Think and Grow Rich

by Napoleon Hill

riches are not beyond your reach, that you can still be what you wish to be, that money, fame, recognition and happiness can be had by all who are ready and determined to have these blessings.

all achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea!

Together with Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People and Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking, it became essential reading for men and women who pursued success in their lives and careers.

That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often comes disguised in the form of misfortune or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognise opportunity.

One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.

WHEN RICHES BEGIN TO COME, THEY COME SO QUICKLY, IN SUCH GREAT ABUNDANCE, THAT ONE WONDERS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN HIDING DURING ALL THOSE LEAN YEARS.

Success comes to those who become success conscious. Failure comes to those who indifferently allow themselves to become failure conscious.

Henry Ford is a success because he understands and applies the principles of success. One of these is desire: knowing what one wants.

1. 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.) 2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as ‘something for nothing’.) 3. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after rising in the morning. AS YOU READ, SEE AND FEEL AND BELIEVE YOURSELF ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF THE MONEY.

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

To make this ‘deceit’ more realistic, conduct yourself just as you would if you were ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF THE MATERIAL THING WHICH YOU ARE DEMANDING when you call upon your subconscious mind.

FAITH is the ‘eternal elixir’ which gives life, power and action to the impulse of thought!

If a person repeats a lie over and over, the lie will eventually be accepted as truth. Moreover, it will be believed to be the truth. Each of us is what we are because of the dominating thoughts we permit to occupy our minds. Thoughts which are deliberately placed in our own mind, and encouraged with sympathy, and with which are mixed any one or more of the emotions, constitute the motivating forces. These forces direct and control our every movement, act and deed!

write out a statement of your major purpose, or Definite Chief Aim, commit it to memory and repeat it - in audible words, day after day - until these vibrations of sound have reached your subconscious mind.

Self-confidence Formula 1. 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. 2. I realise 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. 3. 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 . 4. 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. 5. I fully realise 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 people. I will induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness and cynicism by devel...

If you repeat a million times the famous Emil Coué formula, ‘Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better’, without mixing emotion and faith with your words, you will experience no desirable results.

Do not wait for a definite plan through which you intend to exchange services or merchandise in return for the money you are visualising. Begin at once to see yourself in possession of the money, demanding and expecting meanwhile that your subconscious mind will hand over the plan, or plans, you need. Be on the alert for these plans, and when they appear, put them into action immediately.

1. Go into some quiet spot (preferably in bed at night) where you will not be disturbed or interrupted. Close your eyes and repeat aloud (so you may hear your own words) 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. For example: suppose you intend to accumulate $100,000 by the first of January, five years hence, and that you intend to give personal services in return for the money in the capacity of a sales representative. Your written statement of your purpose should be similar to the following: ‘By the first day of January 20 ... I will have in my possession $100,000, which will come to me in various amounts from time to time during the interim. ‘In return for this money I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the fullest possible quantity and the best possible quality of service as a sales representative of (describe the service or merchandise you intend to sell). ‘I believe I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me in the proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it. I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money, and I will follow that ...

General knowledge, no matter how great in quantity or variety it may be, is of but little use in the accumulation of money.

To a large extent your major purpose in life, the goal towards which you are working, will help determine what knowledge you need. With this question settled, your next move requires that you have accurate information concerning dependable sources of knowledge. The more important of these are: a. One’s own experience and education b. Experience and education available through cooperation of others c. Colleges and universities d. Public libraries (through books and periodicals in which may be found all the knowledge organised by civilisation) e. Special training courses (through evening classes and distance-learning courses in particular)

If you have the imagination and seek a more profitable outlet for your services, this suggestion may be the stimulus for which you have been searching. The idea is capable of yielding an income far greater than that of the ‘average’ doctor, lawyer or engineer whose education required several years in college.

the idea is the main thing. Specialised knowledge may be found just around the corner - any corner!

CREATIVE IMAGINATION: Through the faculty of creative imagination, the finite mind of humankind has direct communication with Infinite Intelligence. It is the faculty through which ‘hunches’ and ‘inspirations’ are received.

You will now be instructed on how to build practical plans: 1. Ally yourself with a group of as many people as you may need for the creation and carrying out of your plan, or plans, for the accumulation of money, making use of the ‘Master Mind’ principle described in Chapter 9. (Compliance with this instruction is absolutely essential. Do not neglect it.) 2. 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. No one will work indefinitely without some form of compensation. No intelligent person will either request or expect another to work without adequate compensation, although this may not always be in the form of money 3. Arrange to meet with the members of your ‘Master Mind’ group at least twice a week, and more often if possible, until you have collectively perfected the necessary plan, or plans, for the accumulation of money. 4. Maintain perfect harmony between yourself and every member of your ‘Master Mind’ group. If you fail to carry out this instruction to the letter, you may expect to meet with failure. The ‘Master Mind’ principle cannot operate where perfect harmony does not prevail. Keep in mind these facts: a. You are engaged in an undertaking of major importance to you. To be sure of success, you must have plans that are faultless. b. You must have the advantage of the experience, education, natural ability and imagination of other minds. This is in...

