Think and Grow Rich By Napoleon Hills

 

Chapter #1: Introduction

When the author was still a boy, Andrew Carnegie shared a secret to him. It was the same secret of 500 wealthy men to achieve their fortune. Napoleon Hill researched, for twenty years. He found out that success comes to any professionor career. And that, a man without any education can still become rich. The author aims to share this secret to the readers. How did the 500 wealthy men achieve success? 

The secret can only be possessed by those who are ready. Those who applied the secret found their way to riches. But this must be done with effort. In this book, the reader will know what to do in order to succeed. How to do it and where to begin? Anyone can acquire the secret. Success comes to those who can put the secret to reality.

Each chapter discusses the Thirteen Steps to Riches recommended by Napoleon Hill. They can be followed by anyone towards individual achievement. If you are searching for money, fame, personality, peace of mind or happiness, you will learn from the wealthy men themselves. As you go along the Thirteen Steps, you will uncover the secret. Be prepared for it. Seize the opportunity that will change your life. Napoleon Hill gave us a clue to the secret. “All achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.",

Chapter #2: Desire 

When you truly desire something, your desire will be transformed to reality. Constantly thinking about your desire will attract you to the actual ways to achieve it. There is a term called money-consciousness. money. It is a state of mind where you already see yourself being rich. 'If you become money-conscious, you will achieve financial success. Here are the six guaranteed steps to money-consciousness. First is to determine the exact amount of money that you want to acquire. It isn't enough to say you want lots of money. You must envision the exact amount to turn it to reality.

The second step is to know what you are willing to give in order to acquire that money. You cannot get something for nothing. Third is to set the exact date when you should acquire the exact amount. Fourth is to have a definite plan on how you can acquire the money. After planning, you should start at once and not hesitate. The fifth step is to write down a concrete statement. Write down everything on paper starting from the exact amount, to the date and your plan. Lastly, the sixth step is to recite your statement two times daily. 'If you really have the burning desire to get rich, following the steps would be easy for you. In this way, you will see, feel and believe that you have the money. By repetition, you will become money-conscious. Keep in mind that, “The greatest achievement, was at first, and for a time, a dream.”

Chapter #3 Faith 

There is a force in the universe that attracts us to the things we believe in. When positive thoughts dominate our mind, good things happen to us. When we fill our minds with the negative, we attract bad things. There is no such thing as bad luck or misfortune. It only depends on what we believe in. Some people think that they are doomed to fail. Others think that they are destined to be poor. If we think that we have no control over our situation, then we have created our own misfortune. Whatever we feed our minds becomes our reality. If you fill your mind with fear and doubt, then you have already set limits to yourself.

Becoming money-conscious requires faith. Remember that you must see, feel and believe that you are rich. Have strong faith that you will acquire wealth. If you repeat to yourself that you are poor, then that will become the truth for you.

You become what you are because of what you believe in. The thoughts that fill your mind become your reality. Therefore, you can choose, between riches or poverty. Believe that you can become rich. Your faith will remove all limitations for you to succeed.

Chapter #4: Auto-Suggestion 

Our subconscious mind is like a fertile garden. Weeds will continue to grow if we do not plant good seeds. Autosuggestion or self-suggestion is what we can do to control the growth of weeds. We have the ability to choose the thoughts that will bear in our subconscious. The subconscious mind is responsible for transforming our thoughts to reality. We can only reach to it by auto-suggestion. That is why we should fill our consciousness with positive thoughts. Failure happens if we do not exercise control. Repeat to yourself everyday what you want to achieve. If you want to grow rich, make yourself ready. Turn your desire into habits. By doing so, you, will be attracted to actual plans that will make your success real.

See yourself already possessing, the money or success. The plan to reach your goal is already in your subconscious. Practice autosuggestion so the plan will dawn on you. Don't be discouraged. Remember that you cannot get something for nothing. Start planting the good, seeds in your garden. 

Chapter #5: Specialized knowledge 

Henry Ford did not have a formal education. But he is very knowledgeable about automobiles. In the World War, he filed a libel case against Chicago newspaper. The paper accused him of being an ignorant pacifist. At the trials, he was bombarded with many questions. The lawyers wanted to prove that he is indeed ignorant. Ford got tired of the offensive questions.

He replied, “I can summon to my aid men who can answer any question I desire to ask... Now, will you kindly tell me, why I should clutter up my mind with general knowledge, for the purpose of being able to answer questions, when I have men around me who can supply any knowledge require?" His answer stunned the court. What Ford has is specialized knowledge. As opposed to general knowledge, it is organized and directed to a goal. That is why men who didn't have an education can still succeed. 

