Think and Grow Rich

by Napoleon Hill

Who does not remember the day when, if a citizen enquired at the ticket office, the time of departure of a train, he was abruptly referred to the bulletin board instead of being politely given the information?

in the final analysis, both the employer and his employee are employed by the public they serve. If they fail to serve well, they pay by the loss of their privilege of serving.

Among several very significant discoveries, was the fact that greed on the part of operators and their employees was the chief cause of the loss of business for the operators, and loss of jobs for the miners.

we are where we are, and what we are, because of our own conduct!

Personal services effectively, (which means a permanent market, at a satisfactory price, under pleasant conditions), one must adopt and follow the “QQS” formula which means that quality, plus quantity, plus the proper spirit of cooperation, equals perfect salesmanship of service. Remember the “QQS” formula, but do more — apply it as a habit!

Quality of service shall be construed to mean the performance of every detail, in connection with your position, in the most efficient manner possible, with the object of greater efficiency always in mind.

Quantity of service shall be understood to mean the habit of rendering all the service of which you are capable, at all times, with the purpose of increasing the amount of service rendered as greater skill is developed through practice and experience. Emphasis

Spirit of service shall be construed to mean the habit of agreeable, harmonious conduct which will induce cooperation from associates and fellow employees.

Adequacy of quality and quantity of service is not sufficient to maintain a permanent market for your services. The conduct, or the spirit in which you deliver service, is a strong determining factor in connection with both the price you receive, and the duration of employment.

He emphasized again, and again, the necessity for harmonious conduct. He stressed the fact that he would not retain any man, no matter how great a quantity, or how efficient the quality of his work, unless he worked in a spirit of harmony. Mr. Carnegie insisted upon men being agreeable.

he permitted many men who conformed to his standards to become very wealthy. Those who did not conform, had to make room for others.

The importance of a pleasing personality has been stressed, because it is a factor which enables one to render service in the proper spirit. If one has a personality which pleases, and renders service in a spirit of harmony, these assets often make up for deficiencies in both the quality, and the quantity of service one renders.

The person whose income is derived entirely from the sale of personal services is no less a merchant than the man who sells commodities, and it might well be added, such a person is subject to exactly the same rules of conduct as the merchant who sells merchandise.

the majority of people who live by the sale of personal services make the mistake of considering themselves free from the rules of conduct, and the responsibilities attached to those who are engaged in marketing commodities.

The day of the “go-getter” has passed. He has been supplanted by the “go-giver.” High-pressure methods in business finally blew the lid off. There will never be the need to put the lid back on, because, in the future, business will be conducted by methods that will require no pressure.

A fair estimate of the capital value of your services may be made by multiplying your annual income by sixteen and two-thirds, as it is reasonable to estimate that your annual income represents six percent of your capital value. Money rents for 6% per annum.

Money is worth no more than brains. It is often worth much less. Competent “brains,” if effectively marketed, represent a much more desirable form of capital than that which is required to conduct a business dealing in commodities, because “brains” are a form of capital which cannot be permanently depreciated through depressions, nor can this form of capital be stolen or spent. Moreover, the money which is essential for the conduct of business is as worthless as a sand dune, until it has been mixed with efficient “brains.”

Life’s greatest tragedy consists of men and women who earnestly try, and fail! The tragedy lies in the overwhelmingly large majority of people who fail, as compared to the few who succeed. I have had the privilege of analyzing several thousand men and women, 98% of whom were classed as “failures.” There is something radically wrong with a civilization, and a system of education, which permit 98% of the people to go through life as failures.

a description of the thirty major causes of failure will be given.

Unfavorable hereditary background. There is but little, if anything, which can be done for people who are born with a deficiency in brain power. This philosophy offers but one method of bridging this weakness-through the aid of the Master Mind. Observe with profit, however, that this is the only one of the thirty causes of

failure which may not be easily corrected by any individual.

Lack of a well-defined purpose in life. There is no hope of success for the person who does not have a central purpose, or definite goal at which to aim. Ninety-eight out of every hundred of those whom I have analyzed, had no such aim. Perhaps this was the major cause of their failure. Lack of ambition to aim above mediocrity. We offer no hope for the person who ...

Insufficient education. This is a handicap which may be overcome w...

the best-educated people are often those who are known as “self-mad...

Any person who is educated is one who has learned to get whatever he wants in life without vio...

Men are paid, not merely for what they know, but more particularly for what they do with that which they know.

Lack of self-discipline. Discipline comes through self-control. This means that one must control all negative qualities.

you must first control yourself. Self-mastery is the hardest job ...

If you do not conquer self, you will be con...

important

Ill health. No person may enjoy outstanding success without good health. Many of the causes of ill health are subject to mastery and control.

A.Overeating of foods not conducive to health. B.Wrong habits of thought; giving expression to negatives. C.Wrong use of, and over indulgence in sex. D.Lack of proper physical exercise. E.An inadequate supply of fresh air, due to improper breathing.

work on desperately

Unfavorable environmental influences during childhood. “As the twig is bent, so shall the tree grow.” Most people who have criminal tendencies acquire them as the result of bad environment, and improper associates during childhood.

important

Procrastination. This is one of the most common causes of failure.

stands within the shadow of every human being, waiting his opportunity to spoil o...

Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the “time to be right” to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have...

Lack of persistence. Most of us are good “starters” but poor “finishers” ...

Moreover, people are prone to give up at the first signs of defeat. There is no su...

Failure cannot cope with persistence.

Negative personality. There is no hope of success for the person who repels people through a negative personality.

Lack of controlled sexual urge. Sex energy is the most powerful of all the stimuli which move people into action.

Uncontrolled desire for “something for nothing.”

Lack of a well defined power of decision. Men who succeed reach decisions promptly, and change them, if at all, very slowly.

Indecision and procrastination are twin brothers.

Kill off this pair before they completely “hog-tie” you to the t...

Wrong selection of a mate in marriage.

This a most common cause of failure.

Over-caution. The person who takes no chances, generally has to take whatever is left when others are through choosing. Over-caution is as bad as under-caution.

Wrong selection of associates in business. This is one of the most common causes of failure in business.

one should use great care to select an employer who will be an inspiration, and who is, himself, intelligent and successful.

Pick an employer who is worth...