Book

THINK AND GROW RICH

Quotes Throughout the Book to Keep Top of Mind:

within the Author’s Preface to the Original Edition, Napoleon Hill, 1937

“This book contains the secret, which has been put to a practical test by thousands of people from almost every walk of life. It was Mr. Carnegie’s idea that the magic formula, which gave him a stupendous fortune, ought to be placed with reach of people who do not have time to investigate how people make money.”
“The secret to which I refer has been mentioned no fewer than a hundred times throughout this book. It has not been directly named, for it seems to work more successfully when it is merely uncovered and left in sight, where those who are ready and searching for it may pick it up.”
“President Wilson told me it was a strong factor in raising the funds needed for the war.”
“There is no such thing as SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.”
“Somewhere, as you read, the secret to which I refer will jump from the page and stand boldly before you, if you are ready for it.”
“It is this — all achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea!”

From the rest of the books contents

“Psychologists have corrected said, ‘When one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in its appearance.” — pg. 3
“He had no money to begin with. He had but little education. He had no influence. But he did have initiative, faith, and the will to win.” — pg. 4
“…. Become so determined to have it that you convince yourself you will have it.” — pg. 23
“Barnes succeeded because he chose a definite goal , and placed all his energy, all his willpower, and all his effort into achieving that goal.” — pg. 20
“To everyone, except himself, he appeared only another cog in the Edison business wheel, but in his own mind he was the partner of Edison every minute of the time, from the very day he first went to work there.” — pg. 20
Creating a plan: “he created a plan by which to attain that purpose. But he burned all bridges behind him. He stood by his desire until it became the dominating obsession of his life, and finally, a fact.” — pg. 20
“…. Become so determined to have it that you convince yourself you will have it.” — pg. 23
“if you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.” — pg. 24
“NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A TIME MORE FAVORABLE TO PIONEERS THAN THE PRESENT. THERE IS A VAST BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL WORLD TO BE REMOLDED AND REDIRECTED ALONG NEW AND BETTER LINES.” — pg. 25
“SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES, FAILURE PERMITS NO ALIBIS.” — pg. 25
“The world is filled with an abundance of opportunity.” — pg. 27
“Faith is the head chemist of the mind.” — pg. 45
“Faith, love, and sex are the most powerful of all the major positive emotions.” — pg. 45
Faith: “Almost as difficult, in fact, as it would be to describe the color of red to a blind man.” — pg. 46
“Convince the subconscious mind that you believe you will receive what you ask for. It will act upon that belief, passing back to you in the form of faith, followed by definite plans for procuring your goal.” — pg. 46
“The ether is a great cosmic mass of eternal forces of vibration: both destructive vibrations and constructive vibrations.” — pg. 50
“…the law of autosuggestion will lift you up or pull you down according to the way you set your sails of thought.” — pg. 54
“There are no limitations to the mind, except those we acknowledge. Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.” — pg. 68

Notes:

2 MAJOR TAKEAWAYS from this Book:

Ch. 1 Notes — The Power of Thought:

“thoughts are things….” — pg. 1

“and powerful things at that, when mixed with purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches or other materials objects.” — pg. 1

The story of Edwin C. Barnes

“He wanted to work with Edison, not for him.”
“Two difficulties stood in his way”

He did not know Mr. Edison
He did not have enough money to pay his rail fare to Orange, New Jersey

“…that when a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win… he had made up his mind to stand by until he succeeded.” — pg. 2
“He was constantly intensifying his desire to become the business associate of Edison.” — pg. 2

But he did say, “I came here to go into business with Edison, and I’ll accomplish this end if it takes the remainder of my life.” He meant it! — pg. 3

“When the opportunity came, it appeared in a different form, and from a different direction than Barnes had expected. That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door.” — pg. 3

`It’s often disguised as “failure” or “misfortune”

Edison had finished creating his Edison Dictating Machine (or the Ediphone).

“His salesman were not enthusiastic over the machine. They did not believe it could be sold without great effort.”
“Barnes saw his opportunity.”
“In fact, he sold it so successfully that Edison gave him a contract to distribute and market it all over the nation.”

BARNES LITERALLY THOUGHT AND GREW RICH. HE LITERALLY “thought his way into partnership with the great Edison!”
“He had no money to begin with. He had but little education. He had no influence. But he did have initiative, faith, and the will to win.” — pg. 4

“Psychologists have corrected said, ‘When one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in its appearance.” — pg. 3

Ch. 2 Notes — Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement:

(The First Step to Riches)

Edwin C. Barnes desire was not just hope, or a wish, or anything else. It was simply, punctually a pulsating desire, which transcended everything else. It was definite.
“Barnes succeeded because he chose a definite goal , and placed all his energy, all his willpower, and all his effort into achieving that goal.” — pg. 20

“To everyone, except himself, he appeared only another cog in the Edison business wheel, but in his own mind he was the partner of Edison every minute of the time, from the very day he first went to work there.” — pg. 20

Creating a plan: “he created a plan by which to attain that purpose. But he burned all bridges behind him. He stood by his desire until it became the dominating obsession of his life, and finally, a fact.” — pg. 20

This is key: Barnes had no plan B. No retreat.

“He left himself no possible way of retreat. He had to win or perish! That is all there is to the Barnes story of success.” — pg. 21
WIN OR PERISH!

Important breakdown — every human being who understandings the purpose of money wishes for it (pg. 22):

Desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession
Planning definite ways and means to acquire riches
Backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure
All of this, step by step, will bring riches

The method by which desire for riches can be transmuted into its financial equivalent consists of six definite, practical steps (pg. 22):

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 will be described in a subsequent chapter.)
Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as “something for nothing.”)
Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
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.
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.
Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after rising in morning. AS YOU READ, SEE , and FEEL AND BELIEVE YOURSELF ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF THE MONEY

“…. Become so determined to have it that you convince yourself you will have it.” — pg. 23

Become money conscious…. and you will be sure to accumulate riches.

“if you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.” — pg. 24

THIS → “NEVER HAS THERE BEEN A TIME MORE FAVORABLE TO PIONEERS THAN THE PRESENT. THERE IS A VAST BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, AND INDUSTRIAL WORLD TO BE REMOLDED AND REDIRECTED ALONG NEW AND BETTER LINES.” — pg. 25

Columbus staked his existence on an unknown world
Copernicus did the same
Henry Ford, poor and uneducated, pioneered the auto-industry
Thomas Edison persisted through 10,000 failures until his dream become a reality
Ray Croc didn’t stop until his vision reached the masses
John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress after he had been confined in prison and sorely punished because of his religious views
Helen Keller
Robert Burns
Booker T. Washington
Beethoven
Milton
Arnold Schwarzenegger

“SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES, FAILURE PERMITS NO ALIBIS.” — pg. 25

“The world is filled with an abundance of opportunity.” — pg. 27

If you have “a working knowledge of the principles described, you are ready for it.” — pg. 30

Mary Kay and her article titled Personal Excellence:

IMAGINE YOURSELF SUCCESSFUL
REFLECT ON YOUR PAST SUCCESSES
SET DEFINITE GOALS
RESPOND POSITIVELY TO LIFE

“Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds.” — pg. 33

“Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage.” — pg. 35

How Napoleon Hill helped his son to go from deaf to hearing:

First, he MIXED FAITH with the DESIRE for normal hearing, which he passed to his son
Second, he communicated his desire to his son in every conceivable way available, through persistent, continuous effort, over a period of years
Third, HIS SON BELIEVED HIM

Ch. 3 Notes — Faith: Visualizing and Believing in the Attainment of Desire:

(The Second Step to Riches)

“Faith is the head chemist of the mind.” — pg. 45
“Faith, love, and sex are the most powerful of all the major positive emotions.” — pg. 45

Autosuggestion

Faith: “Almost as difficult, in fact, as it would be to describe the color of red to a blind man.” — pg. 46

“Convince the subconscious mind that you believe you will receive what you ask for. It will act upon that belief, passing back to you in the form of faith, followed by definite plans for procuring your goal.” — pg. 46

ALL THOUGHTS WHICH HAVE BEEN EMOTIONALIZED (given feeling) AND MIXED WITH FAITH begin immediately to translate themselves into their physical equivalent or counterpart.

FAITH is:

FAITH is the “eternal elixir” which gives life, power and action to the impulse of thought!
FAITH is the starting point of all accumulation of riches!
FAITH is the basis of all “miracles” and mysteries that cannot be analyzed by the rules of science!
FAITH is the only known antidote to FAILURE!
FAITH is the element, the “chemical” which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence
FAITH is the element that transforms the ordinary vibration of thought, created by the finite mind of man, into the spiritual equivalent
FAITH is the only agency through which the cosmic force of Infinite Intelligence can be harnessed and used

THOUGHTS WHICH ARE MIXED WITH ANY OF THE FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS CONSTITUTE A “MAGNETIC” FORCE WHICH ATTRACTS, FROM THE VIBRATIONS OF THE ETHER, OTHER SIMILAR OR RELATED THOUGHTS.

“The ether is a great cosmic mass of eternal forces of vibration: both destructive vibrations and constructive vibrations.” — pg. 50

Self-confidence Formula (verbatim):

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 towards its attainment, and I here and now promise to take such action.
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 30 minutes daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.
I know through the principle of autosuggestion that any desire I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object. Therefore I will devote 10 minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.
I have clearly written down a description of my Definite Chief Aim in life. I will never stop trying until I have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.
I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice. Therefore I will engage in no transaction that 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 peope. 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 towards 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.

“…the law of autosuggestion will lift you up or pull you down according to the way you set your sails of thought.” — pg. 54

If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost For out of the world we find, Success begins with a person’s will — It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are, You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger of faster man But soon or late the one who wins Is the one WHO THINKS HE CAN!

Abraham Lincoln was a failure at everything he tried until he was well past the age of 40.

