Major Negative Emotions (To Be Avoided)

The emotion of:

1. Fear
2. Jealousy
3. Hatred
4. Revenge
5. Greed
6. Superstition
7. Anger

The Six Basic Fears (in order of their most common appearance – and symptoms of the fear)

1. The fear of poverty – Symptoms: Indifference, Indecision, Doubt, Worry, Over-Caution, Procrastination
2. The fear of criticism – Symptoms: Self-Consciousness, Lack of poise, Personality, Inferiority Complex, Extravagance, Lack of initiative, Lack of ambition
3. The fear of ill health – Symptoms: Autosuggestion, Hypochondria, Exercise, Susceptibility, Self-Coddling, Intemperance
4. The fear of loss of love of someone – Symptoms: Jealousy, Fault finding, Gambling
5. The fear of old age – Symptoms: Falsely believing one is ’slipping’, speaking apologetically to one’s self as ‘being old’, killing off initiative, imagination, and self-reliance
6. The fear of death – Symptoms: Thinking about dying instead of making the most out of life,
7. (there is one more but it isn’t a part of the six basic fears because it’s so subtle let’s call it…) The susceptibility to negative influence

All other fears are of minor importance; they can be grouped under these six headings. Fears are nothing more than states if mind. One’s state of mind is subject to control and direction.

Self-Analysis Test Questions

To aid those who wish to see themselves as they really are, the following list of questions has been prepared. Read the questions and state your answers aloud, so you can hear you own voice. This will make it easier for you to be truthful with yourself.

• Do you complain often of “feeling bad,” and if so, what is the cause?
• Do you find fault with other people at the slightest provocation?
• Do you frequently make mistakes in your work, and if so, why?
• Are you sarcastic and offensive in your conversation?
• Do you deliberately avoid the association of anyone, and if so, why?
• Do you suffer frequently with indigestion? If so, what is the cause?
• Does life seem futile and the future hopeless to you?
• Do you like your occupation? If not, why?
• Do you often feel self-pity, and if so, why?
• Are you envious of those who excel you?
• To which do you devote most time, thinking of success, or of failure?
• Are you gaining or losing self-confidence as you grow older?
• Do you learn something of value from all mistakes?
• Are you permitting some relative or acquaintance to worry you? If so, why?
• Are you sometimes “in the clouds” and at other times in the depth of despondency?
• Who has the most inspiring influence upon you? What is the cause?
• Do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences which you can avoid?
• Are you careless of your personal appearance? If so, when and why?
• Have you learned how to “drown your troubles” by being too busy to be annoyed by them?
• Would you cal yourself a “spineless weakling” if you permitted others to do your thinking for you?
• Do you neglect internal bathing until auto-intoxication makes you ill-tempered and irritable?
• How many preventable disturbances annoy you, and why do you tolerate them?
• Do you resort to liquor, narcotics, or cigarettes to “quiet your nerves?” If so, why do you not try will-power instead?
• Does anyone “nag” you, and if so, for what reason?
• Do you have a definite major purpose, and if so, what is it, and what plan do you have for achieving it?
• Do you suffer from any of the Six Basic Fears? If so, which ones?
• Have you a method by which you can shield yourself against the negative influence of others?
• Do you make deliberate use of autosuggestion to make your mind positive?
• Which do you value most, your material possessions, or your privilege of controlling your own thoughts?
• Are you easily influenced by others, against your own judgement?
• Has today added anything of value to your stock of knowledge or state of mind?
• Do you face squarely the circumstances which make you unhappy, or sidestep the responsibility?
• Do you analyze all mistakes and failures and try to profit by them or, do you take the attitude that this is not your duty?
• Can you name three of your most damaging weaknesses? What are you doing to correct them?
• Do you encourage other people to bring their worries to you for sympathy?
• Do you choose, from your daily experiences, lessons or influences which aid in your personal advancement?
• Does your presence have a negative influence on other people as a rule?
• What habits of other people annoy you most?
• Do you form your own opinions or permit yourself to be influenced by other people?
• Have you learned how to create a mental state of mind with which you can shield yourself against all discouraging influences?
• Does your occupation inspire you with faith and hope?
• Are you conscious of possessing spiritual forces of sufficient power to enable you to keep your mind free from all forms of fear?
• Does your religion help to keep your mind positive?
• Do you feel it your duty to share other people’s worries? If so, why?
• If you believe that “‘birds of a feather flock together,” what have you learned about yourself by studying the friends whom you attract?
• What connection, if any, do you see between the people with whom you associate most closely, and any unhappiness you may experience?
• Could it be possible that some person whom you consider to be a friend is, in reality, your worst enemy, because of his negative influence on your mind?
• By what rules do you judge who is helpful and who is damaging to you?
• Are your intimate associates mentally superior or inferior to you?
• How much time out of every 24 hours do you devote to: your occupation, sleep, play and relaxation, acquiring useful knowledge, plain waste?
• Who among your acquaintances: encourages you most, cautions you most, discourages you most?
• What is your greatest worry? Why do you tolerate it?
• When others offer you free, unsolicited advice, do you accept it without question, or analyze their motive?
• What, above all else, do you most desire? Do you intend to acquire it? Are you willing to subordinate all other desires for this one? How much time daily do you devote to acquiring it?
• Do you change you mind often? If so, why?
• Do you usually finish everything you begin?
• Are you easily impressed by other people’s business or professional titles, college degrees, or wealth?
• Are you easily influenced by what other people think or say of you?
• Do you cater to people because of their social or financial status?
• Whom do you believe to be the greatest person living? In what respect is this person superior to yourself?
• How much time have you devoted to studying and answering these questions? (At least one day is necessary for the analysis and the answering of the entire list.)

