Mind Power - Introduction

Thoughts are things. They are the most powerful when mixed with:

1. Definiteness of purpose
2. Burning Desire
3. Persistance

Napoleon then again refers to example of Edwin C. Barnes and his association with Thomas Edison. Barnes did not knew Edison or had any money to travel to Orange, NJ where Edison lived. He argues that these reasons are enough for average person to drop its quest. But Barnes was no average person and he had a burning desire.

It was not the looks, appearance or any other thing of Barnes, but the "thought" that impressed Edison. He had a gut to do what it takes to get the thing done. Barnes literally worked for months and years before actually becoming associates with Edison. That's because he had "Definite Purpose".

When opportunity comes it comes in a different form and from different direction. This is one of the tricks of opportunity. And opportunity also has a habit of slipping down via back door. 

Barnes literally proved that, one can "Think and Grow Rich". He later became famous for "Made by Edison Installed by Barnes".

One of the most common cause of failure is habit of quitting, especially when someone is overtaken by temporary defeat.

Then Napoleon describes story of gold "Dig and Grow Rich". That gold digger stops digging 3 feet before gold mine. Don't quit without the consult of export.

When defeat overtakes, the most logical thing to do is QUIT, and most people do the same. But not the 500 most successful people do that.

Then author describes a new story “50-Cents” of Mr. Darby, his uncle and a child. In this story a little (19th Century) black girl conquerors the white authority. I think this one is mentioned to keep us engaged in book and reference for further chapters.

Always study/analyze your failure and success. 

This books helps you understand
1. How to convert your defeat into opportunity?
2. How to use success to be more successful?

Answers to above questions are given in 13 steps or principles.

An emphasis is made to read the book thoroughly. These answers might come from our own mind. It can be in the form of idea.

An idea, that’s all it can take to change your life.

Then an assurance that, these 13 principle are the best and most practical it takes to generate useful and creative idea. 

Before studying these principles, he describes an important suggestion and tells that reader is “entitled to receive important suggestion”.

When riches begin to come, they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding during all those long years.

Remove the word impossible from your dictionary. Success comes to those who are success-conscious. Failure some to those who are failure conscious.

Another weakness found in altogether too many people is the habit to measuring everything and everyone by their own impression and beliefs. I guess this is important for me. What’s the solution? (Do write in comments if you know one).

Story of Henry ford and his 8-cylinder engine success. How he had “Desire - know what you want”. Other principle he applied was. 

Don’t quit until target is achieved. Persistent. 

I felt this one, exactly similar to Swami Vivekananda's teaching. 

“Awake, arise and stop not till you goal is achieved”

Encouraging and motivating poem by William Ernest Henley, “The master of your fate and captain of your Soul”.

We are master & captain of our soul, because we control our “Thoughts”. These thoughts have influence on our physical activity.

The entire universe, galaxy , starts and earth are filled with universal power. These power is ADAPTED into out thoughts. Similarly these thoughts can influence the universe too.

But these power or thoughts does not differentiate “constructive” and “Destructive” thoughts. And more importantly, our mind becomes magnetize to the majority of thoughts we have in mind.

More examples and emphasis on the importance of the principle and claim that these are not invented by one person but with the help of 500 successful man and claim that these are based on facts.

I feel like he trying to use psychological effect, when you repeat things too many time, it becomes fact in our brain. He want us to believe in these principles. I DO!

Lastly he give the assurance via including a letter from Senator "Jennings Randolph" which highly emphasized on publishing the collection of inspired material by Napoleon as book. Randolph was deeply moved and inspired by commencement address by Napoleon at Salem College. Later, when Randolph was elected to Congress, he wrote to Hill, urging him to turn the speech into a printed book. The text of the letter appears in the book.

He ended the introduction with first principle

A BURNING DESIRE TO BE AND TODO is the starting point from which the dreamer must take off. Dreams are not born of indifference, laziness or lack of ambition.

Claim and validations

The only claim based on fact mentioned here is the letter from Senator "Jennings Randolph" and Hill gave the commencement address at Randolph's graduation from Salem College. 

I could not find any reference on Salem College website about the commencement. But I did find the mention on private websites and even on wiki, but again without any reference. 

Validating Author's Preface examples

Hello there,
So, in the last blog we tried to understand "Author's Preface" of book "Think and Grow Rich".

In this post we will try to validate all the examples provided by Napoleon Hill in Author's Preface.

Claim: Did Napoleon Hill actually meet Andrew Carnegie?

There are lot of text on internet which claim otherwise, like this and this. In fact few site claim that entire book is bullshit.

I am looking for proof's that Napoleon actually meet Andrew Carnegie. Please post here in comments or send me directly. 

