Think and Grow Rich is the combined wisdom from more than 500 of America’s most successful individuals. Their insights were then narrowed down into 13 principles and contribute to what Hill refers to as an overall “Philosophy of Achievement.”
The book highlights the importance of thoughts and mind power. It talks about goals, success, focus, and most importantly growth.
Hill stated that the goals of his book were:
- To help the reader become self-aware.
- To help the reader understand how to become more effective amidst the immutable laws of the universe.
Success comes to those who become success conscious. Failure comes to those who indifferently allow themselves to become failure conscious.
Napoleon Hill’s 13 principles of success present a philosophy of achievement that is intended to be mulled over.
1. Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement
The key to success is to define a goal and to pour all of your energy, power, and effort into achieving it. It may take many years before you are successful, but if you hold onto your desire, you will eventually attain what you seek.
- Decide exactly how much money you wish to make, to the dollar.
- Determine what you are willing to give to receive this amount of money.
- Choose a date by which you want to have amassed this amount of money.
- Create a plan of how to achieve your goal and begin at once, whether you feel ready or not.
- Write all of the above down in a clear statement.
2. Faith: Visualization of and Belief in Attainment of Desire
By bringing a change in your thinking and by training your mind, faith can be induced for creating affirmations to the subconscious mind by orchestrating ways for positive emotions and blocking negative emotions.
- Know that you are capable of achieving your goal, and you must promise to be persistent in pursuit of this endeavor.
- The dominating thoughts of your mind will result in physical activity and change your reality. You must, therefore, spend 30 minutes each day thinking about the type of person you want to become.
- For ten minutes each day, focus on increasing your sense of self-confidence.
- Write down a description of your goal, and don’t stop reaching for it until it’s attained.
- Come to realize that you cannot have enduring success if you attained it through immoral means. Therefore, make a promise to only engage in a transaction if it benefits all that are involved. A negative attitude towards humanity will never bring you success.
3. Auto-Suggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind
It’s a way to affect the subconscious, influence it to the belief for taking control of decisions, feelings, and most important the actions. By repetitive conscious thoughts, we gain complete control of the mind.
Autosuggestion transmits our desires to the subconscious mind and solidates the faith.
Subconscious will only act upon feelings and thoughts that are felt.
- Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, and repeat aloud your written statement. As you do so, visualize having that money.
- Repeat this morning and night until you have a clear image in your mind of all the money you wish to make.
- Place this written statement where you can see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Read it until you have committed it to memory.
4. Specialized Knowledge
There are two types of knowledge: Specialized and general.
In order to achieve your desires, wish, and goals, the most important step is to gain personal experience of that particular thing. To become successful, you are required to have specialized knowledge of that product, service, or profession.
5. Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind
The author says humans are so powerful that they can achieve anything they desire. Ideas can be transformed into reality through our solid imagination.
According to Hill, there are two types of imagination: synthetic and creative.
- In synthetic imagination, you reformulate existing concepts, ideas, and plans into new forms. Nothing is created in this form of imagination because it works with existing mental material.
- Creative imagination is what springs forth from hunches and inspiration. Within it, new ideas are formed. This type of imagination can only be reached when your conscious mind is being stimulated through desire. It’s a muscle that must be trained.
6. Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire Into Action
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is organized planning. You must identify all clear steps you would take to convert your desires into achievements. Hoping to succeed is actually a hope against hope but executing the plan and be able to modify it to achieve your goals is the best course of action. Never give up on your goals and most importantly, never give up on yourselves.
- Ally yourself with a Master Mind group that consists of people who will help you carry out your plan.
- However, before assembling the group, be sure to ascertain what it is you can offer each of the members in return for their work.
- Meet with the group at least twice a week, or more if possible, until a solid plan has been created.
- Maintain good relations between you and the group at all times.
7. Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination
You can only become successful if you develop the ability to make a decision. All successful people make decisions instantly and they stick to their words. They do not change their mind quickly and give their decision a fair shot which means, you’ve got to develop the courage to stand by your decision and work hard on it to make it a pleasant reality by achieving your goals.
The most successful people make decisions quickly and definitely.
To be easily persuadable means that you lack the desire and, therefore, will not reach your goals.
8. Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith
In order to develop persistence, you have to define a definite purpose backed by a burning desire to get a job done. You have to create a definite plan and filter out all negative thoughts while staying honest to your cause.
- Definiteness of purpose: Knowing exactly what you want.
- Desire: Becoming obsessed with amassing your monetary fortune.
- Self-reliance: Belief that you can follow your plan increases your persistence.
- Definiteness of plans: Organized, thorough plans guide you forward.
- Accurate knowledge: Ensuring that your plans are based on fact.
- Co-operation: Members of your Master Mind can encourage you to persist.
- Willpower: Concentrating your attention on seeing your plans through to completion.
- Habit: Persistence is the direct result of habit. What you do daily becomes who you are. By repeatedly acting courageously, fear can be overcome.
9. Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force
A mastermind is referred to in the book as having a team of competent people in place who help you excel in your life. You can not gain power and succeed without the power of a mastermind.
A collection of minds produces results far greater than the sum of their parts.
- Infinite intelligence
- Accumulated experience
- Experiment and research
10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: The Tenth Step Towards Riches
The word to “transmute” means to transform one element or form of energy into another. Hill argues that sex is our most primal and powerful drive. So strong is this desire that individuals often put their life and reputation on the line to indulge in it. However, Hill argues that, when this sexual energy is redirected into other pursuits, it can have a far more potent effect.
A transmuted sexual drive results in phenomenal creative ability. Creative imagination, Hill states, is humankind’s sixth sense. Creativity originates within us, but it isn’t guided by us. All of the best artists become great because they are adept at listening to the “still small voice” that speaks from within.
11. The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link
Your subconscious mind is the link between the finite mind and intelligence. The subconscious mind can be used for floating desires into the physical equivalent. The author says, in order to get complete and absolute control over your subconscious mind, you have to develop the habit of using the following 7 major positive emotions to your advantage.
While you cannot control your subconscious mind, you can suggest it mulls over specific plans, desires, or goals that you wish to achieve.
The subconscious is more receptive to thoughts that come accompanied by an emotion.
- Desire
- Faith
- Love
- Sex
- Enthusiasm
- Romance
- Hope
12. The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought
The brain is a broadcasting and receiving station for the vibration of thought. The subconscious is the sending station of the brain and creative imagination is the receiving station where the vibration of thoughts are picked up. When stimulated to a high rate of vibration, the mind becomes more receptive to thoughts. The stepping up is a result of positive or otherwise emotions.
Hill firmly believed that the brain was capable of picking up the thought vibrations of other brains.
13. The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom
You develop a sixth sense through meditation only. That is how the mind develops once you master the sixth sense. You will be able to get pre-warnings, dangers ahead of time to make a decision when it matters the most. The same goes for encashing excellent opportunities. In order to practice the sixth sense properly, you’ve got to get over negative thoughts and fears.
Willpower plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the sixth sense against negative influences. It is very important to surround yourself with people who lift you higher and help you grow.
How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear
- The fear of Poverty
- The Fear of Criticism
- The fear of ill Health
- The fear of loss of the love of someone
- The fear of old age
- The fear of death
The Seven Major Negative Emotions (To be avoided):
- Fear
- Jealousy
- Hatred
- Revenge
- Greed
- Superstition
- Anger
The book also highlights the importance of staying busy in order to avoid the gateway to these negative thoughts.
Conclusion
You reap what you think and you alone are the master of your thoughts. Whether you want to make millions, change the world, or find peace – the best place to start is inside you.
Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill
