Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich is one of the most popular classics on personal development.  It is on every prescribed reading list and is recommended by greats such as Jim Rohn, Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield.  It should come as no surprise that it is also on the Dollar Success Club recommended reading list.

The premise of Think and Grow Rich is that, “All achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.”  An idea is a form of thought, hence the title, “Think and Grow Rich”. Napoleon Hill, who, prior to writing Think and Grow Rich, had interviewed more than 500 influential men and women of his time, reveals a powerful thirteen step formula to help you achieve major success.

The book asserts that when a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his future for its accomplishment, he is sure to win.  This white-heat of desire is born from thought. 

In order to achieve great wealth, you must translate your thoughts into a definite purpose.  This purpose can be transmuted into its physical equivalent by the application of known principles. 

These principles are explained in detail in this timeless classic…

Napoleon Hill claims that all riches begin with a state of mind.  He says one cannot attain success unless they become “success conscious”.  Desire is the starting point of this “success-consciousness”.  Desire is knowing exactly what you want.  He shares the six steps you must take to turn your desire into wealth.  He says, “No more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty.”

Napoleon Hill notes that any idea may be placed in the mind by repetition of thought.  So if you keep repeating positive and empowering thoughts to yourself, if you affirm positive messages about yourself and your desires and abilities, you will create a positive image of yourself, and thus have the confidence to go after the things you want with courage and conviction.  “Riches begin in the form of thought”, as he puts it.  He says, “Autosuggestion, or affirmations, will pull you up or pull you down according to the way you set your sails of thought.”  Positive affirmations build your faith.  Faith gives you courage to turn your desire into its financial equivalent.

What I like about Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich is that he acknowledges the value of taking action.  Unlike “the Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, which claims that positive thought is all you need to create a life of wealth, health and happiness, Napoleon says, “Knowledge and thought will not attract money unless it is organised and intelligently directed through practical plans of ACTION to the definite end of the accumulation of money.”  The accumulation of money requires both the mental and practical application of renowned success principles.  Mr. Hill, although he does not discount the value of education, says, “The person who can organise and direct a “mastermind” group of people who possess knowledge useful in the accumulation of money is just as much an educated person as anyone in the group.”

Napoleon says that your imagination becomes weaker and weaker through inaction.  To keep your mind alert, you must use it constantly. Imagination is the faculty through which all great ideas are born.  Revolutionary ideas are an essential requirement for business and personal success. They help you stay ahead of the competition.

Success doesn’t happen in isolation.  You need to build a team in order to achieve anything worthwhile.  No one has sufficient experience, education, natural ability and knowledge to ensure the accumulation of a great fortune without the cooperation of other people.

Napoleon Hill gives you eleven major attributes of a powerful leader.  Plus the ten courses of failure that you need to look out for.

Think and Grow Rich also contains some advice on how to draft a powerful CV (resume).  It details the exact action steps you must take to get the job of your dreams. 

Napoleon Hill also shares the 30 major causes of failure that may be holding you back.  Among these are: Lack of a well-defined purpose, lack of self-discipline, negative personality, wrong selection of a mate in marriage, and procrastination, among a host of other undesirable characteristics.

There’s also a self-analysis questionnaire to help you determine the areas of your life you need to improve in order to truly build sustainable wealth.

There is a lot of useful information contained in Think and Grow Rich.  The main aim of the book is to show you that the external environment is not sufficient to hold you back from becoming rich, not without your consent.  It tells us that wealth creation is largely an inner-game.

Your thoughts and beliefs are the foundation of thinking and growing rich.  You cannot master the environment, you cannot master the external world unless you master yourself.  Master your thoughts and then you will be in a position to build tremendous wealth.  Speak positively to, and about, yourself.  These affirmations will build your faith.

Thoughts, however, are not sufficient. 

Napoleon writes, “Deeds, and not words are what count most.”

After reading Think and Grow Rich you will understand

why it has become the number one recommended book

for personal development and wealth creation.

Note also that your actions are a reflection of your thoughts. 

If you constantly entertain negative thoughts,

you will most likely produce negative actions and negative results.

In conclusion, Napoleon writes,

“If you fail to control your own mind,

you may be sure you will control nothing else!”

Think and Grow Rich is powerful Stuff.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.