Example of Think and Grow Rich principles being applied (pg. 58):

Idea — First, the huge United States Steel Corporation was born in the mind of Charles M. Schwab, in the form of an idea he created through his imagination
Faith — Second, he mixed faith with his idea
Plan — Third, he formulated a plan for the transformation of his idea into physical and financial reality
Action — Fourth, he put his plan into action with his famous speech at the University Club
Persist — Fifth, he applied and followed through on his plan with persistence, and backed it with firm decision until it had been fully carried out
Desire — Sixth, he prepared the way for success by a burning desire for success

“There are no limitations to the mind, except those we acknowledge. Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.” — pg. 68

Ch. 4 Notes — Autosuggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind:

(The Third Step to Riches)

“Autosuggestion is self-suggestion.” — pg. 69
“NO THOUGHT, whether it is negative or positive, CAN ENTER THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND WITHOUT THE AID OF THE PRINCIPLE OF AUTOSUGGESTION.” — pg. 69
“…all sense impressions which are perceived through the five senses are stopped by the conscious thinking mind, and may be either passed on to the subconscious mind or rejected at will.” — pg. 70
“….to read aloud twice daily the written statement of your desire for money, and to see and feel yourself already in possession of the money. By following these instructions, you communicate the object of your desire directly to your subconscious mind in a spirit of absolute faith. Through repetition of this procedure, you voluntarily, create thought habits favorable to your efforts to transmute desire into its monetary equivalent.” — pg. 70

This is also why prayer is so powerful: pg. 71 says, “that the mere reading of the words is of no consequence unless you mix emotion, or feeling, with your words.”

IMPORTANT: “You, and you alone, must decide whether or not the reward for which you are striving (the “money consciousness”) is worth the price you must pay for it in effort.” — pg. 72
autosuggestion “will depend, very largely, upon your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning obsession.” — pg. 72

“Do not trust your “reason” when creating your plan. Your reason is faulty….. when visualizing the money you intend to accumulate (with closed eyes), see yourself rendering the service, or delivering the merchandise you intend to give in return for this money. This is important.” — pg. 73

SUMMARY OF INSTRUCTIONS:

Go into some quiet spot. Close your eyes and repeat aloud 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.
Repeat this program night and morning until you can see (in your imagination) the money you intend to accumulate.
Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it night and morning. Read it just before retiring and upon rising until it has been memorized.

** “subconscious mind will act only upon instructions that are emotionalized and handed over to it with ‘feeling’. Faith is the strongest and most productive of the emotions.” ** — pg. 75
** “The instructions contained in this chapter must be understood and applied with persistence if you are to succeed in transmuting desire into money.” ** — pg. 76
** “Carry out these instructions as though you were a small child. Inject into your efforts something of the faith of a child.” ** — pg. 76

Ch. 5 Notes — Specialized Knowledge: Personal Experiences of Observations:

(The Fourth Step to Riches)

“There are two kinds of knowledge. One is general, the other is specialized.” — pg. 79

Pg. 84: “Successful people, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialized knowledge related to their major purpose, business, or profession.”

** “Knowledge will not attract money unless it is organized and intelligently directed through practical plans of action to the definite end of accumulation of money.” — pg. 79/80

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.

“Educated people have developed the faculties of their minds so that they may acquire anything they want, or its equivalent, without violating the rights of others.“ — pg. 80

pg. 81: “…. Through the assistance of his “Master Mind” group.”

** Specialized knowledge + imagination = the main ingredients. pg. 87

** “All the world loves a winner and has no time for a loser.” — pg. 91

“….that we rise to high positions or remain at the bottom because of conditions we can control if we desire to control them.” — pg. 92

“Truly, there is something to the idea that hero-worship is helpful, provided one worships a winner….” — pg. 92

THE BOTTOM + THE TOP (pg. 93-96):

The bottom is a monotonous, dreary unprofitable place for my person…. proper planning may circumvent lowly beginnings.
When the economy slows down and jobs become scarce, a means of creating newer and better ways of marketing our services is needed.
The sum paid out monthly to people who work for wages and salaries is so huge that it runs into hundreds of millions, and the annual distribution amounts to billions.

“There is no fixed price for sound ideas!” — pg. 95

Ch. 6 Notes — Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind:

(The Fifth Step to Riches)

Desire is given shape, form, and action through the aid of imagination.

WE HAVE (pg. 97):

We have conquered the air so completely that the birds are a poor match for us in flying.
We have harnessed the ether, and made it serve as a means of instantaneous communication with any part of the world.
We have discovered that our own brain is both a broadcasting and a receiving station for the vibration of thought, and we are beginning now to learn how to make practical use of this discovery

TWO FORMS OF IMAGINATION (pg. 98):

SYNTHETIC IMAGINATION: “Through this faculty one may arrange old concepts, ideas or plans into new combinations. This faculty creates nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation with which it is fed.
CREATIVE IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of creative imagination, the finite mind of humankind has direct communication with Infinite Intelligence.

“And it is through this faculty that one individual may “tune in to”, or communicate with the subconscious minds of others.”
“This faculty functions only when the conscious mind is vibrating at an exceedingly rapid rate…. when the conscious mind is stimulated through the emotion of a strong desire.”
Master, assimilate, and act on making use of all these principles. An engine of a car needs use. If it does not get used, it rusts and decays. Same goes with your mind.

** “Put your plan in writing, if you have not already done so. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire. Read the preceding sentence once more. Read it aloud, very slowly.” — pg. 100

ENERGY + MATTER (pg. 100-101):

“As far as science has been able to determine, the entire universe consists of but two elements—matter and energy. Through the combination of energy and matter has been created everything perceptible, from the largest star that floats in the heavens down to and including humankind.”
“You are (sincerely and earnestly, we hope) trying to adapt yourself to Nature’s laws by endeavoring to convert desire into its physical and monetary equivalent. YOU CAN DO IT! IT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE!”
“You can build a fortune through the aid of immutable laws…. Through repetition….. the ‘secret’ is not a secret.”

“Nature, herself, advertises it on the earth on which we live, the stars, the planets suspended within our view, in the elements above and around us, in every blade of grass and every form of life within our vision.”
“Nature advertises this ‘secret’ in the terms of biology…..”

PRACTICAL USES OF IMAGINATION

** Ideas = beginning points of all fortunes. Ideas are products of the imagination. **

The Enchanted Kettle

The story of a doctor who sold a clerk a kettle for $500 — the entire clerk’s savings. When this happened, the doctor handed over a small slip of paper on which was written a secret formula. What the clerk really purchased was an idea! That idea was formed into “Coca-Cola”. Its vast empire of wealth and influence grew out of a single idea, and that the mysterious ingredient the drug clerk—Asa Chandler— mixed with the secret formula was…. imagination!

“Truly, thoughts are things, and their scope of operation is the world itself.” — pg. 105

What I Would Do If I Had a Million Dollars

“where there’s a will, there’s a way” — pg. 105
The story of educator and clergyman, Frank W. Gunsaulus, who began his preaching career in the stockyards region of South Chicago. His deepest desire was to become the directing head of an educational institution in which young men and women would be taught to “learn by doing”. But he initially couldn’t make any progress. That was until he set himself a timeline. This began to spur his thought processes even more, and led him to produce a sermon: “I went to work on the sermon immediately. I must tell you, frankly, the task was not difficult because I had been preparing that sermon for almost two years.” Furthermore, he went on to say, “Long before midnight I had finished writing the sermon. I went to bed and slept with a feeling of confidence, for I could see myself already in possession of the million dollars.”

The story goes on: “In my excitement, I walked out without my sermon, and did not discover my oversight until I was in my pulpit and about ready to begin delivering it.” He continues saying, “When I arose to begin my sermon, I closed my eyes and spoke with all my heart and soul of my dreams. I not only talked to my audience, but I fancy I talked also to God.”
When he finished the sermon, a man by the name of Phillip D. Armour came up to him and said, “….if you will come to my office tomorrow morning, I will give you the million dollars.”

** “OBSERVE THIS IMPORTANT FACT: HE GOT THE MONEY WITHIN 36 HOURS OF REACHING A DEFINITE DECISION IN HIS OWN MIND TO GET IT, AND DECIDING UPON A DEFINITE PLAN FOR GETTING IT!” — PG. 108
** “God seems to throw Himself on the side of people who know exactly what they want, if they are determined to get just that!” — pg. 109
** “Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.” — pg. 109
“SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES, FAILURE PERMITS NO ALIBIS.”

“Creators of ideas make their own price, and, if they are smart, they get it.” — pg. 110
“The story of practically every great fortune starts with the day when a creator of ideas and a seller of ideas got together and worked in harmony. Carnegie surrounded himself with experts who could do all that he could not do.” — pg. 110

“Ideas are like that. First you give life, action, and guidance to ideas and then they take on a power of their own and sweep aside all opposition.” — pg. 111

Ch. 7 Notes — Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire into Action:

(The Sixth Step to Riches)

How to build practical plans:

Ally yourself with a group of as many people as you may need for the creation and carrying out of your plan…. “Master Mind”
Before forming your “Master Mind” alliance, decide what advantages and benefits you may offer the individual members of your group in return for their cooperation…. this may not always be in the form of money
Arrange to meet with the members of your “Master Mind” group at least twice a week…. until you have collectively perfected the necessary plan, or plans, for the accumulation of money
Maintain perfect harmony

“Every plan you adopt in your endeavor to accumulate wealth should be the collective creation of yourself and every other member of your Master Mind group…. see that those plans are checked and approved by the members of your “Master Mind” alliance.” — pg. 117

“If the first plan you adopt does not work successfully, replace it with a new plan. If this new plan fails to work, replace it, in turn, with still another, and so on until you find a plan which does work.”

Thomas Edison “failed” 10,000 times before the perfected the incandescent electric light bulb.

Henry Ford accumulated a fortune, not because of his superior mind, but because he adopted and followed a plan which proved to be sound.

James J. Hill met with temporary defeat when he first endeavored to raise the necessary capital to build a railroad from the East to the West, but he turned defeat into victory through new plans.

Henry Ford met with temporary defeat, not only at the beginning of his career, but after he had gone far toward the top.

NO FOLLOWER OF THIS PHILOSOPHY CAN REASONABLY EXPECT TO ACCUMULATE A FORTUNE WITHOUT EXPERIENCING “TEMPORARY DEFEAT.”