It should be encouraging to know that practically all the great fortunes began in the form of compensation for services, or from the sale of ideas.

The following are important factors of leadership: 1. UNWAVERING COURAGE based upon knowledge of self and of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader for very long. 2. SELF-CONTROL. People who cannot control themselves can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate. 3. A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE. Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his or her followers. 4. DEFINITENESS OF DECISION. People who waver in decisions show that they are not sure of themselves. They cannot lead others successfully. 5. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS. The successful leader must plan the work, and work the plan. A leader who moves by guesswork without practical, definite plans is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later it will land on the rocks. 6. THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR. One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leaders, to do more than they require of their followers. 7. A PLEASING PERSONALITY. No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect leaders who do not score highly on all factors of a pleasing personality. 8. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. Successful leaders must be in sympathy with their followers. Moreover, they m...

The 10 Major Causes of Failure in Leadership We come now to the major faults of leaders who fail, because it is just as essential to know what not to do as it is to know what to do. 1. INABILITY TO ORGANISE DETAILS. Efficient leadership calls for ability to organise and to master details. No genuine leader is ever ‘too busy’ to do anything which may be required as a leader. When a leader or follower is ‘too busy’ to change plans or give attention to any emergency, it is an indication of inefficiency. The successful leader must be the master of all details connected with the position. That means, of course, that the habit of delegating details to capable lieutenants must be acquired. 2. UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE. Truly great leaders are willing, when occasion demands, to perform any sort of labour that they would ask another to perform. ‘The greatest among ye shall be the servant of all’ is a truth that all able leaders observe and respect. 3. EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY ‘KNOW’ INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH WHAT THEY KNOW. The world does not pay for what people ‘know’. It pays them for what they do, or induce others to do. 4. FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM FOLLOWERS. The leader who fears that one of his followers may take his position is practically sure to realise that fear sooner or later. Able leaders train understudies to whom they may delegate at will. Only in this way may leaders multiply themselves and prepare to be at many places, and give attention to ma...

QQS formula, which means that QUALITY, plus QUANTITY, plus the proper SPIRIT of cooperation equals perfect marketing of service.

QUALITY of service means 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. 2. QUANTITY of service means the HABIT of giving all the service of which you are capable, at all times, with the purpose of increasing the amount of service as you develop greater skill through practice and experience. Emphasis is again placed on the word HABIT. 3. SPIRIT of service means the HABIT of agreeable, harmonious conduct that 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.

to discover how many of these causes of failure stand between you and success. 1. UNFAVOURABLE HEREDITARY BACKGROUND. Little, if anything, can be done for people who are born with a deficiency in brainpower. This philosophy offers but one method of bridging this weakness - through the aid of the Master Mind (see page 193). Observe with profit, however, that this is the only one of the 30 causes of failure that may not be easily corrected by any individual. 2. 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 analysed had no such aim. Perhaps this was the major cause of their failure. 3. LACK OF AMBITION TO AIM ABOVE MEDIOCRITY. We offer no hope for the person who is so indifferent as not to want to get ahead in life, and who is not willing to pay the price. 4. INSUFFICIENT EDUCATION. This is a handicap that may be overcome with comparative ease. Experience has proven that the best-educated people are often those who are known as ‘self-made’ or self-educated. It takes more than a university degree to make one a person of education. Any person who is educated has learned to get whatever they want in life without violating the rights of others. Education consists not so much of knowledge, but of knowledge effectively and persistently applied. People are paid not merely for what they know, but more particularly for what...

Self-analysis Questionnaire for Personal Inventory 1. 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.) 2. Have I delivered service of the best possible quality of which I was capable, or could I have improved any part of this service? 3. Have I delivered service in the greatest possible quantity of which I was capable? 4. Has the spirit of my conduct been harmonious and cooperative at all times? 5. Have I permitted the habit of procrastination to decrease my efficiency, and if so, to what extent? 6. Have I improved my personality, and if so, in what ways? 7. Have I been persistent in following my plans through to completion? 8. Have I reached decisions promptly and definitely on all occasions? 9. Have I permitted any one or more of the six basic fears (see Chapter 15) to decrease my efficiency? 10. Have I been either ‘over-cautious’ or ‘under-cautious’? 11. 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? 12. Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of concentration of effort? 13. Have I been open-minded and tolerant in connection with all subjects? 14. In what way have I improved my ability to provide service? 15. Have I been intemperate in any of my habits? 16. Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any form of egotism? 17. Has my con...

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.

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

This power is made up of the principles described in this book. 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 ORGANISED PLANNING.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSISTENCE!

A good example of the power of persistence is show business. From all over the world people have come to Hollywood seeking fame, fortune, power, love, or whatever it is that human beings call success. Once in a great while someone steps out from the long procession of seekers, and the world hears that another person has mastered Hollywood. But Hollywood is not easily nor quickly conquered. It acknowledges talent, recognises genius and pays off in money only after one has refused to quit. The secret is always inseparably attached to one word, persistence!

