Think and Grow Rich

by Napoleon Hill

Superstition and prejudice. Superstition is a form of fear. It is also a sign of ignorance. Men who succeed keep open...

Wrong selection of a vocation. No man can succeed in a line of endeavor w...

Lack of concentration of effort. The “jack-of-all-trades”

Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim.

The habit of indiscriminate spending. The spend-thrift cannot succeed, mainly because he stands eternally in fear of poverty. Form the habit of systematic saving by putt...

Lack of enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm one cannot be convincing.

enthusiasm is contagious, and the person who has it, under control, is generally welcome in any group of people.

Intolerance. The person with a “closed” mind on any subject seldom gets ahead. Intolerance means that one h...

Intemperance. The most damaging forms of intemperance are connected with eating, strong drink, and sexual activities. Overindulgence in any of these is fatal to success.

Inability to cooperate with others. More people lose their positions and their big opportunities in life, because of this fault, than for all other reasons combined.

Possession of power that was not acquired through self-effort. (Sons and daughters of wealthy men, and others who inherit money which they did not earn). Power in the hands of one who did not acquire it gradually, is often fatal to success.

Intentional dishonesty. There is no substitute for honesty.

there is no hope for the person who is dishonest by choice.

Egotism and vanity. These qualities serve as red lights which warn others to keep away. They are fatal to success. Guessing instead of thinking.

Most people are too indifferent or lazy to acquire facts with which to think accurately.

Lack of capital. This is a common cause of failure among those who start out in business for the first time,

“Man, know thyself!” If you market merchandise successfully, you must know the merchandise. The same is true in marketing personal services. You should know all of your weaknesses in order that you may either bridge them or eliminate them entirely.

You can know yourself only through accurate analysis.

be sure that you are worth more than you now receive.

money-everyone wants more-but it is something entirely different to be worth more! Many people mistake their wants for their just dues.

Your value is established entirely by your ability to render useful service or your capacity to induce others to render such service.

Annual self-analysis is an essential in the effective marketing of personal services, as is annual inventory in merchandising. Moreover, the yearly analysis should disclose a decrease in faults, and an increase in virtues.

Annual self-analysis will disclose whether advancement has been, made, and if so, how much. It will also disclose any backward steps one may have made.

move forward even if the progress is slow.

Take this inventory by asking yourself the following questions, and by checking your answers with the aid of someone who will not permit you to deceive yourself as to their accuracy.

Have I attained the goal which 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 ...

Has the spirit of my conduct been harmonious, and coopera...

Have I permitted the habit of procrastination to decrease my efficiency, and...

Have I improved my personality, and if so...

Have I been persistent in following my plans throu...

Have I reached decisions promptly and definitely ...

Have I permitted any one or more of the six basic fears to dec...

Have I been either “over-cautious,” or “u...

Has my relationship with my associates in work been pleasant, or unpleasant? If it has been unpleasant, has the f...

Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of concen...

Have I been open minded and tolerant in connection w...

In what way have I improved my ability to ...

Have I been intemperate in any o...

Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any ...

Has my conduct toward my associates been such that it has induced...

Have my opinions and decisions been based upon guesswork, or accuracy of...

Have I followed the habit of budgeting my time, my expenses, and my income, and have I been co...

How much time have I devoted to unprofitable effort which I might have us...

How may I re-budget my time, and change my habits so I will be more efficient...

Have I been guilty of any conduct which was not approved...

In what ways have I rendered more service and better service than ...

Have I been unfair to anyone, and if so...

If I had been the purchaser of my own services for the year, would I be sati...