A QUITTER NEVER WINS—AND A WINNER NEVER QUITS.

** “Money, of itself, is nothing but inert matter.” — pg. 119

Two types of people in the world: leaders and followers

“Decide at the outset whether you intend to become a leader in your chosen calling or remain a follower. The difference in compensation is vast.”

“It is no disgrace to be a follower. On the other hand, it is no credit to remain a follower.” — pg. 119
“People who can follow a leader most efficiently are usually those who develop into leadership most rapidly. An intelligent follower has many advantages, among them the opportunity to acquire knowledge from the leader.” — pg. 119

Two forms of leadership: (1) leadership by consent (2) leadership by force

THE MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERSHIP

UNWAVERING COURAGE
SELF-CONTROL
A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE
DEFINITENESS OF DECISION
DEFINITENESS OF PLANS
THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR
A PLEASING PERSONALITY
SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING
MASTERY OF DETAIL
WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY
COOPERATION

THE 10 MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP

INABILITY TO ORGANIZE DETAILS
UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE
EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY “KNOW” INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH WHAT THEY KNOW
FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM FOLLOWERS
LACK OF IMAGINATION
SELFISHNESS
INTEMPERANCE
DISLOYALTY
EMPHASIS OF THE “AUTHORITY” OF LEADERSHIP
EMPHASIS OF TITLE

FERTILE FIELDS IN WHICH “NEW LEADERSHIP” WILL BE REQUIRED

Politics
Financial industry
Industry calls for new leaders
Religious leaders
In the professions of law, medicine, and education
Journalism

WHEN and HOW TO APPLY FOR A POSITION

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
ADVERTISING
PERSONAL LETTERS OF APPLICATION
APPLICATION THROUGH PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCES
APPLICATION IN PERSON

Information to Be Supplied in a Written CV

Education
Experience
References
Apply for a specific position
State your qualifications for the particular position for which you are applying
Offer to go to work on probation
Knowledge of your perspective employer’s business
Do not be afraid of making your CV too long

“Once the CV is completed, have it printed on the finest paper you can obtain. Carefully check the spelling and grammar.” — pg. 131
“Successful salespeople groom themselves with care. They understand the first impressions are lasting. Your CV is your sales representative. Give it a good suit of clothes so it will stand out in bold contrast to anything your prospective employer ever saw in the way of an application for a position.” — pg. 131

How to Get the Exact Position You Desire

Decide exactly what kind of job you want
Choose the company, or individual, for whom you wish to work
Study your prospective employer
By analysis of yourself, your talents and capabilities, work out what you can offer
Forget about “a job”
Once you have your plan in mind, arrange with an experienced writer to help you put it on paper in neat form, and in full detail
Present it to the proper person with authority to make the decision

What is your “QQS” Rating?

QUALITY — performance of every detail
QUANTITY — means the HABIT of giving all the service of which you are capable, at all times
SPIRIT — means the HABIT of agreeable, harmonious conduct

“The importance of a pleasing personality has been stressed because it enables one to provide service in the proper spirit.” — pg. 135
“Nothing , however, can be successfully substituted for pleasing conduct.” — pg. 135

30 MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE

UNFAVORABLE HEREDITARY BACKGROUND
LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED PURPOSE IN LIFE
LACK OF AMBITION TO AIM ABOVE MEDIOCRITY
INSUFFICIENT EDUCATION
LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
ILL HEALTH
UNFAVORABLE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES DURING CHILDHOOD

“As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow.”

PROCRASTINATION
LACK OF PERSISTENCE
NEGATIVE PERSONALITY
LACK OF CONTROLLED SEXUAL URGE
UNCONTROLLED DESIRE FOR “SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.”
LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED POWER OF DECISION
ONE OR MORE OF THE SIX BASIC FEARS
WRONG SELECTION OF A MATE IN MARRIAGE
OVER-CAUTION
WRONG SELECTION OF ASSOCIATES IN BUSINESS
SUPERSTITION AND PREJUDICE
WRONG SELECTION OF A VOCATION
LACK OF CONCENTRATION OF EFFORT
THE HABIT OF INDISCRIMINATE SPENDING
LACK OF ENTHUSIASM
INTOLERANCE
INTEMPERANCE
INABILITY TO COOPERATE WITH OTHERS
POSSESSION OF POWER NOT ACQUIRED THROUGH SELF-EFFORT
INTENTIONAL DISHONESTY
EGOTISM AND VANITY
GUESSING INSTEAD OF THINKING
LACK OF CAPITAL
Under this, name any particular cause of failure from which you have suffered that has not been included in the foregoing list.

The oldest admonition is “Know thyself!”

Take an Inventory of Yourself (28 Questions You Should Answer)

Have I attained the goal that I established as my objective for this year? (You should work with a definite yearly objective to be attained as a part of your major life objective.)
Have I delivered service of the best possible quality of which I was capable, or could I have improved any part of this service?
Have I delivered service in the greatest possible quantity of which I was capable?
Has the spirit of my conduct been harmonious and cooperative at all times?
Have I permitted the habit of procrastination to decrease my efficiency, and if so, to what extent?
Have I improved my personality, and if so, in what ways?
Have I been persistent in following my plans through to completion?
Have I reached decisions promptly and definitely on all occasions?
Have I permitted any one or more of the six basic fears (see Chapter 15) to decrease my efficiency?
Have I been either "over-cautious" or "under-cautious"?
Has my relationship with my colleagues in work been pleasant or unpleasant? If it has been unpleasant, has the fault been partly or wholly mine?
Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of concentration of effort?
Have I been open-minded and tolerant in connection with all subjects?
In what way have I improved my ability to provide service?
Have I been intemperate in any of my habits?
Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any form of egotism?
Has my conduct toward my colleagues been such that it has induced them to respect me?
Have my opinions and decisions been based upon guesswork, or accuracy of analysis and thought?
Have I followed the habit of budgeting my time, my expenses and my income, and have I been conservative in these budgets?
How much time have I devoted to unprofitable effort which I might have used to better advantage?
How may I re-budget my time and change my habits so I will be more efficient during the coming year?
Have I been guilty of any conduct that was not approved by my conscience?
In what ways have I provided more service and better service than I was paid for?
Have I been unfair to anyone, and if so, in what way?
If I had been the purchaser of my own services for the year, would I have been satisfied with my purchase?
Has the purchaser of my services been satisfied with the service I have provided, and if not, why not?
Am I in the right vocation, and if not, why not?
What is my present rating on the fundamental principles of success? (Make this rating fairly and frankly, and have it checked by someone who is courageous enough to do it accurately.)

Where and How to Find Opportunities to Accumulate Riches

The Western economy
Most of us have never taken stock of the advantages of this freedom

Freedom to choose our place of residence
Freedom to choose our thoughts
Freedom to choose our education
Freedom to choose our religion
Freedom in politics
Freedom through equal opportunity
Freedom in the choice of a business
Freedom to travel
Freedom to choose our foods
“Amongst these if the privilege of owning a car, with which one can come and go at will, at very small cost.”
Etc…

The blessings of FOOD, SHELTER, + CLOTHING

“The name of this mysterious benefactor of humankind is CAPITAL!” — pg. 150

“Capital consists not of money alone, but more particularly of highly organized, intelligent groups of people who plan ways and means of using money efficiently for the good of the public, and profitably for themselves.”
“These groups consist of scientists, educators, chemists, inventors, business analysts, public relations experts, transportation experts, accountants, lawyers, doctors, and both men and women who have highly specialized knowledge in all fields of industry and business.”
** “Money without brains is always dangerous.”

“Before there can be anything to haul, something must be grown from the ground, manufactured, and prepared for market. This calls for more millions of dollars for equipment, machinery, boxing, marketing, and for the wages of millions of men and women.” — pg. 152
“These people are known as capitalists.” They are motivated by the desire to build, construct, achieve, provide useful service, earn profits and accumulate riches….. THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN THE WAY OF GREAT RICHES. — pg. 152

“I have here analyzed the economic advantages of the capitalistic system for the two-fold purpose of showing:

that all who seek riches must recognize and adopt themselves to the system that controls all approaches to fortunes, large or small, and
that they must present the side of the picture opposite to that being shown by politicians and demagogues who refer to organized capital as if it were something poisonous.

** “THERE IS BUT ONE DEPENDABLE METHOD OF ACCUMULATING AND LEGALLY HOLDING RICHES, AND THAT IS BY PROVIDING USEFUL SERVICE.” — pg. 154

The law of economics (”….which was passed by Nature!…. the law cannot be repealed. It is as fixed as the stars in the heavens, and subject to, and part of, the same system that controls the stars.”):

“it has an all-seeing eye and a perfect system of bookkeeping in which it keeps an accurate account of the transaction of every human being engaged in the business of trying to get without giving. Sooner or later its auditors come around, look over the records of individuals both great and small, and demand an accounting.” — pg. 154
“Opportunity has spread its wares before you. Step up to the front, select what you want, create your plan, put the plan into action and follow through with persistence. “Capitalistic” society will do the rest. You can depend upon this much — CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY GUARANTEES EVERY PERSON THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE USEFUL SERVICE AND TO COLLECT RICHES IN PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE.” — pg. 155

Ch. 8 Notes — Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination:

(The Seventh Step to Riches)

lack of decision, near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure
“Analysis of several hundred people who accumulated fortunes well beyond the million-dollar mark disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly and of changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed.” — pg. 157

“It was this quality which prompted Mr. Ford to continue to manufacture his famous Model “T” (the world’s ugliest car), when all of his advisers, and. many of the purchasers of the car, were urging him to change it.” — pg. 158

** IMPORTANT: “Keep your own counsel, when you begin to put into practice the principles described here, by reaching your own decisions and following them. Take no one into your confidence except the members of your “Master Mind” group, and be very sure in your selection of this group that you choose only those who will be in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose.” — pg. 158

** “Genuine wisdom is usually conspicuous through modesty and silence.” — pg. 159

Keep in mind the fact that every person with whom you associate is, like yourself, seeking the opportunity to accumulate money. If you talk about your plans too freely, you may be surprised when you learn that some other person has beaten you to your goal by putting into action ahead of you the plans of which you talked unwisely.
Let one of your first decisions be to keep a closed mouth and open ears and eyes

TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO, BUT FIRST SHOW IT.