The things we learn from school or general knowledge is useless if we cannot apply it in our life. It is not practical. If you have a specific interest, you can take trainings or short courses. In that way, you can gain specialized knowledge that you can already use or put into business.

Learning does not stop at school. Even if you have a family or a full-time job, you can still learn. Specialized knowledge is good because you can focus on what you really want to learn. You can improve on what you are really good at. 

Employers hire not only based on credentials but also on personality. They are interested in how you interact with people and handle situations. A successful person may lack an education. But he cannot lack personality or ambition.

Remember that, “The person who stops studying merely because he has finishedschool is forever hopelessly doomed to mediocrity, no matter what may be his calling. The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge."

 Chapter #6 :  Imagination

A long time ago, there is an old, country doctor who visited a drugstore. He told the young clerk about his old kettle and wooden kettle and paddle for $500. That amount was all of his savings.

The old doctor gave the young clerk a small piece of paper. There was a magic formula written in it. The old doctor was happy to leave with his $500. He can pay his debt and enjoy his freedom. The kettle, paddle and piece of paper had no value to him. The young clerk invested his life savings on his new possessions. He began to mix the ingredients in the magic formula. What flowed in the old kettle is actually good.

The old kettle has employed millions of people. It prospered the sugar industry. It turned the small city in the South to a business capital. The old kettle reached people across the world. The mixture in the old kettle is CocaCola. The young clerk is Asa Candler. But the secret to Coca-Cola's success is not in the piece of paper. It is in Asa Candler's imagination. Desire needs imagination so that it can be turned to reality. The obstacles that keep you from succeeding are only in your mind. Use your imagination. Coca-Cola began with an idea. Everything we have today, like gadgets or social media, came from an idea. Many people wait for the big break in their life. But success is not about luck.

An idea must survive criticism defeat, disappointment and discouragement. It must be partnered with desire, purpose, determination and persistence. You must give life to your idea. Then it will be strong enough against any challenges. 

Chapter #7: Organized Planning 

In order to succeed, one must have a definite plan. Surround yourself with people who will help you devise and carry out your plan. Remember that no man is an island. 'It is natural to give people compensation or benefits in exchange for their cooperation. Meet the group as often as you can to make sure that the plan will be effective. To prevent failure, maintain a good working relationship within the group.

'No one person can possess all the knowledge, experience and ability to achieve success. The cooperation and perfect harmony with others is needed. Before carrying out the plan, it must be approved by all members. 'If the first plan fails, devise another one. If the plan fails again, do not give up until you find the one that works. Keep in mind that it took Thomas Edison ten thousand tries before he has created the perfect light bulb. He had to fail repeatedly to become the great inventor that he is. “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” Those who quit lack the persistence to try again after failing. But the winners move on to a new plan. They keep on creating a new one until the plan succeeds.

Failure only means that there is something wrong with your plan and that you must change it. If Thomas Edison had quit after his first failure, we might not know him as we do today. Think of the failures you've had. What could you have done better? Form a new plan and keep planning to succeed. 

Chapter #8: Decision 

The Model T of Ford Motors was once dubbed as the world's ugliest car. The advisors of Henry Ford told him to change the car's design. But Ford was firm in his decision to keep manufacturing Model T. He changed the car's design eventually. But before doing so, Model T has already gained him a huge fortune.

Henry Ford was known to make firm and quick decisions. It is one of the outstanding traits of successful men. Indecision only leads to poverty and failure. When you make decisions quickly, they can already be put into action. To procrastinate or to delay will only cost you money and opportunity. Ford did not listen to the people who told him about the quality of Model T. That is because he had his own disposition. He trusted his idea and stood firm in his decision. Wealthy men make decisions fast but they change them slowly. This is because they are not easily influenced by the opinions of others. 

“Opinions are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them." It will not help you to listen to what other people say. The opinions of others are often meant to discourage and ridicule. That is even if they are from close relatives or friends. Take the counsel only from your Master Mind group. They are people who are in "complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose." You can choose the members of your trusted group. The power of the Master Mind will be discussed in the next chapters.

You have a brain of your own. If you have a burning desire to succeed, listen to your own voice. Making good decisions mean that you know what you want. “The world has the habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going." Successful men know what they want and they generally get it.

Chapter #9: Persistence

“Be persistent no matter how slowly you may, at first, have to move. With persistence will come success." To have persistence, you must first establish your purpose. What do you, want to achieve and what drives you to work for it? You must have a strong motivation. Trust yourself. You have enough skills and knowledge to succeed. You can devise an exact plan on how to do it. Maintain a good relationship with people who can help you. Practice your will power. Focus on your plan and disregard your fears. Remember that, “Without persistence, you will be defeated, even before you start. With persistence you will win."

