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

Shannon

Source: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Going the Extra Mile

Render more and better service than that for which you are paid, and sooner or later you will receive compound interest on compound interest from your investment. For it is inevitable that every seed of useful service you sow will multiply itself and come back to you in overwhelming abundance.The most successful people are those who serve the greatest number of people.

I am a firm believer in this principle. If you want to succeed in anything you have to give more and do more than what is expected or for what you’re being paid to do… providing you like what it is that you’re doing.

In the book The Law of Success, I found that Napoleon went on the assumption that you are in a job that you like, so going the extra mile and rendering more service would be beneficial to your success at that company.

Most people unfortunately do not like their job and going the extra mile is just not worthwhile unless their goals are to get a better position within the company.

I found personally that I couldn’t relate to going the extra mile at my job because I had no interest in moving up in the company. It wasn’t until I discovered Internet Marketing and joined the military that I found it easy to go above and beyond what people expect of me.

Now I really enjoy helping others and have no expectation of anything in return. It gives me great joy in helping people accomplish their goals (no matter how big or small they are).

Shannon

… Here is a man who was born of poor parents. Since the first day that he can remember he has seen evidence of poverty. He has hard talk of poverty. He has felt the icy hand of poverty on his shoulders and it has so impressed him that he fixes it in his mind as a curse to which “he must submit”. Quite unconsciously he permits himself to fall victim of the belief “once poor always poor” until that belief becomes the dominating thought of his mind. He resembles a horse that has been harnessed and broken until it forgets that it has the potential power with which to throw off that harness. Auto-suggestion is rapidly relegating him to the back of the stage of life. Finally he becomes a “quitter”. Ambition is gone. Opportunity comes his way no longer, or if it does he has not the vision to see it. He has accepted his FATE! It is a well established fact that the faculties of the mind, like the limbs of the body, atrophy and wither away if not used. self-confidence is no exception. It develops when used but disappears if not used…

This is something that I can fully relate with. After my parent’s divorced when I was around the age of 11, my mother supported both my brother and I. Being a seasonal worker at the local fish plant, she never had a lot of money. Times were hard. I remember when I was so cold in my room that I had to use a hair dryer under my sheets to stay warm.

She did her best though and we managed. We had a roof over our heads and food on the table and that is what matters the most.

Since my humble beginnings I haven’t pushed myself to have more than a paycheck to paycheck existence. Sure, I’ve taken on second jobs, started small businesses, etc, to supplement my income, but never really “going for the gold”. Going about my day being comfortable with my poor existence with the hopes of things getting better. I felt that because of my past, there was no way that I could be rich.

I’ve since realized (thanks to Napoleon Hill) that my past does not dictate my future. I know that I am in full control of my life and have full confidence that I will succeed. This did not come naturally however, I had to work on this confidence. I still have to overcome many self doubts and the fear of what others might think. My poor past created this lack of confidence, but I choose to ignore it. Now-a-days I just shrug off the feeling and just push myself to keep going. I’m less concerned about public opinion as I used to be. I figured if I concentrate on helping others and providing useful information, that is all that truly matters.

-Shannon

“Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” -Danny Thomas

Was Napoleon Hill a Liar? That’s a strong statement isn’t it? Do I believe that he was a liar? Of course not, I’m a huge fan of Napoleon and admire his work greatly.

Sometimes, however, I come across things that seem to be a bit of a stretch, maybe a little exaggeration of the truth by Napoleon. Today was one of those days. Earlier I was reading The Law of Success when I came across this paragraph:

… For more than twenty years I have been gathering, classifying, and organizing the material that has gone into the course. During the past fourteen years I have analyzed more than 16,000 men and women, and all of the vital facts gathered from these analyzes have been carefully organized and woven into this course…

That statement struck me as odd. Napoleon stated that he gathered vital facts and analyzed over 16,000 men and women in fourteen years. That means that he would have had to gather this information and do an analysis on the information on 3 people every single day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 14 years without once taking a break. I find it very unlikely that back in the early 1900s when communication wasn’t the easiest (ie no skype around then) that someone could have prepared, gathered, and analyzed information from over 16,000 people.

