In my last lesson I mentioned that I believed one of the most important books ever written was "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Over the years, I have mentioned this book to many people that I've come in contact with and asked them if they have ever heard of the book or Napoleon Hill? To my dismay the answer was "no" 95% of the time. This book is about an individual who invested more than twenty years of his life, for no pay, working on a project for Andrew Carnegie, who at the time was one of the richest men in the world.
During those years, Napoleon Hill traveled around the world interviewing several hundred of the most successful people on Earth including Heads of State, businessmen, inventors, and people who hit the top in every walk of life. Some of the famous people he interviewed were Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Charles M. Schwab, F.W. Woolworth, William Wrigley Jr., John Wanamaker, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. His mission was to find out their well kept secrets of success from this wide cross-section of over achievers.
The ultimate goal of Andrew Carnegie, who helped Hill to set up appointments with all of these successful people, was to have him write a book on his findings to share with the rest of the world. Thus, the book "Think and Grow Rich" was published in 1937. Now here comes the kicker...Even though this book has been out for around 70 years, and next to the Bible has been published more than any other book in history, it took me to age 40 to find out about this book and finally get to read it. Unfortunately unless you network with individuals who are top achievers in their fields, you may never hear about this book or get a chance to read it. Now, I find this quite fascinating.
This book contains a powerful message on success, from the research and study of Napoleon Hill's life. That message is "YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK." In other words you will always find ways to be and do what you think about most during your lifetime. Some individuals stay at an entry level job all their lives because they don't think seriously about being or doing more. Hillary Clinton has thought about being President of the United States since she was in college. You see what I mean about you are what you think?
By reading this book, that costs as little as $5.99, you can learn about and start using the disciplines and principles practiced by the most successful people in history. This book has changed the way it's readers THINK! The unfortunate part is that most people on this planet never heard about this book; will never read it; and will never "THINK and GROW RICH." How about you? If you did not read it....why not?
Each and every one of us comes into this world with absolute zero knowledge about anything. Every second of our lives our circumstances and opportunities are changing. Being a living organism, you have to learn about and maneuver your way through a myriad of challenges and obstacles in order to just survive. To live a better lifestyle beyond survival mode, requires more knowledge; more skills; creative thinking; methodical planning; and consistent execution. It's much easier to read and learn about Nature's Laws to help you through your journey as opposed to learning the hard way at the "School of Hard Knocks." Think and Grow Rich can help set you up for more success in your life than you have ever imagined.
Chances are excellent that the majority of people around you don't invest the time to read much. Did you fall into this group through observation and association? It's perfectly fine that others CHOOSE not to read; and it doesn't make them any lesser of a person. But you have a CHOICE, and if you want different RESULTS then start reading more starting right now.
If you're an accountant, read everything that you can about accounting in order to become an expert in your field. Associate with the BEST accountants and learn what they did to become the best. If you're an engineer, a doctor or a plumber, follow the same strategy. Learn about the history of your profession. Know what has already been tried; what has worked and what has failed. Think and act just like a successful person thinks and acts.
Always make time in your busy schedule to READ and THINK and LEARN and GROW and PLAN and EXECUTE and PROSPER. Start this New Year by learning what the most successful people in the world have accomplished before you. Make today the new beginning of the rest of your life. Remember you are what you think. Buy a copy of Think and Grow Rich. Get the latest version and begin reading it today. You can reap the benefits for a lifetime!