“deeds, and not words, are what count most.”

assuming great risks, which often meant the possibility of death

“But the greatest decision of all time…. was reached in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, when 56 men signed their names to a document they well knew would bring freedom to all Americans, or leave every one of the 56 hanging from a gallows!” — pg. 161

We all remember the date of this momentous decision, but few of us realize what courage that decision required.

Richard Henry Lee became an important factor in this story due to the fact that he and Samuel Adams communicated frequently (by correspondence), sharing freely their fears and their hopes concerning the welfare of the people of their provinces
In march 1772, two years after the clash with the soldiers in Boston, Adams presented this idea to the Assembly in the form of a motion that a Correspondence Committee be established among the colonies….”for the purpose of friendly cooperation for the betterment of the Colonies of British America.” — pg. 163
Samuel Adams had the choice of two decisions. He could cease his opposition and receive personal bribes, or he could continue, and run the risk of being hanged!
It must be obvious to all who read this astounding message that its sender possessed loyalty of the highest order. This is important. (Racketeers and dishonest politicians have prostitued the honor for which such mens as Adams died.)

“…the American nation was born of a decision created by a Master Mind consisting of 56 men….. In the story of the Declaration of Independence it will not be difficult to detect at least six of these principles: DESIRE, DECISION, FAITH, PERSISTENCE, THE MASTER MIND, AND ORGANIZED PLANNING.”

** “In your search for the secret of the method, do not look for a miracle because you will not find it. You will find only the eternal laws of Nature. These laws are available to every person who has the faith and courage to use them.” — pg. 169

** “The world has the habit of making room for people whose words and actions shows they know where they are going.” — pg. 170
“Indecision is a habit that usually begins in youth.”

The story of Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express, was given at the end of this chapter (of the hard copy of this book). It epitomizes exactly what Napoleon Hill talks about with DECISION.

“A modern example of a person who displayed courage in making decisions is Fred Smith, the founder of Federal Express (FEDEX). When Smith was a student in an economics cass at Yale University, his professor stated that aireight was the wave of the future and would be the primary source of revenue for the airlines. Smich wrote a paper disagreeing. His argument was that the passenger route patterns that were the primary airline routes were wrong for freight. He noted that because costs would not come down with volume, the only way airfreight could be profitable was through a whole new system that would reach out to smaller cities as well as big ones and be designed for packages, not people. The professor considered this entirely unfeasible and gave Smith's paper a low grade. Smith's concept was to start an all-freight airline that would fly primarily at night when the airports weren't congested. It would carry small, high-priority packages when speed of delivery was more important than cost. It would bring all the packages to a central point he chose his home town-Memphis) where, through a specially designed computer program, the packages would be sorted, dispersed and loaded on planes that were flown to the ultimate destinations. By consolidating all shipments to smaller cities, it would enable the company to fly full planeloads to cities all over the country and eventually the world. Smith believed that venture capitalists would be interested and excited about this innovative idea. But to his shock, little interest was developed in the financial community.

This did not stop Smicions ne rains enthusiasm for the projed and the courage of his convictions, he raised 891 million to finance his untested idea. At this point the competing carriers realized that Smith's concept was a potential threat to their industry. The major airlines tried to forestall this new competition by lobbying the Civil Aeronautics Board to refuse Swith the necessary permission. Smith's team found a loophole in the law. Planes with a payload under 7,500 pounds did not need CAB permission to operate. Smith went ahead and assembled a fleet of small jets. He began consiruction of his main facility at Memphis and started servicing 75 airporis. FEDEX would pick up packages at airports all over the country and fy them to Memphis, where they were sorted out and processed for immediate reshipment to other cities. Once unloaded, FEDEX trucks delivered them to their destinations. Smith set a goal to get all packages to their destinations within 24 hours of pick-up and this goal was almost always met. Despite the hard work and efforts of the company, the first few years were financial disasters. Losses amounted to millions of dollars. The investors were seriously concerned. Federal was falling far short of Smith's projections, Despite the losses— which the investors blamed on Smith-and even talk of removing him and taking over the company, Smith did not lose faith. His courage never faltered. He hired experts (his "Master Mind") and worked day and night with them to solve operational problems. This resulted in Federal's revenues reaching $75 million in the next fiscal year, with a profit of $3.6 million. Although competition from faxes virtually eliminated the use of FEDEX for letters and documents, and despite competition from other airfreight companies and the postal service, which offered overnight service at a much lower price, Smith's continued innovation and dedication to continuous improvement have kept Federal as the number one carrier in its field.”

Ch. 9 Notes — Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith:

(The Eighth Step to Riches)

“The basis of persistence is the power of will.” — pg. 175
“People who accumulate great fortunes are generally known as cold-blooded and sometimes ruthless.” — pg. 175

“Henry Ford has been generally misunderstood to be ruthless and cold-blooded. This misconception grew out of Ford’s habit of following through all of his plans with persistence.” — pg. 175

** “A few carry on despite all opposition until they attain their goal. These few are the Fords, Carnegies, Rockefellers, and Edisons.” — pg. 175

Persistence to character = carbon to steel

“The author is checking you up at this point because lack of persistence is one of the major causes of failure.” — pg. 176

The starting point of all achievement is desire.
Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.

** “Fortunes gravitate to people whose minds have been prepared to “attract” them, just as surely as water gravitates to the ocean. In this book may be found all the stimuli necessary to ‘attune’ any normal mind to the vibrations that will attract the object of one’s desires.” — pg. 177

“Your subconscious mind works continuously, while you are awake and while you are asleep.”
“To get results, you must apply all of the rules until their application becomes a fixed habit with you.”

POVERTY CONSCIOUSNESS WILL VOLUNTARILY SEIZE THE MIND THAT IS NOT OCCUPIED WITH MONEY CONSCIOUSNESS.

“Without persistence, you will be defeated, even before you start. With persistence, you will win.” — pg. 178

mental inertia

“Be persistent no matter how slowly you may, at first, have to move. WITH PERSISTENCE WILL COME SUCCESS.” — pg. 178
“Some people who have accumulated great fortunes did so because of necessity. They developed the habit of persistence because they were so closely driven by circumstances they had to become persistent.” — pg. 178

“Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure. No matter how many times they are defeated, they finally arrive up near the top of the ladder.” — pg. 179

“The hidden guide lets no one enjoy achievement without passing the persistence test. Those who can’t take it simply do not make the grade”…… “Those who can ‘take it’ are bountifully rewarded for their persistence. They receive, as their compensation, whatever goal they are pursuing.” — pg. 179

EVERY FAILURE BRINGS WITH IT THE SEED OF AN EQUIVALENT ADVANTAGE.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSISTENCE!

Persistence is based upon definitive causes, including:

DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE: knowing exactly what you want
DESIRE
SELF-RELIANCE: belief in your ability
DEFINITENESS OF PLANS: organized plans
ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE: knowing that your plans are sound
COOPERATION: sympathy, understanding, and harmonious cooperation with others
WILLPOWER: the habit of concentrating your thoughts
HABIT: The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which it feeds

Symptoms of Lack of Persistence (study the list carefully and face yourself squarely IF YOU REALLY WISH TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING):

Failure to recognize and clearly define exactly what you want.
Procrastination, with or without cause (usually backed up with a formidable array of alibis and excuses).
Lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge.
Indecision, the habit of “passing the buck” on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely (also backed by alibis).
The habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems.
Self-satisfaction. There is but little remedy for this affliction, and no hope for those who suffer from it.
Indifference, usually reflected in your readiness to compromise on all occasions, rather than meet opposition and fight it.
The habit of blaming others for your mistakes, and accepting unfavorable circumstances as being unavoidable.
Weakness of desire due to neglect in the choice of motives that impel action.
Willingness, even eagerness, to quit at the first sign of defeat (based upon one or more of the six basic fears).
Lack of organized plans, placed in writing where they may be analyzed.
The habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or to grasp opportunity when it presents itself.
Wishing instead of willing.
The habit of compromising with poverty instead of aiming at riches—a general absence of ambition, to be, to do and to own.
Searching for all the short-cuts to riches, trying to get without giving a fair equivalent, usually reflected in the habit of gambling or endeavoring to drive “sharp” bargains.
Fear of criticism, failure to create plans and to put them into action because of what other people will think, do or say. This enemy belongs at the head of the list, because it generally exists in the subconscious mind without being recognized (see the six basic fears in Chapter 15).

“People refuse to take chances in business because they fear the criticism that may follow if they fail.” — pg. 184
“When Andrew Carnegie suggested that I devote 20 years to the organization of a philosophy of individual achievement, my first impulse of thought was fear of what people may say.” — pg. 184/5

MOST IDEAS ARE STILLBORN AND NEED THE BREATH OF LIFE INJECTED INTO THEM THROUGH DEFINITE PLANS OF IMMEDIATE ACTION.

How to Develop Persistence

A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY A BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILLMENT.
A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION.
A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAGING INFLUENCES, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends, and acquaintances.
A FRIENDLY ALLIANCE WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BOTH PLANS AND PURPOSE.

Ch. 10 Notes — Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force:

(The Ninth Step to Riches)

Power: essential for success in the accumulation of money and “may be defined as ‘organized and intelligently directed knowledge.’”
“Organized effort is produced through the coordination of effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite end in a spirit of harmony.” {I think of the Bible verse Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”} — pg. 193

POWER IS REQUIRED FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF MONEY! POWER IS NECESSARY FOR THE RETENTION OF MONEY AFTER IT HAS BEEN ACCUMULATED!

Sources of knowledge:

INFINITE INTELLIGENCE: with the aid of Creative Imagination
ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE: where it has been classified and organized
EXPERIMENT AND RESEARCH: This is the source to which one must turn when knowledge is not available through “accumulated experience.” Here, too, the Creative Imagination must often be used.