So did Napoleon provide accurate information or did he exaggerate a bit on the numbers?

What do you think?

Since discovering the teachings of Napoleon Hill I have begun to change my life for the better. It amazes me that for most of my life I have never heard of Mr. Hill. From my parents, school, family, friends, neighbors, college, etc, I don’t recall anyone ever mentioning Think and Grow Rich or Napoleon.

Millions of copies of his book Think and Grow Rich has been sold and is attributed by many millionaires as the primary source for their success. It has been translated into many languages. Many corporations have purchased thousands of copies to give to employees and have seen huge profits as a result.

Napoleon’s original work The Law of Success (which TGR was derived from) is a complete course on success which is based on Napoleon’s 25 years of business and professional experience and research. One of the original copies of the manuscripts was submitted to a prominent university with the request it to be read by a competent professor with the object of eliminating or correcting any statements that appeared to be unsound. The manuscripts were carefully examined, with the result that not a single change was made with the exception of one or two slight changes in wording.

Here is a statement that this professor prepared:

“It is a tragedy that every boy and girl who enters high school is not efficiently drilled on the fifteen major parts of your Reading Course on the Law of Success. It is regrettable that the great university with which I am connected, and every other university, does not include your course as part of its curriculum”

Even before reading this statement in The Law of Success I had chosen this as my definite major purpose in life. I want to get the principles of success instilled into children through TV shows, games, books, etc.

I’m particularly interested in Napoleon’s success principles because they’re about life riches, not just monetary riches. True richness is not determined by the amount of money in your bank account. True richness comes from having a healthy body, a healthy mind, a loving home, and financially security. Notice I put financially security at the end of that list. Money, although very important to overall happiness, is not the driving force behind true richness. There are many financially rich men/women in this world that are very miserable.

I believe in the benefits of these principles and know if they were taught to children from an early age it will prove to benefit them for their entire life. This is my dream, my goal, my definite major purpose in life.

Shannon

So, instead of trying to give my thoughts and opinions on this principle, I’m just going to repeat it here:

So, what do you think?

I first heard this essay/poem by Napoleon on the “Your Right to be Rich” audio CD which is a recording of a live seminar he did back in the mid 1950s in Chicago, IL.

This essay, which he called “A Challenge to Life” should be printed out and read daily before you head out in the morning. It is one of the most motivational poems/essays that I have ever read.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pick up your copy of Napoleon Hill’s Your Right to be Rich on Amazon. You won’t regret it. Simply amazing.

Mastermind alliance, joint venture, business partners, cooperation… Call it what you want, you need a mastermind alliance with others to be successful.

A mastermind alliance in its simplest form is just people working together for a common goal. A true mastermind alliance however is much different and is formed when a group of two or more people come together and work in perfect harmony. When you come together in perfect harmony with a group of people your energy is mixed with theirs and together you have much more power than any one individual alone.

The John Donne quote “No man is an island” does a great job to summarize that no one can be successful without the aid of others. Even the lone inventer slaving away in his basement still needs the help of others to manufacture and market his invention when ready.

It took me some time to realize this myself. I spent years online alone trying to make money. I felt I could do everything myself. It wasn’t until I came across Ed Dale‘s Thirty Day Challenge that I realized that working alone just doesn’t make sense.

Now I’m an active member of the Thirty Day Challenge and have become friends with Ed Dale, Dan Raine and many other great people that are part of their circle of influence. I feel truly blessed to have such great friends online and many doors have been opened as a result of this friendship (and alliance).

“No man can become a permanent success without taking others along with him.” -Napoleon Hill Quote

Take my word, if you want to be successful you need to start today to finding like-minded people that you can work with and build friendships with. The key though is not to try and befriend a bunch of people. If you truly want to find friends, then start by helping people. If you help others without expectation of anything in return, you will soon find that your efforts will be returned.

Previous: Definiteness of Purpose

Most people never get past this hopes and wishes stage. They spend their entire life waiting for someone to take notice and give them a break.