If you have answered all these questions truthfully, you know more about yourself than the majority of people. Study the questions carefully, come back to them once each week for several months, and be astounded at the amount of additional knowledge of great value to yourself you will have gained by the simple method of answering the questions truthfully. If you are not certain concerning the answers to some of the questions, seek the counsel of those who know you well, especially those who have no motive in flattering you, and see yourself through their eyes. The experience will be astonishing.

“Fifty-Five” Famous Alibis by Old Man IF

People who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.

• IF I didn’t have a wife and family . . .
• IF I had enough “pull” . . .
• IF I had money . . .
• IF I had a good education . . .
• IF I could get a job . . .
• IF I had good health . . .
• IF I only had time . . .
• IF times were better . . .
• IF other people understood me . . .
• IF conditions around me were only different . . .
• IF I could live my life over again . . .
• IF I did not fear what “they” would say . . .
• IF I had been given a chance . . .
• IF I now had a chance . . .
• IF other people didn’t “have it in for me” . . .
• IF nothing happens to stop me . . .
• IF I were only younger . . .
• IF I could only do what I want . . .
• IF I had been born rich . . .
• IF I could meet “the right people” . . .
• IF I had the talent that some people have . . .
• IF I dared assert myself . . .
• IF I only had embraced past opportunities . . .
• IF people didn’t get on my nerves . . .
• IF I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children . . .
• IF I could save some money . . .
• IF the boss only appreciated me . . .
• IF I only had somebody to help me . . .
• IF my family understood me . . .
• IF I lived in a big city . . .
• IF I could just get started . . .
• IF I were only free . . .
• IF I had the personality of some people . . .
• IF I were not so fat . . .
• IF my talents were known . . .
• IF I could just get a “break” . . .
• IF I could only get out of debt . . .
• IF I hadn’t failed . . .
• IF I only knew how . . .
• IF everybody didn’t oppose me . . .
• IF I didn’t have so many worries . . .
• IF I could marry the right person . . .
• IF people weren’t so dumb . . .
• IF my family were not so extravagant . . .
• IF I were sure of myself . . .
• IF luck were not against me . . .
• IF I had not been born under the wrong star . . .
• IF it were not true that “what is to be will be” . . .
• IF I did not have to work so hard . . .
• IF I hadn’t lost my money . . .
• IF I lived in a different neighborhood . . .
• IF I didn’t have a “past” . . .
• IF I only had a business of my own . . .
• IF other people would only listen to me . . .
• IF * * * and this is the greatest of them all . . . if I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me, and correct it. Then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others, for I know that there is something wrong with me, or I would now be where I would have been if I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them.