For a person to attain much, and if their plans are comprehensive, and if they contemplate large proportions, they must generally, induce others to cooperate with them — pg. 194

Gaining Power through the “Master Mind”

“Master Mind”: coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.

“This form of cooperative alliance has been the basis of nearly every great fortune.” — pg. 195
“No two minds every come together without thereby creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.” — pg. 195

Pg. 197: ** “the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual brain in the group.”

Only two known element in the entire world: ENERGY + MATTER

“Energy is Nature’s set of building blocks…. Through a process that only Nature completely understands, she translates energy into matter.” — pg. 196

Mr. Carnegie’s Master Mind group consisted of a staff of approx. 50 men, with whom he surrounded himself for the definite purpose of manufacturing and marketing steel. He attributed his entire fortune to the power he accumulated through this Master Mind.

GREAT POWER CAN BE ACCUMULATED THROUGH NO OTHER PRINCIPLE!

Henry Ford & The Master Mind:

“Within the inconceivably short period of 10 years, Mr. Ford mastered these three handicaps, and within 25 years made himself one of the richest men in America. Connect with this fact the additional knowledge that Mr. Ford’s most rapid strides became noticeable from the time he became a personal friend of Thomas A. Edison, and you will begin to understand what the influence of one mind upon another can accomplish. Go a step further, and consider the fact that Mr. Ford’s most outstanding achievements began from the time he formed the acquaintances of Harvey Firestone, John Burroughs, and Luther Burbank.” — pg. 198

President Franklin Roosevelt & The Master Mind:

“President Franklin Roosevelt brought the best minds of the country to Washington to form a Master Mind group he called his ‘brain trust’. During and after World War II, Master Mind groups called ‘think tanks’ were frequently called upon by leaders of government and industry to help deal with critical problems.” — pg. 198

“Money is shy and elusive. It must be wooed and won by methods not unlike those used by a determined lover in pursuit of a mate. And, coincidental as it is, the power used in the “wooing” of money is not greatly different from that used in wooing a lover. That power, when successfully used in the pursuit of money, must be mixed with faith. It must be mixed with desire. It must be mixed with persistence. It must be applied through a plan, and that plan must be set into action.” — pg. 200

“When money comes in quantities known as the ‘big money’ it flows to the one who accumulates it as easily as water flows downhill. There exists a great unseen stream of power, which may be compared to a river, except that it flows in two directions. One side: upwards to wealth…. The other side: downwards to misery and poverty.” — pg. 200

“Riches are shy and timid. They have to be ‘attracted’.” — pg. 202

“Anybody can wish for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan plus a burning desire for wealth are the only dependable means of accumulating it.” — pg. 202

“The Wall Street crash of ‘29 swept millions of people from the positive to the negative side of the stream.” — pg. 202

Ch. 11 Notes — The Mystery of Sex Transmutation:

(The Tenth Step to Riches)

Transmute = “the changing or transferring of one element, or form of energy, into another.” — pg. 205

The emotion of sex has behind it the possibility of three constructive potentialities:

The perpetuation of humankind.
The maintenance of health (as a therapeutic agency it has no equal).
The transformation of mediocrity into genius through transmutation.

Sex transmutation = “switching of the mind from thoughts of physical expression to thoughts of some other nature.” — pg. 206

The transmutation of sex energy calls for the exercise of willpower, to be sure, but the reward is worth the effort.

ENERGY DOESN’T JUST DIE, IT NEEDS TO GO SOMEWHERE: The desire cannot and should not be submerged or eliminated. But it should be given an outlet through forms of expression that enrich the body, mind, and spirit. If not given this form of outlet, through transmutation, it will seek outlets through purely physical channels.

…. but its very nature causes it to be ever seeking means of expression. if it is not transmuted into some creative effort it will find a less worthy outlet.

** “Sex desire is the most powerful of human desires.” — pg. 206

When harnessed and redirected along other lines, the positive attributes of this motivating force may be used as powerful creative forces in literature, art or in any other profession or calling, including, of course, the accumulation of riches

** Scientific research on the backgrounds of high-achieving men has disclosed these significant facts:

The men of greatest achievement are those with highly developed sex natures; men who have learned the art of sex transmutation.
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 emotion of sex is an ‘irresistible force’ against which there can be no such opposition as an ‘immovable body’. When driven by this emotion, men become gifted with a super power for action” — pg. 207

“The emotion of sex contains the secret of creative ability.”

“….observe what happens to any animal after it has been castrated.”

The 10 Mind Stimuli (8 are natural + constructive; 2 are destructive)

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

“Genius” is Developed through the Sixth Sense

The faculty of creative imagination is the direct link between the finite mind of humans and Infinite Intelligence.

When ideas or concepts flash into one’s mind, through what is popularly called a “hunch”, they come from one or more of the following sources:

Infinite Intelligence
The subconscious mind, in which is stored every sense impression and thought impulse that ever reached the brain through any of the five senses
The mind of some other person who has just released the thought, or picture of the idea or concept, through conscious thought
The other person’s subconscious storehouse

“That which is known as one’s “conscience” operates entirely through the faculty of the sixth sense.” — pg. 211

“The great artists, writers, musicians and poets become great because they acquire the. habit of relying upon the “still small voice” which speaks from within……. it is a fact well known to people who have ‘keen’ imaginations that their best ideas come through so-called ‘hunches’.” — pg. 211

“There is a great orator who does not attain greatness until he closes his eyes and begins to rely entirely upon the faculty of creative imagination.” — pg. 212

{prayer} “with my eyes closed, I am able to draw upon a source of superior intelligence.” {like prayer} — pg. 212

Example of Dr. Elmer R. Gates, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, who created 200+ useful patents: locked in his “personal communication room” that was soundproof, “arranged that all light could be shut out”, small table, and pad of writing paper. He remained in that position until ideas began to “flash” into his “mind in connection with the unknown factors of the invention”. “On one occasion, ideas came through so fast that he was forced to write for almost three hours.”

Drawing upon sources of knowledge available through creative faculty:

THEY STIMULATE THEIR MINDS SO THAT THEY VIBRATE ON A HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE PLANE, using one or more of the 10 mind stimulants or some other stimulant of their choice
THEY CONCENTRATE upon the known factors (the finished part) of the invention, and create in their minds a perfect picture of unknown factors (the unfinished part) of the invention. They hold this picture in mind until it has been taken over by the subconscious mind, and then relax by clearing their minds of all thought, and wait for the answer to pop up.

** “The pages of history are filled with records of great leaders whose achievements may be traced directly to the influence of women who aroused the creative faculties of their minds, through the stimulation of sex desire. Napoleon Bonaparte was one of these. When inspired by his first wife, Josephine, he was irresistible and invincible. When his “better judgment” or reasoning faculty prompted him to put Josephine aside, he began to decline. His defeat and St. Helena were not far distant.” — pg. 215

“Sex energy is the creative energy of all geniuses. There never has been, and never will be, a great leader, builder or artist lacking in this driving force of sex…… no will misunderstand these statements to mean that all who are highly sexed are geniuses! One attains to the status of a genius only when, and if, one’s mind is stimulated so that it draws upon the forces available, through the creative faculty of the imagination.” — pg. 216

“One of America’s most able businessmen frankly admitted that his attractive secretary was responsible for most of the plans he created. He confessed that her presence lifted him to heights of creative imagination, such as he could experience under no other stimulus.” — pg. 217

James Whitcomb Riley did his best writing while under the influence of alcohol.
Robert Burns wrote best when intoxicated.

But let it be remembered that many such people have destroyed themselves in the end.

Why People Seldom Succeed Before 40

From the analysis of 25,000 people, that those who succeed in an outstanding way seldom do so before the age of 40. More often, they do not strike their real pace until they are well beyond the age of 50….. investigation over a period of more than 12 years. {20-35 is prime sex energy era for men} — pg. 216

The majority of those who make this discovery do so after having wasted many years when the sex energy is at its height, prior to the age of 45 to 50.

Pg. 222: Henry Ford “hit his pace” at the age of 40….. Andrew Carnegie was well past 40 before he began to reap the reward of his efforts….. James J. Hill was still running a telegraph key at the age of 40…… Between the ages of 30 and 40, one begins to (if one ever learns) the art of sex transmutation

Example of sex energy: “A teacher who has trained and directed the efforts of more than 30,000 sales people made the astounding discovery that highly sexed people are the most efficient sales reps…. “personal magnetism” is nothing more nor less than sex energy….. Highly sexed people always have a plentiful supply of magnetism.”

This energy may be communicated to others through the following media:

THE HANDSHAKE: The touch of the hand indicates, instantly, the presence of magnetism, or the lack of it.
THE TONE OF VOICE: Magnetism, or sex energy, is the factor with which the voice may be colored, or made musical or charming.
POSTURE AND CARRIAGE OF THE BODY: Highly sexed people move briskly, and with grace and ease.
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.
BODY ADORNMENT: People who are highly sexed are usually very careful about their personal appearance. They usually select clothing of a style becoming to their personality, physique, complexion, etc.

“Psychologists recognize that there is a very close relationship between sex desires and spiritual urges.” — pg. 218

“People who lack sex energy will never become enthusiastic.” — pg. 219

“Men and women who are known to be blessed—yes, blessed—with highly sexed natures are usually looked upon with suspicion. Instead of being called blessed, they are usually called cursed.” —pg. 220

“Millions of people, even in this age of enlightenment, have developed inferiority complexes.”

“The emotion of sex is a virtue only when used intelligently and with discrimination….. The better use of this power is the burden of this chapter.”

In context to a man of great achievement: “In many instances, the ‘woman in the case’ was a modest, self-denying wife, of whom the public had heard little or nothing.”

** “Humans are the only creatures on earth that violate Nature’s purpose in this connection. Every other animal indulges its sex nature in moderation, and with purpose that harmonizes with the laws of Nature. Every other animal responds to the call of sex only in ‘season’. The human inclination is to declare ‘open season’.” {GREAT POINT} — pg. 221

“Every intelligence person knows that stimulation in excess, through alcoholic drink and narcotics, is a form of intemperance that destroys that vital organs of the body, including the brain. Not every person knows, however, that overindulgence in sex expression may become a habit as destructive and as detrimental to creative effort as narcotics or alcohol.”

