Napoleon Hill, author of this 1930s classic, advises about careers, life and love. This book is a wonderful collection of tips – many based on the ideas of Hill’s mentor Andrew Carnegie – that range from the practical (how to prepare a résumé) to surprisingly New Age-like mystical talk about the infinite powers of the universe.
Your thoughts are a secret wealth generator.
Desire, hopes and strategies increase wealth.
Develop faith in your ability to succeed by telling yourself that you will triumph.
You don’t need higher education to earn higher degrees of knowledge and wealth.
Create vivid mental portraits of your success. Imagination is the “workshop of the mind.”
To maximize your abilities, work with a great team. Make it your “master mind.”
Don’t let short-term failure seduce you. Success often lurks in the shadows.
Remain committed to your goals and your mission statement
Summary of 1-3 above:
1. Your thoughts are a secret wealth generator.
Hill studied the habits and philosophies of hundreds of corporate stars. This includes Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, F. W. Woolworth and many other names who built large fortunes based on Dale Carnegie’s wisdom. It begins with this simple idea:
Your thoughts are real objects! With passion and purpose, your thoughts can evolve into wealth.
“One comes, finally, to believe whatever one repeats to one’s self, whether the statement be true or false…Every man is what he is because of the dominating thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind.”
Edwin C. Barnes demonstrates this principle. Barnes – an impoverished “nobody” – passionately wanted to launch a partnership with Thomas Edison, the great inventor. Barnes did not know Edison and could barely afford transportation to Edison’s office. At their initial encounter, Edison said Barnes looked like an “ordinary tramp.” But behind that rundown appearance, Edison detected a spark of promise and determination that prompted him to offer Barnes a low-paying job. Barnes seized this unexpected opportunity. Naysayers had rejected the “Edison Dictating Machine,” but Barnes had faith in it. He used it as a vehicle to launch his successful partnership with Edison. Barnes created material success from abstract thoughts, based on faith, determination and persistence.
2. Desire, hopes and strategies increase wealth.
If your goal is to become rich, don’t just wish for your dreams to come true. Desire is “the starting point of all achievement,” but to bring it to fruition, commit yourself to executing a plan to attain your objective. To create wealth from desire, follow this six-step plan:
a. Take a mental snapshot of the amount of money you seek. Name a number.
b. Name your price. What are you willing to do for the money?
c. Create a deadline. Fix a date by which you will achieve your goals.
d. Start a task sheet with a definite strategy. Start now.
e. Write a brief mission statement.
f. Make a declaration: Twice a day, read your mission statement aloud.
Dreams are not just thin air. Edison had dreams of inventing an electrical lamp. He created thousands of failed prototypes before succeeding.
“I believe in the power of desire backed by faith, because I have seen this power lift men from lowly beginnings to places of power and wealth.”
Other dreamers have overcome major obstacles. Beethoven composed music despite his deafness; Milton, the writer, was blind. Author Helen Keller was blind and deaf. But lit by the fire of desire, they worked on their goals and achieved epic greatness.
3. Develop faith in your ability to succeed by telling yourself that you will triumph.
Faith is the “visualization of and belief in the attainment of desire.” With the right tools, you can fill your mind with success or failure. Recite your mission statement daily to prepare your mind for success. This process, called “autosuggestion,” sows the seeds of mental success. It works because your mind will believe almost anything (true or not) that you tell yourself repeatedly. Dangerous thoughts also can take root in the mind-field. Doubt, fear and negative emotions can blight your success and uproot the fruits of your labor.
“Faith is the starting point of all accumulation of riches.”
Autosuggestion is a dose of self-talk delivered to your subconscious mind via your five senses, the roadways from your conscious mind to your unconsciousness. Be warned that this does not work if you operate on automatic pilot. Feel the message. Jumping from printed words to passionate feelings is not easy. Make the leap by focusing on a fixed item. Close your eyes. Create a mental snapshot of the money you want to earn. View it daily.
To visualize your goals, use the six steps above in tandem with this three-stage program:
a. Retreat to a quiet location with freedom from distractions – Find a peaceful environment for daily renewal, review and recitation of your goals. Create mindful pictures of monetary success, possessions and achievement. Visualize your date with success. Be specific: On December 25, 2025, I will celebrate my financial independence.
b. Take a daily double dose of faith – Apply this program every morning and evening. Don’t stop until you achieve your financial goal.
c. Look at your mission statement twice daily – Seeing is believing. Read your mission statement first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
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