For many years I was the same.  I kept hoping for a new job and wondering if my big break would come.  I knew that I could do more with my life, but felt powerless that I could do anything about it.

Since discovering the book “Think and Grow Rich”, I now realize that my life is what I make of it and my future will not be solely based on the decisions of others.  The failures and lack of direction in my past will influence my future, but will not dictate it.

I now have a definite major purpose in life.  A life-long goal that will (in my opinion) benefit mankind for years to come.  I have big plans and big ideas.   I don’t know yet how to make these plans a realty, but that’s not important.  I know my destination and the direction I need to travel.  This is all I need.

And this is all you need as well to change your life.  If you take the time to figure out exactly what it is that you want you can begin today to make a plan to obtain it.   Just how you’re going to do it is not important at this stage.

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action. – Napoleon Hill Quote

Just like taking a road trip across the country.  You don’t need to see the entire journey, you just need to be going in the right direction and be able to see just a few hundred feet ahead of you.   If you have a major purpose in life and start today to head towards that goal you will get to your destination.  You may have to change your path or take a few detours along the way, but you will get there.

Next: Mastermind Alliance

Think and Grow Rich – Revised and Updated for the 21st Century – This copy of Think and Grow Rich is a revised version of the classic novel written by Napoleon Hill back in the early 1900. Much of the original content is still intact, however the editor has made complimentory notes to provide more value tothe reader as well as to provide real life examples in the 21st century. These additional comments and examples provide additional proof that the teachings of Napoleon apply just as much today as they did back when they were originally written. A nice addition to one’s library.

Think and Grow Rich – Original Classic – This is the first book I’ve read by Napoleon Hill. Prior to reading this book, I never knew who Napoleon was. I’ve heard his name mentioned many times by online marketers and many of them attributed this book to their success. I originally borrowed the book from the library, but since have purchased it. I’m glad I own a copy of this original classic. I’ve read this book at least 4-5 times or more. One thing that surprised me is that the information that Hill thought back in the early 1900 are just as applicable today.

Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement - I haven’t had the chance to read this one yet. I am currently reading “The Law of Success”. Based on the 5 star rating on Amazon from 25 people who have reviews this book, I suspect I will be adding this one to my library as well.

Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude – I actually own a copy of this book in audio. As with any product by Napoleon, you can’t go wrong with reading it. If you’ve never read anything by Napoleon before, I would not recommend this as your first read. This book would make a great addition to your library though.

Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules: The Lost Writings – This is one that I REALLY want to get for my library. I have no idea if it’s any good, but love the name and I’m very curious to find out what it’s about!

The Law of Success: The Master Wealth-Builder’s Complete and Original Lesson Plan for Achieving Your Dreams – This is one BIG book! I just recently purchased this book and really looking forward to reading it. My initial impression is that this is not a book for beginners. For beginners I highly recommend Think and Grow Rich.

Think and Grow Rich – Revised and Updated for the 21st Century

Think and Grow Rich Deluxe Edition

Audio Books / Recordings

Think and Grow Rich (Your Coach in a Box)

Think and Grow Rich (Original, Unabridged Edition 12 CD Set) - I own this version of Napoleon’s classic. I’m a big fan of audio books. I usually read the book initially and then listen to the audio version to absorb as much as the information as possible. Great audio product.

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude - This is another audio book that I own, but I must admit that I can’t say that I really enjoyed it. I actually found it boring. I don’t know if it was me at the time or the book itself. I will be giving it a second go to make sure.

Your Right To Be Rich - I love this product!!! This has to be one of my favorite of all time. In case you didn’t know this is actually a recording of a seminar that Napoleon did back in the early 1950s in Chicago. It’s really refreshing to hear the legend in his own voice. When you listen to this, you get the feeling that you are there in the room with the other attendees. I found the seminar to be entertaining and informative and really helped bring home Napoleon’s teachings. I’ve lost count on the number of times I’ve listened to this product. It’s truly amazing and a must have for everyone!