“A sex-mad person is not essentially different to a dope-mad person! Both have lost control…..”

Sex, alone, is a mighty urge to action, but its forces are like a cyclone—they are often uncontrollable. When the emotion of love begins to mix itself with the emotion of sex, the result is calmness of purpose, poise, accuracy of judgment and balance.

Love, romance, and sex are all emotions capable of driving people to heights of super achievement. Love is the emotion that serves as a safety valve.

“Memories of love never pass. They linger, guide, and influence long after the source of stimulation has faded.” — pg. 225

“Even the memories of love are sufficient to lift one to a higher plane of creative effort. The major force of love may spend itself and pass away, like a fire that has burned itself out, but it leaves behind indelible marks as evidence that it passed that way.” — pg. 225

** “If you believe yourself unfortunate because you have ‘loved and lost’, perish the thought. One who has loved truly can never lose entirely.” — pg. 226

** “Accept and enjoy it while it remains, but spend no time worrying about its departure. Worry will never bring it back.” — pg. 226

Nature has provided us with a “chemistry of the mind” which operates in a manner similar to the principles of chemistry of matter. — pg. 223

The mind is a creature of habit. It thrives upon the dominating thoughts fed it.

The secret of control lies in understanding the process of transmutation. When any negative emotion presents itself in your mind, it can be transmuted into a positive, or constructive, emotion by the simple procedure of changing your thoughts.”

THERE IS NO OTHER ROAD TO GENIUS THAN THROUGH VOLUNTARY SELF-EFFORT!

“The major difference is that love is spiritual, while sex is biological.” — pg. 226

Ch. 12 Notes — The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link:

(The Eleventh Step to Riches)

“THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND WORKS DAY AND NIGHT. It draws upon the forces of Infinite Intelligence for the power with which it voluntarily transmutes desires into their physical equivalent.” — pg. 230

“It, alone, is the medium through which prayer may be transmitted to the source capable of answering prayer.” — pg. 230

Subconscious mind <> Infinite Intelligence

“Remember that the subconscious mind may be voluntarily directed only through habit, under the directions given in Chapter 3 on faith. You have not yet had time to master faith. Be patient. Be persistent.” — pg. 231

** “Remember, your subconscious mind functions voluntarily, whether you make any effort to influence it or not. This naturally suggests to you that thoughts of fear and poverty, and all negative thoughts, serve as stimuli to your subconscious mind, unless you master these impulses and give it more desirable food upon which it may feed.” — pg. 231

“Nothing can be created that is not first conceived in thought. Through the aid of the imagination, thought impulses may be assembled into plans.” — pg. 232

“The ‘mixing’ of faith with a plan, or purpose, intended for submission to the subconscious mind may be done only through the imagination.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a famous poet and journalist between late 19th and early 20th century, gave thought to the this topic of the subconscious mind:

You never can tell what a thought will do In bringing you hate or love — For thoughts are things, and their airy wings Are swifter than carrier doves. They follow the law of the universe — Each thing creates its kind, And they speed o’er the track to bring you back Whatever went out from your mind.

“Thoughts are truly things, for the reason that every material thing begins in the form of thought-energy.” — pg. 233

“The positives must be injected through the principle of autosuggestion.”

Thoughts, or feeling impulses, can be likened to yeast in a loaf of bread because they constitute the action element, which transforms thought impulses from the passive to the active state..

THE SEVEN MAJOR POSITIVE EMOTIONS (master these seven emotions and the other positive emotions will be at your command when you need them)

The emotion of DESIRE

The emotion of FAITH

The emotion of LOVE

The emotion of SEX

The emotion of ENTHUSIASM

The emotion of ROMANCE

The emotion of HOPE

THE SEVEN MAJOR NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

The emotion of FEAR

The emotion of JEALOUSY

The emotion of HATRED

The emotion of REVENGE

The emotion of GREED

The emotion of SUPERSTITION

The emotion of ANGER

A “money consciousness”
Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time.

“The presence of a single negative in your conscious mind is sufficient to destroy all chances of constructive aid from your subconscious mind.” — pg. 235 {TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE}

PRAYER (pg. 235)

** “If you are an observant person, you must have noticed that most people resort to prayer only after everything else has failed!”

"When you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind" (James 1:6-8)

** “If you pray for a thing, but have fear as you pray that you may not receive it, or that your prayer will not be acted upon by Infinite Intelligence, your prayer will have been in vain.”
** “….no one will approach the Universal Mind in a state of fear, for the very good reason that there will be no such emotion as fear.”
** “A few have already attained this blessing.”

** This communication costs nothing except patience, faith, persistence, understanding, and a sincere desire to communicate.
** The subconscious mind is the intermediary that translates one’s prayers into terms that Infinite Intelligence can recognize, presents the message and brings back the answer in the form of a definite plan or idea for procuring the object of the prayer.
** Faith is the only known agency that will give your thoughts a spiritual nature. Faith and fear make poor bedfellows. Where one is found, the other cannot exist.

Ch. 13 Notes — The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought:

(The Twelfth Step to Riches)

autosuggestion + human brain + creative imagination + subconscious mind

** “In a study by the author with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell and Dr. Elmer R. Gates, it was concluded that every human brain is both a broadcasting and receiving station for the vibration of thought.” — pg. 239

“every human brain is capable of picking up vibrations of thought released by other brains.”

CREATIVE IMAGINATION = “receiving set”

The agency of communication between one’s conscious, or reasoning, mind and the four sources from which one may receive thought stimuli

When stimulated or “stepped up” to a high rate of vibration, the mind becomes more receptive to the vibration of thought that reaches it through the ether from outside sources

Thought is energy traveling at an exceedingly high rate of vibration

HUMAN BRAIN = “broadcasting set”

“As far as intensity and driving force are concerned, the emotion of sex stands at the head of the list of human emotions. A brain stimulated by the emotion of sex vibrates at a much more rapid rate than it does when that emotion is quiescent or absent.” — pg. 240

AUTOSUGGESTION = the medium (the bridge) by which you may put into operation your “broadcasting station”

The Greatest Forces Are “Intangible”

“The Depression of the 1930s brought the world to the very borderline of understanding intangible and unseen forces.” — pg. 241
“The whole of humankind has not the power to cope with nor control the intangible force wrapped up in the rolling waves of the ocean. The human mind does not have the capacity to understand the intangible force of gravity.” — pg. 242

The Brain

“….scientists have begun to turn their attention to the study of this stupendous thing called a brain. While they are still in the kindergarten stage of their studies, they have uncovered enough to know that the central switchboard of the human brain, the number of lines which connect each brain cell with another, equals the figure one followed by 15 million zeros.” — pg. 243

From 10,000,000,000 to 14,000,000,000 nerve cells in the human cerebral cortx, and we know that these are arranged in definite patterns.

…electro-physiology draw off action currents from very precisely located cells, or fibers with micro-electrodes, amplify them, and record potential differences to a millionth of a volt.

Telepathy

“These powers, assuming that they exist, do not seem to be sensory. There is no known organ for them.” — pg. 244

“One conclusion that Wright draws with some confidence is that telepathy and clairvoyance are really one and the same gift.”

Napoleon Hill’s discovery:

My associates and I have discovered what we believe to be the ideal conditions under which the mind can be stimulated so that the sixth sense described in the next chapter can be made to function in a practical way…..

The conditions to which I refer consist of a close working alliance between myself and two members of my staff…. we have discovered how to stimulate our minds with the “Invisible Counselors”…..

In doing so we can, by a process of blending our three minds into one, find the solution to a great variety of personal problems submitted by my clients.

“The procedure is very simple. We sit down at a conference table, clearly state the nature of the problem under consideration, and then begin discussing it. Each contributes whatever thoughts may occur. The strange thing about this method of mind stimulation is that it places each participant in communication with unknown sources of knowledge definitely outside his own experience.” (i.e. like the round-table procedure in Chapter 10)

Ch. 14 Notes — The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom:

(The Thirteenth Step to Riches)

This principle is the apex of the philosophy. It can be assimilated, understood, and applied only by first mastering the other 12 principles.

SIXTH SENSE = “creative imagination”…. it has also been referred to as the “receiving set’ through which ideas, plans, and thoughts flash into the mind. The “flashes” are sometimes called “hunches” or “inspirations”.

“Understanding of the sixth sense comes only by meditation through mind development from within.” — pg. 248

“For this reason, it is a mixture of both the mental and the spiritual. It is believed to be the point at which the mind of an individual contacts the Universal Mind.”

The sixth sense warns of impending dangers in time to avoid them, and notifies of opportunities in time to embrace them.
With the development of the sixth sense comes “a guardian angel” who will open to you at all times the door to the Temple of Wisdom.

NATURE + “MIRACLES”

“The author is not a believer in, nor an advocate of, ‘miracles’. He has enough knowledge of Nature to understand that Nature never deviates from her established laws. Some of her laws are so incomprehensible that they produce what appear to be ‘miracles’. The sixth sense comes as near to being a miracle as anything I have ever experienced, and it appears so only because I do not understand the method by which this principle is operated. This much the author does know—that there is a power, or a First Cause, or an Intelligence, which permeates every atom of matter and embraces every unit of perceptible energy; that this Infinite Intelligence coverts acorns into oak trees, causes water to flow downhill in response to the law of gravity, follows night with day and winter with summer, each maintaining its proper place and relationship to the other.” — pg. 248

“My experience has taught me that the next best thing to being truly great is to emulate the great, by feeling and action, as closely as possible.” — pg. 249
“I followed the habit of reshaping my own character by trying to imitate the nine men whose lives and life works had been most impressive to me. These nine men were Emerson, Paine, Edison, Darwin, Lincoln, Burbank, Napoleon, Ford, and Carnegie. Every night over a long period of years, I held an imaginary council meeting with this group of whom I called my ‘Invisible Counselors’.” — pg. 249/250

“….Here I had not only an opportunity to sit among those whom I considered to be great, but I actually dominated the group by serving as the Chairman.”