Many people wait for the big "break" in their lives. It may be a dream job or a good business opportunity. But they only become disappointed. “Breaks" only equal our efforts. It doesn't occur instantly. By organizing a plan and being persistent, we pave the way for the "big breaks" in our career. Now, some people may have strong desire and precise plan to succeed. But why don't they achieve it? This is because they give up easily. They quit after experiencing a failure. Defeat is only temporary. The answer to defeat is persistence. "Sometimes it appears that there is a hidden Guide whose duty is to test men through all sorts of discouraging, experiences." Defeat is only a test. If you have turned persistence into a 'habit, then surely you will overcome defeat and reach victory. Eventually, you will become successful in any endeavour you have.

 Chapter  #10: Power of the Master Mind 

There is a saying that goes, "Knowledge is power." But knowledge as it is cannot be used to gain riches. Knowledge is power only if it is structured and aimed to a goal The Master Mind is a group of people who can increase your knowledge and therefore your power. These are people who have the same desire and purpose as you. Take for example a set of electric batteries. A single battery can only yield a small amount of energy. But when it is joined with a few more, their energy will last longer and stronger. When you have a Master Mind group, they can help you become more powerful. They can also help you overcome your weakness.

Before Henry Ford owned his corporation, he was poor, ignorant and illiterate. But he surrounded himself with fifty trusted men in the business. He also became friends, with Thomas Edison. Ford maintained harmony and cooperation with these great minds to become as powerful as he is. Because of the support and alliance that Henry Ford got from his Master Mind group, he won over poverty and ignorance. He mastered literacy and, intelligence in just ten years. After 25 years, he became the richest man in his country. There are, indeed, many economic advantages of having a Master Mind group. But it also has a psychic advantage. "No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible power, which can be likened to a third mind."

The group increases the power of the individual. In essence, two minds are better than one. If there is a good working relationship within a group, they can achieve much more than any individual. They can create wonders and possess a great power more than a single person can ever imagine. 

Chapter #11:

The Mystery of Sex Transmutation 

Transmutation means the change of energy from one form to another. Sex is the strongest stimull of men. To transmute sex means to express sex energy to more productive ways than the physical. Sex energy can be a great advantage for creativity and business.

Sex is natural. It cannot be eliminated in the nature of man. If left on its own, sex can be destructive. But by using will power, sex energy can make man create and achieve a lot of things. Successful musicians, lawyers, artists and businessmen have won over their physical desire. There are different mind stimuli. Examples of which are alcohol, drugs and fear. But of all these stimuli, sex is the strongest. Men who have not transmuted sexual energy end up in crime, poverty and misery. But those who won over sexual desire become geniuses. A genius is like a pilot of a plane. He has flown over trees and mountains. He has moved on to far heights. The obstructions such as mountains and trees are needs such as food and sex. The genius has made himself free of these ordinary thoughts. He can use the full potential of his creative imagination.

The creative imagination is the sixth sense. The more it is used, the better it gets. Through practice of creative imagination, successful men become wiser and more productive. Studies have shown that successful men have strong sex energy. They applied their sexual drive to creative outlets. Songs, poems and novels are driven by love and sex. Charisma and self-confidence can be derived from sexual appeal. Like artists and businessmen, you can tap the potential of your creative imagination. Find an outlet for your sexual energy than the physical means. You can use that mind power to achieve greater things. Learn to use you sexual energy to gain advantage on your career and become wealthy.

Chapter #12:
The Subconscious Mind 

We do not have control over our subconscious mind. But it governs over all our desires, emotions and decisions. What we can do is to fill our conscious mind with positive thoughts. Over time, our positive thoughts will be implanted in our subconscious. That is how we can achieve success. To improve your subconscious, fill your mind with thoughts of desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance and hope. Avoid polluting your mind with fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition and anger. These negative thoughts would not direct you to success and wealth. They would only pull you down to poverty.

You possess right now your very personal plan to succeed. You know your way to riches. However, the plan is locked in your subconscious. You cannot access it by having negative thoughts. Put the positive thoughts into practice so that you will remember them better. Try to do small things every day. Make a habit out of desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance and hope. Let go of fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition and anger.

Chapter #13 : The Brain

The human brain is a very powerful machine. It is both a sending and receiving device. The power of thought plays a big part in achieving, success. All the thirteen steps can be started by thinking. Everything from desire, to imagination, to persistence can be worked out in the brain.

