Think and Grow Rich - The Ultimate Blueprint for Success

Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a timeless guide that teaches people how to be successful and have abundance in all areas of life. Hill distinguishes "riches" from "money," which is simply a tool to getting material things. Hill defines "riches" as not just having a lot of money, but also having a positive state of mind that everyone is born with, having meaningful and fulfilling relationships, having access to education, feeling hopeful and having faith.

The book is based on Hill's extensive 20-year-long research and interviews with hundreds of successful individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and many others. Hill's quest for knowledge began when he was commissioned by Carnegie to interview successful individuals and analyze their success.

At the turn of the 20th century, Andrew Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in the world, with a net worth of over $350 billion in today's (2023) value. However, his humble beginnings started in poverty in Scotland, where he migrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. His family struggled financially, leading him to start working at the age of 13 in a cotton factory. He continued to work odd jobs before eventually becoming a manager and superintendent at the Pennsylvania Railroad. He used his position to invest in several businesses, including iron and steel mills, which propelled him to become one of the richest men in the world. This was a rags to insane riches story.

Carnegie believed that success required specific traits and habits, beyond just hard work. He asked Napoleon Hill, an ambitious journalist, to document these principles of success. In exchange, Carnegie promised to introduce Hill to America's 500 wealthiest people.

Hill spent over 20 years analyzing successful individuals, identifying their habits and thought processes. He compiled his findings into the 13 principles of success, which are detailed in Think and Grow Rich. The book offers practical advice and insights to those striving to reach their goals. In this discussion, I will share insights from the first two chapters, with more to come as I continue reading.

Of the 13 principles, Hill believed that the starting point of all achievement is a burning desire to succeed - DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning DESIRE to possess it.?He argues that desire is the key to unlocking one's potential and that without it, success is impossible.

Hill provides several examples of individuals who have achieved great success through their burning desire for a specific goal. He emphasizes that this desire must be a "definite purpose" that is backed by an unwavering faith in oneself and one's ability to achieve the goal. He also notes that desire is not merely a wish or a hope but a burning obsession that consumes one's thoughts and actions.

Hill then discusses the role of the subconscious mind in achieving success. He suggests that the subconscious mind is the most powerful tool in achieving one's desires and that it must be properly aligned with one's conscious mind. He argues that positive affirmations and visualization are powerful tools in programming the subconscious mind towards one's goals.

Imagine it is money that you desire (you can also desire any other RICHES). According to Hill, the six steps to programming your subconscious mind to achieving one's definite purpose are as follows.

First. 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. (There is a psychological reason for definiteness which I'll share in a subsequent post).

Second. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as "something for nothing.")

Third. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.

Fourth. 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.

Fifth. 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.

Sixth. 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.?

In the first two chapters, Hill stresses the importance of mindset, visualization, and persistence, and provides numerous examples and stories of individuals who have achieved success through these principles.

One of the most powerful stories in the book is that of Edwin C. Barnes, a young man who had a burning desire to become business partners with Thomas A. Edison. Barnes did not just wish for this goal, he made a plan to achieve it, and he burned all bridges behind him to ensure that he would succeed.

Barnes had no money, no relevant experience, and no personal connections to Edison, but he had a definite purpose and a burning desire to achieve it. He traveled to Edison's office, and despite being initially rebuffed, he refused to leave until he secured a meeting with Edison. When he finally met with Edison, Barnes presented himself as a business partner rather than a job seeker, and Edison was impressed with his determination and boldness.

Edison recognized that Barnes possessed the traits he was looking for in a business partner and hired him on a trial basis. Barnes worked tirelessly, often for little or no pay, and proved his worth to Edison. Within a few years, Barnes had become Edison's business partner and had achieved the success he had dreamed of.

The story of Edwin C. Barnes and the many other examples and stories in the book illustrate the power of having a definite purpose, and the importance of mindset, visualization, and persistence. By following the principles outlined in Think and Grow Rich anyone can achieve their goals and live a life of abundance and success. Stay tuned for insights from the other chapters. I highly recommend reading the book yourself.

Here is a free pdf - https://www.pdfdrive.com/think-and-grow-rich-e19596336.html

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