“Realizing, as I did early in life, that I had to overcome the handicap of my birth into an environment of ignorance and superstition, I deliberately assigned myself the task of voluntary rebirth through the method here described.”

Building Character through Autosuggestion

Napoleon Hill: Being an earnest student of psychology, I knew that all people have become what they are because of their dominating thoughts and desires.

With this knowledge of the principles of mind operation, I was fairly well armed with the equipment needed to rebuild my character. In these imaginary council meetings, I called on my cabinet members for the knowledge….

Mr. Emerson: I desire to acquire from you the marvelous understanding of Nature which distinguished your life.
Mr. Burbank: I request that you pass on to me the knowledge which enabled you to so harmonize the laws of Nature that you caused the cactus to shed its thorns and become an edible food.
Napoleon: I desire to acquire from you, by emulation, the marvelous ability you possessed to inspire people and to arouse them to greater and more determined spirit of action.
Mr. Paine: I desire to acquire from you the freedom of thought and the courage and clarity with which to express convictions that so distinguished you!
Mr. Darwin: I wish to acquire from you the marvelous patience and ability to study cause and effect without bias or prejudice so exemplified by you in the field of natural science.
Mr. Lincoln: I desire to build into my own character the keen sense of justice, the untiring spirit of patience, the sense of humor, the human understanding and the tolerance that were your distinguishing characteristics.
Mr. Carnegie: I am already indebted to you for my choice of a life work, which has brought me great happiness and peace of mind.
Mr. Ford: you have been among the most helpful men who have supplied much of the material essential to my work. I wish to acquire your spirit of persistence, the determination, poise and self-confidence that have enabled you to master poverty, organize, unify and simplify human effort, so I may help others to follow in your footsteps.
Mr. Edison: I have seated you nearest to me, at my right, because of the personal cooperation you have given me during my research into the causes of success and failure. I wish to acquire from you the marvelous spirit of faith, with which you have uncovered so many of Nature’s secrets, the spirit of unremitting toil with which you have so often wrested victory from defeat.

Invisible Counselor meeting example: “One night Paine suggested that I prepare a lecture on ‘The Age of Reason,’ and deliver it from the pulpit of a church that I formerly attended. Many around the table laughed heartily at the suggestion. Not Napoleon! He drew his mouth down at the corners and groaned so loudly that all turned and looked at him with amazement. To him the church was but a pawn of the state, not to be reformed, but to be used as a convenient inciter to mass activity by the people.” — pg. 253

…..”Emerson observed, ‘No serpents, no apples” and Napoleon remarked, ‘No apples, no state!’”

“Lincoln developed the habit of always being the last one to leave the table after each meeting.”

“My boy, you will need much courage if you remain steadfast in carrying out your purpose in life. But remember, when difficulties overtake you, the common people have common sense. Adversity will develop it.”

….Lincoln to Napoleon: ”You are destined to witness the discovery of the secret of life. When the time comes, you will observe that life consists of great swarms of energy, or entities, each as intelligent as human beings think themselves to be. These units of life group together like hives of bees, and remain together until they disintegrate, through lack of harmony.”….. These meetings which you are conducting will be very helpful to you. They will bring to your rescue some of the same units of life that served the members of your cabinet, during their lives. These units are eternal. THEY NEVER DIE!”

….Lincoln furthermore to Napoleon: He said, “The world will soon need your services. It is about to undergo a period of chaos that will cause men and women to lose faith and become panic stricken. Go ahead with your work and complete your philosophy. That is your mission in life. If you neglect it, for any cause whatsoever, you will be reduced to a primal state, and be compelled to retrace the cycles through which you have passed during thousands of years.”

After that, I began to add new members to my cabinet. Now it consists of more than 50, among them Christ, St. Paul, Galileo, Copernicus, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Homer, Voltaire, Bruno, Spinoza, Drummond, Kant, Schopenhauer, Newton, Confucius, Elbert Hubbard, Brann, Ingersol, Wilson, and William James.

“One of the blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to be truthful, regardless of what those who do not understand may think or say.” — pg. 255

“On scores of occasions when I have faced emergencies—some of them so grave that my life was in jeopardy—I have been miraculously guided past these difficulties through the influence of my counselors.” — pg. 256

“I now go to my imaginary counselors with every difficult problems that confronts my clients and me.”

“Henry Ford undoubtedly understood and made practical use of the sixth sense. His vast business and financial operations made it necessary for him to understand and use this principle.”
“Thomas A. Edison understood and used the sixth sense in connection with the development of inventions.”
“Nearly all great leaders—such as Napoleon, Joan of Arc, Christ, Buddha, Confucius and Mohammed—understood and probably made use of the sixth sense almost continuously. The major portion of their greatness consisted of their knowledge of this principle.”

“The sixth sense is not something one can take off and put on at will. Ability to use this great power comes slowly.”

“More often the knowledge is not available until one is well past 50. This is because the spiritual forces with which the sixth sense is so closely related only mature and become usable through years of meditation, self-examination and serious thought.” {we will advance this and make it 30 for me}

“….individuals may unerringly guide themselves in attaining whatever they ask of life. The starting point of all achievement is desire. The finishing point is that brand of knowledge that leads to understanding—understanding of self, understanding of others, understanding of the laws of Nature, recognition and understanding of happiness.” — pg. 258

{just AMAZING that this is my unique value (UV), which I discovered was my purpose and identity when doing her UV case study on me many years ago: My UV is navigating non-conscious perceptions for the purpose of guiding others towards a conscious understanding of self (and God, thus others and nature)

** “You must have observed that while reading the chapter you were lifted to a high level of mental stimulation. Splendid! Come back to this again a month from now, read it once more and observe that your mind will soar to a still higher level of stimulation. Repeat this experience from time to time {this happened just now—for the second time ever!}, without being concerned as to how much or how little you learn at the time. Eventually you will find yourself in possession of a power that will enable you to throw off discouragement, master fear, overcome procrastination and draw freely upon your imagination. Then you will have felt the touch of that unknown ‘something’ which has been the moving spirit of every truly great thinker, leader, artist, musician, writer, statesman. Then you will be in a position to transmute your desires into their physical or financial counterpart as easily as you may lie down and quit at the first sign of opposition.”

Ch. 15 Notes — How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear:

(Clearing the Brain for Riches)

** indecision —> doubt = both become fear

Before you can put any portion of this philosophy into successful use, your mind must be prepared to receive it. The preparation is not difficult. It begins with study, analysis, and understanding of three enemies you shall have to clear out. These are indecision, doubt, and fear! — pg. 261

“The members of this unholy trio are closely related; where one is found, the other two are close at hand.”

Indecision: seedling of fear

Indecision crystallizes into doubt, the two blend and become fear

The “blending” process is often slow

This chapter analyzes a condition that has reduced huge numbers of people to poverty.
Before we can master an enemy, we must know its name, its habits and its place of abode…. Do not be deceived by the habits of these subtle enemies.

The Six Basic Fears

The fear of POVERTY
The fear of CRITICISM
The fear of ILL HEALTH
The fear of LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE
The fear of OLD AGE
The fear of DEATH

“Fears are nothing more than states of mind.” — pg. 263

“For almost six years, while the Depression was on, we floundered in the cycle of fear of poverty. During the periods when we were at war or faced with terror, we were in the cycle of fear of death. Even in periods of prosperity and peace, we are in the cycle of fear of ill health, as evidenced by the epidemic of various diseases which spread themselves all over the world.”

THOUGHT IMPULSES BEGIN IMMEDIATELY TO TRANSLATE THEMSELVES INTO THEIR PHYSICAL EQUIVALENT, WHETHER THOSE THOUGHTS ARE VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY.

“Human beings have the ability to control their mind completely.” — pg. 263/264

The ‘29 crash crystallized and manifested into the depression

“Following the Wall Street crash of 1929, the people of America were compelled to think of poverty. Slowly but surely that mass thought was crystallized into its physical equivalent, which was known as a “depression.” This had to happen. It is in conformity with the laws of Nature.

“If you want riches, you must refuse to accept any circumstance that leads toward poverty.” — pg. 264

“The starting point of the path that leads to riches is desire.”

“If you demand riches, determine what form and how much will be required to satisfy you. You know the road that leads to riches.” — pg. 265

No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility if you now fail or refuse to demand riches of life. The acceptance calls for but one thing—the only thing you can control—and that is a state of mind. A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased; it must be created.
Fear of poverty is a state of mind, nothing else!
This fear paralyzes the faculty of reason, destroys the faculty of imagination, kills off self-reliance, undermines enthusiasm, discourages initiative, leads to uncertainty of purpose, encourages procrastination, wipes out enthusiasm and makes self-control an impossibility. It takes the charm from one’s personality, destroys the possibility of accurate thinking, diverts concentration of effort; it master persistence, turns the willpower into nothingness, destroys ambition, beclouds the memory and invites failure in every conceivable form; it kills love and assassinates the finer emotions of the heart, discourages friendship and invites disaster in a hundred forms, leads to sleeplessness, misery and unhappiness—and all this despite the obvious truth that we live in a society of overabundance of everything the heart could desire, with nothing standing between us and our desires, except lack of a definite purpose.
The fear of poverty is, without doubt, the most destructive of the six basics fears. It has been placed at the head of the list because it is the most difficult to master.
Nearly all animals lower than humans are motivated by instinct.
** Humans, with their superior sense of intuition, with the capacity to think and to reason, do not eat other humans bodily; they get more satisfaction out of “eating” them financially.

The age in which we live seems to be consumed by money-madness.

“Many marriages are motivated by the wealth possessed by one or both of the contracting parties. It is no wonder, therefore, that the divorce courts are busy.” — pg. 267

”You are after the truth. Get it, no matter at what cost, even though it may temporarily embarrass you!” — pg. 267

The majority of people, if asked what they fear most, would reply, “I fear nothing”. The reply would be inaccurate because few people realize that they are bound, handicapped, whipped spiritually and physically through some form of fear. So subtle and deeply seated is the emotion of fear that one may go through life burdened with it, never recognizing its presence. Only a courageous analysis will disclose the presence of this universal enemy.

