Napoleon Hill Is on the Air!: The Five Foundations for Success

by Napoleon Hill

The next factor in the fundamentals of Applied Faith is to maintain a positive mind free from all negatives such as fear, envy, hatred, jealousy, and greed.

And next, recognition of the fact that every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit, and that temporary defeat is not failure until and unless it has been accepted as such.

The Card Commentator: That’s great philosophy. Would you mind telling us what are the first steps you take when a person becomes a member of one of your Mastermind personal counsel groups? Just what is required of that person? Dr. Hill: First of all, I must have a clear mental picture of every member of my Mastermind alliance. I must have a look at what goes on in his or her mind so I may know where to begin making corrections. The first thing a member is required to do is to fill out a card on which is set down a list of the things that this person must acquire in order to become a success from his or her viewpoint. The questions on that card read as follows: What is your major desire in life? By what date do you desire to acquire it? What will you give in return to entitle you to it? What amount of money do you wish to accumulate for security and old age? On the reverse side of this card, write down a briefly outlined list of everything else you desire.

At the bottom of that card is the following commitment, which must be signed: “I believe that I now possess in my mind the things I have listed on this card, and I promise to carry out Napoleon Hill’s instructions to the letter so that these things may come into my physical possession.”