Did you know that there are ten to fourteen billion of nerve cells in the brain's cerebral cortex? What is more amazing is that they are all arranged in an orderly manner. This pattern of nerve cells makes us humans function not only physically. The brain is also responsible for our mental and emotional state. It is indeed true that we can think and grow rich. 

We can plant positive thoughts in our brain to attract good opportunities. We can transform our intense desire to actual plans and actions. We can decide quickly and, choose not to quit when failing. We can also put our sexual energy into creative use. All these can happen inside our own brain.

If you practice stimulating your mind, you can even increase your knowledge and potential to succeed. You can pick up and learn more from other brains. Mental telepathy can be possible if you work closely with your Master Mind group. By having discussions, you can share and create ideas like having a single brain. Use your brain. Always stimulate it with new ideas. Apply what you have learned in this book and make it a habit. You can go back to the chapters as often as you can. Repeat the statement that would make you money-conscious. You would not be far from financial success. 

Chapter #14: The Sixth Sense

The last of the thirteen steps to riches is the sixth sense. You cannot master the sixth sense without mastering the other twelve steps. The sixth sense is part of our subconscious mind. It deals with our creative, imagination. It connects us with the Infinite Intelligence of the world. Sometimes, we experience flashes of thoughts or "hunches". This is our sixth sense working. We can only access it through extreme concentration. Great minds like Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln and Mohammed have mastered the use of their sixth sense. They have done great things with their hunches.

The sixth sense connects both our mental and spiritual state. It serves as the medium between our own brain and the Infinite Intelligence. The sixth sense is not only useful for creating ideas. It also warns us against danger by means of hunches. Infinite Intelligence is the power "which permeates every atom of matter, and embraces every unit of energy perceptible to man." It also "causes water to flow downhill... follows night with day, and winter with summer, each maintaining its proper place and relationship to the other." By practicing our sixth sense,we can connect easily with Infinite Intelligence. Just like the geniuses, we can transform our desires to material form. As humans, we are defined by the desires and thoughts that dominate our mind. We can choose between failure and success just by thinking.

The road to success starts with desire. As you go along the thirteen steps to riches, you will gain wisdom. To succeed is to understand one's self and other people. Ultimately, a successful person understands the laws of nature and happiness. You can go over the thirteen steps anytime to gain high level of mind stimulation. You are now equipped with the thirteen steps to riches. In the last chapter, you will learn how to fight fear. It is fear which limits you to your present situation. Without fear, you can start your journey to riches.

Chapter #15:
How to Outwit the Six Ghost of Fear

You have enemies which hinder you from getting rich. They are indecision, doubt, fear, worry and negative, influences. It is often that one leads to another. If you don't fight against them, they would only get worse. Indecision and doubt creates fear. There are six basic fears namely, fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss love, old age and death. Each of them can limit a person's ability. But the thing is,fear is only a state of mind. This means that you have control, over your fear. There is one thing that humans have, absolute control over and that is our thoughts. “Man's thought impulses begin immediately to translate themselves into their physical equivalent." The thoughts that exist in your mind will determine your social, professional, business and financial destiny.

Even disease becomes real if you constantly fear ill health. That is why it is important to strengthen your will, power. Some people appear to be more lucky and superior than others. This is because of the thinking they have. They implant in their mind that they have the ability, experience and intelligence to succeed. And so, it becomes reality. Do not be weak against criticism. Do not listen to relatives or anyone, who says you cannot do it. Criticism will only destroy your imagination, damage your confidence and limit your individuality. "Keep your mind closed against all people who depress or discourage you in any way. "

Relieve yourself of worry. Do not worry about what other people think. Accept the reality of old age and death. If you fear the loss of love, learn to get along with no one but yourself. "Nothing which life has to offer is worth the price of worry." Choose to have peace of mind and happiness.

 Conclusion 

Andrew Carnegie is the pioneer of steel business in America. He told the author Napoleon Hill of the secret to success. Carnegie encouraged, Hill to devote years in order to study wealthy men and how they achieved success. 

The secret comes in two parts. The first part is already in your possession and that is desire. If you have a burning desire to get rich, it will become reality. The second part, of course, is mind control. Use your desire to control the thoughts that dominate your mind. You can apply the secret by using the thirteen steps to riches. If you accept poverty in your life, then you remain poor. You would not do actions that will change it. You already have the road map to riches. You know of the thirteen steps. If you decide not to start now, you have no one else to blame but you. If you decide to stop before you succeed, then surely you will fail. 

You have full responsibility of your destiny. You have the power to determine your social, professional, and financial outcome. Instead of making alibis, start controlling your thoughts.Remember that, “Whatever you conceive and believe, you can achieve."