Symptoms of the Fear of Poverty

INDIFFERENCE. Commonly expressed through lack of ambition; willingness to tolerate poverty; acceptance of whatever compensation life may offer without protest; mental and physical laziness; lack of initiative, imagination, enthusiasm and self-control.
INDECISION. The habit of permitting others to do one’s thinking; staying “on the fence.”
DOUBT. Generally expressed through alibis and excuses designed to cover up, explain away or apologize for one’s failures
WORRY. Usually expressed by finding fault with others; a tendency to spend beyond one’s income; lack of poise; limited self-control; self-consciousness and lack of self-reliance.
OVERCAUTION. The habit of looking for the negative side of every circumstance, thinking and talking of possible failure instead of concentrating upon the means of succeeding; waiting for the “right time”; remembering those who have failed; seeing the hole in the doughnut but overlooking the doughnut
PROCRASTINATION. The habit of putting off until tomorrow matters that should have been done last year; doubt and worry; refusal to accept responsibility; willingness to compromise rather than put up a stiff fight; compromising with difficulties instead of harnessing and using them as stepping stones to advancement; bargaining with life for a penny instead of demanding prosperity; opulence, riches, contentment and happiness; planning what to do if and when overtaken by failure instead of burning all bridges and making retreat impossible; excepting poverty instead of demanding riches.

The Fear of Criticism

Most people are at the least very uncomfortable when criticized.
Parents often do their children irreparable injury by criticizing them.
Criticism is the one form of service of which everyone has too much.
Criticism will plant fear or resentment in the human heart but it will not build love or affection.

The Fear of Ill Health

This fear may be traced to both physical and social heredity.
In the main, ill health is feared because of the suffering it causes and the fear and uncertainty of what may happen when death comes. In addition, there is the fear of the economic toll it may claim.

The Fear of Lose of Love

One of the distinguishing symptoms of this fear is jealousy; being suspicious of friends and loved ones without any reasonable evidence.

The Fear of Old Age

The Fear of Death

“The undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns.” — as Shakespeare said in Hamlet
Death will come, no matter what anyone may think about it.
Accept it as a necessity and pass the thought out of your mind. It must be a necessity or it would not come at all.
The entire world is made up of only two things, energy and matter

** In elementary physics we learn that neither matter not energy (the only two known realities) can be created or destroyed. Both matter and energy can be transformed.

Life, like other forms of energy, may be passed through various processes of transition or change, but it cannot be destroyed. Death is mere transition.

Death is nothing but a long, eternal peaceful sleep, and sleep is nothing to be feared.

Worry

It works slowly but persistently. It is insidious and subtle. Step by step it “digs itself in” until it paralyzes one’s reasoning faculty and destroys self-confidence and initiative.
During periods of economic unrest, people are handicapped not only by their inherent tendency to be slow at reaching decisions, but also by the indecision of others around them who have created a state of “mass indecision”.
Whip the fear of poverty by reaching a decision to get along with whatever wealth you can accumulate without worry. Put your foot upon the neck of the fear of criticism.
Acquit yourself of the fear of ill health. Kill the habit of worry.
A person whose mind is filled with fear not only destroys their own chances of intelligent action, but transmits these destructive vibrations to the minds of other people and destroys their chances as well
Even a dog or a horse knows when its master lacks courage; moreover, a dog or horse will pick up the vibrations of fear thrown off by its master, and behave accordingly.
A honeybee immediately sense fear in the mind of the person. For reasons unknown, a bee will sting the person whose mind is releasing vibrations of fear.
The vibrations of fear pass from one mind to another just as quickly and as surely as the sound of the human voice passes from the broadcasting station to the receiving and by the self-same medium.
Mental telepathy is a reality. Thoughts pass from one mind to another voluntarily.
The release of destructive thought impulses alone, without the aid of words, also produces a “kickback” in more ways than one.

First, the person who releases thoughts of a destructive nature must suffer damange through the breaking down of the faculty of creative imagination.
Second, the presence in the mind of any destructive emotion develops a negative personality that repels people, and often converts them into antagonists.
Third, thought impulses are not only damaging to others but they imbed themselves in the subconscious mind of the person releasing them, and there become a part of their character.

When a thought is released, it spreads in every direction through the medium of the ether, but it also plants itself permanently in the subconscious mind of the person releasing it.

All of these evidences of success begin in the form of thought impulses.
You may control your own mind; you have the power to feed it whatever thought impulses you choose.

Ch. 16 Notes — The Devil’s Workshop:

(The Seventh Basic Evil)

IT IS MORE DEEPLY SEATED AND MORE OFTEN FATTAL THAN ALL OF THE SIX FEARS. For want of a better name, let us call this evil susceptibility to negative influences. — pg. 277

People who accumulate great riches always protect themselves against this evil. The poverty stricken never do. Those who succeed in any calling must prepare their minds to resist the evil.

Moreover, its weapon is intangible because it consists of merely a state of mind. This evil is also dangerous because it strikes in as many different forms as there are human experiences. Sometimes it enters the mind through the well-meant words of one’s own relatives. At other times it bores from within, through one’s own mental attitude. Always it is as deadly as poison, even though it may not kill as quickly. — pg. 278

How to Protect Yourself Against Negative Influences (pg. 278)

“To protect yourself against negative influences, whether of your own making or the result of the activities of negative people around you, recognize that you have a willpower.”
“Keep your mind closed against all people who depress or discourage you in any way.”
“Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act for yourself.”
“Do not expect troubles as they have a tendency not to disappoint.”

“Without doubt, the most common weakness of all human beings is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people.”

Self-analysis Test Questions

Do you complain often of “feeling bad”? 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? If so, why?
Are you sarcastic and offensive in your conversation?
Do you deliberately avoid the association of anyone? 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? If so, why?
Do you like your occupation? If not, why?
Do you often feel self-pity? 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 depths of despondency?
Who has the most inspiring influence upon you? What is the cause?
Do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences that 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 call yourself a “spineless weakling” if you permitted others to do your thinking for you?
Do you neglect internal bathing until autointoxication 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 willpower 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 have you 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?
Do others easily influence you, against your own judgment?
Has today added anything of value to your stock of knowledge or state of mind?
Do you face squarely the circumstances that 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 that 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 you to keep your own 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 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 you consider to be friends is, in reality, your worst enemy because of their negative influence on your mind?
By what rules do you judge who is helpful and who is damaging to you?
Are you 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
helps you most in other ways?

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 your mind often? If so, why?
** Do you usually finish everything you begin?
** Are you easily impressed by other people’s business or professional titles, university 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 you?
How much time have you devoted to studying and answering these questions? (At least one day is necessary for analyzing and answering the entire list)

Come back to them once each week for several months.

“If you fail to control your own mind, you may be sure you will control nothing else.” — pg. 284
“Your mind is your spiritual estate!” — pg. 284

“Mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit.” — pg. 286

** People with negative minds tried to convince Thomas A. Edison that he could not build a machine that would record and reproduce the human voice…. Edison did not believe them. He knew that the mind could produce anything the mind could conceive and believe, and that knowledge was the thing that lifted him above the common herd.
Men with negative minds told F.W. Woolworth he would go “broke”. Exercising his right to keep other men’s negative suggestions out of his mind, he piled up a fortune of more than a hundred million dollars.
Men with negative minds told George Washington he could not hope to win against the vastly superior forces of the British, but he exercised his divine right to believe.
Doubting Thomases scoffed scornfully when Henry Ford tried out his first crudely built automobile on the streets of Detroit. Some said the thing would never become practical. Others said no one would pay money for such a contraption. Ford said, “I’ll belt the earth with dependable motor cars.”

55 Famous Alibis

IF only I didn’t have a wife and family….
IF only I had enough “pull”….
IF only I had money….
IF only I had a good education….
IF only I could get a job….
IF only I had good health….
IF only I had time….
IF only times were better….
IF only other people understood me….
IF only conditions around me were different….
IF only I could live my life over again….
IF only I did not fear what “they” would say….
IF only I had been given a chance….
IF only I now I had a chance….
IF only other people didn’t “have it in for me”….
IF only nothing happened to stop me….
IF only I were younger….
IF only I could do what I want….
IF only I had been born rich….
IF only I could meet “the right people”….
IF only I had the talent some people have….
IF only I dared assert myself….
IF only I had embraced past opportunities….
IF only people didn’t get on my nerves….
IF only I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children….
IF only I could save some money….
IF only the boss appreciated me….
IF only I had somebody to help me….
IF only my family understood me….
IF only I lived in a big city….
IF only I could just get started….
IF only I were free….
IF only I had the personality of some people….
IF only I were not so fat….
IF only my talents were known….
IF only I could just get a “break”….
IF only I could get out of debt….
IF only I hadn’t failed….
IF only I knew how….
IF only everybody didn’t oppose me….
IF only I didn’t have so many worries….
IF only I could marry the right person….
IF only people weren’t so dumb….
IF only my family were not so extravagant….
IF only I were sure of myself….
IF only luck were not against me….
IF only I had not been born under the wrong star….
IF only it were not true that “what is to be will be”….
IF only I did not have to work so hard….
IF only I hadn’t lost my money….
IF only I lived in a different neighbordhood….
IF only I didn’t have a “past”….
IF only I had a business of my own….
IF only other people would listen to me….
IF only— and this is the greatest of them all— 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. I know 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.

“An alibi is the child of one’s own imagination. It is human nature to defend one’s own brainchild.” — pg. 289
“Building alibis is a deeply rooted habit. Habits are difficult to break….” — pg. 289
Plato: “The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”
Another philosopher: “It was a great surprise to me when I discovered that most of the ugliness I saw in others was but a reflection of my own nature.”
Elbert Hubbard: “It has always been a mystery to me, why people spend so much time deliberately fooling themselves by creating alibis to cover their weaknesses. If used differently, this same time would be sufficient to cure the weakness, then no alibis would be needed.”
Emerson: “If we were related, we shall meet.”

Thereafter Emerson’s quote, in pg. 290 of the book, Napoleon Hill also says: In closing, may I borrow his thought, and say, “If we are related, we have, through these pages, met.”

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