Persistence is a state of mind, so it can be cultivated. Like all states of mind, persistence is based upon definite causes, including: 1. DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE. Knowing what you want is the first and, perhaps, the most important step towards the development of persistence. A strong motive forces you to surmount many difficulties. 2. DESIRE. It is comparatively easy to acquire and maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire. 3. SELF-RELIANCE. Belief in your ability to carry out a plan encourages you to follow the plan through with persistence. (Self-reliance can be developed through the principle described in Chapter 4 on autosuggestion). 4. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS. Organised plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence. 5. ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE. Knowing that your plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; ‘guessing’ instead of ‘knowing’ destroys persistence. 6. COOPERATION. Sympathy, understanding and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence. 7. WILLPOWER. The habit of concentrating your thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose leads to persistence. 8. HABIT. Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which it feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. Everyone who has seen active service in war knows...

These are the weaknesses that must be mastered by all who accumulate riches. 1. Failure to recognise and clearly define exactly what you want. 2. Procrastination, with or without cause (usually backed up with a formidable array of alibis and excuses). 3. Lack of interest in acquiring specialised knowledge. 4. Indecision, the habit of ‘passing the buck’ on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely (also backed by alibis). 5. The habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems. 6. Self-satisfaction. There is but little remedy for this affliction, and no hope for those who suffer from it. 7. Indifference, usually reflected in your readiness to compromise on all occasions, rather than meet opposition and fight it. 8. The habit of blaming others for your mistakes, and accepting unfavourable circumstances as being unavoidable. 9. Weakness of desire due to neglect in the choice of motives that impel action. 10. Willingness, even eagerness, to quit at the first sign of defeat (based upon one or more of the six basic fears). 11. Lack of organised plans, placed in writing where they may be analysed. 12. The habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or to grasp opportunity when it presents itself. 13. Wishing instead of willing. 14. The habit of compromising with poverty instead of aiming at riches - a general absence of ambition to be, to do and to own. 15. Searching for all the short-cuts to riches, trying to get without giving a fair...

If you press them for an answer, some will say security, many will say money, a few will say happiness, others will say fame and power and still others will say social recognition, ease in living, ability to sing, dance or write, but none of them will be able to define these terms, or give the slightest indication of a plan by which they hope to attain these vaguely expressed wishes.

There are four simple steps that lead to the habit of persistence. They call for no great amount of intelligence, no particular level of education and but little time or effort. The necessary steps are: 1. A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY A BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILMENT. 2. A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION. 3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAGING INFLUENCES, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances. 4. A FRIENDLY ALLIANCE WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BOTH PLAN AND PURPOSE.

Let us ascertain how power may be acquired. If power is ‘organised knowledge’, let us examine the sources of knowledge: 1. INFINITE INTELLIGENCE. This source of knowledge may be contacted through the procedure described in Chapter 6, with the aid of Creative Imagination. 2. ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE. The accumulated experience of humankind (or that portion of it which has been organised and recorded) may be found in any well-equipped public library. An important part of this accumulated experience is taught in schools and colleges, where it has been classified and organised. 3. EXPERIMENT AND RESEARCH. In the field of science, and in practically every other walk of life, people are gathering, classifying and organising new facts daily. 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.

Mr Carnegie’s Master Mind group consisted of a staff of approximately 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.

a group of brains coordinated (or connected) in a spirit of harmony will provide more thought-energy than a single brain, just as a group of electric batteries will provide more energy than a single battery.

The emotion of sex has behind it the possibility of three constructive potentialities: 1. The perpetuation of humankind. 2. The maintenance of health (as a therapeutic agency it has no equal). 3. The transformation of mediocrity into genius through transmutation.

So strong and impelling is the desire for sexual contact that people freely run the risk of life and reputation to indulge it. 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 (unfortunately, no similar studies have been made about highly successful women) has disclosed these significant facts: 1. The men of greatest achievement are those with highly developed sex natures; men who have learned the art of sex transmutation. 2. 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 stimuli to which the mind responds most freely are: 1. The desire for sex expression 2. Love 3. A burning desire for fame, power, financial gain, money 4. Music 5. Friendship between either those of the same sex or those of the opposite sex 6. A Master Mind alliance based upon the harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement 7. Mutual suffering, such as that experienced by people who are persecuted 8. Autosuggestion 9. Fear 10. Narcotics and alcohol

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: 1. Infinite Intelligence 2. The subconscious mind, in which is stored every sense impression and thought impulse that ever reached the brain through any of the five senses 3. The mind of some other person who has just released the thought, or picture of the idea or concept, through conscious thought 4. The other person’s subconscious storehouse

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, through the faculty of creative imagination. It is a fact well known to people who have ‘keen’ imaginations that their best ideas come through so-called ‘hunches’.

this is the sum and substance of the procedure: 1. 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. 2. 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.