Claim: J. G. Chapline, president of LaSalle Extension University used the Carnegie Secret

Again active search on internet could not gave me any proof about the use of formula by J. G. Chaplin. Though you might find that Hill did worked with him for short period.

But as per wiki J. G. Chapline died in 1937 and TaGR was first published in 1937. 

Claim: President Woodrow Wilson used his secret extensively during WWI. 

Again, I tried to find a concrete reference, but failed to prove the claim. Here is a link discussing this question.

Claim: Manuel L. Quezon used the secret and become first president of free state

Apart of anecdotes and reference of the 'Think and Grow Rich' book, nothing concrete can be found on internet about it.

Other mentions and indirect claims

Mentions of Charles M. Schwab is in context of Mr. Carnegie and Napoleon Hill has nothing to do with it.

Other names mentioned are
"HENRY FORD WILLIAM WRIGLEY JR. JOHN WANAMAKER JAMES J. HILL GEORGE S. PARKER E. M. STATLER HENRY L. DOHERTY CYRUS H. K. CURTIS GEORGE EASTMAN THEODORE ROOSEVELT JOHN W. DAVIS ELBERT HUBBARD WILBUR WRIGHT WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN DR. DMTID STARR JORDAN J. ODGEN ARMOUR CHARLES M. SCHWAB HARRIS F. WILLIAMS DR. FRANK GUNSAULUS DANIEL WILLARD KING GILLETTE RALPH A. WEEKS JUDGE DANIEL T. WRIGHT JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER THOMAS A. EDISON FRANK A. VANDERLIP F. W. WOOLWORTH COL. ROBERT A. DOLLAR EDWARD A. FILENE EDWIN C. BARNES ARTHUR BRISBANE WOODROW WILSON WM. HOWARD TAFT LUTHER BURBANK EDWARD W. BOK FRANK A. MUNSEY ELBERT H. GARY DR. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL JOHN H. PATTERSON JULIUS ROSENWALD STUART AUSTIN WIER DR. FRANK CRANE GEORGE M. ALEXANDER J. G. CHAPPLINE HON. JENNINGS RANDOLPH ARTHUR NASH CLARENCE DARROW"

These famous/successful man is listed as from whom he learned this secret and not to whom Napoleon gave Carnegie Secret to.

Thats it for now. I guess I will be back with first chapter, it details and experiments. See you tell then.

Assimilating - Author's Preface

So, today post is going to be about "Author's Preface" of Think and Grow Rich.

As mentioned in "About us" page, we will be thoroughly going to study each and every chapter and concept of the book. So, I started with 'The Editor's Foreword'.

Forewords are usually not written by primary authors. But the very first paragraph suggests that if you are reading for first time skip it to the 'Author's Preface'.

Author's Preface

The entire preface is basically highlights only limited number of ideas. I found those highly important.

Preface starts with success examples of success secret and explain's how he (author, Napoleon Hill) got the secret from Mr. Carnegie himself and the he has done research of 20 years. I guess this gives him some creditability, so that reader take the work seriously.

He keeps on bragging about more such examples about Schwab, his son, and J. G. Chapline president of LaSalle Extension University. 

First requirement posed on readers is

KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT

This is obvious first requirement, you can't get anything unless you know what you want.

Second requirement posed is

Secret is mentioned 100s of times in book, but only THOSE WHO ARE READY and SEARCHING FOR IT may pick it up.

i.e. a person should be willing to work hard for things the want success. I think, if person is reading this book, reader at some level must be ready to receive it. I guess, majority of time, people don't read self books just for fun.

He also wants to assure readers that promises made in these books are real and can be achieved. He wants reader to believe it. I DO!

More examples of secret success. Example of President Woodrow Wilson during  WWI, Manuel L. Quezon (Philippine Island). 

He goes on to claim that after know these secret, success becomes easy to achieve and one never submit's to failure.

There is no such things as

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

You must give in something, till now indirect indication are made for HARD WORK. He again and again reassures you confidence that you can do it. I do believe that 'I CAN DO IT'.

Name of more famous/successful man is listed, from whom is learned this secret with the help of Mr. Carnegie. He calls it "Carnegie Secret".

In fact he claims that every successful person must possess "Carnegie Secret" in one form or the other.

He argues that schooling is not unimportant, but this secret will help you success beyond schooling can. Again an assurance. Gives examples of Thomas Edison, John Wanamader, Hendry Ford.

This 'Carnegie Secret' is mentioned hidden in the book, hence you have to look for it. I guess an attempt to make sure we read the book thoroughly. 

Another serious attempts for assurance that, book is based on facts and not fiction. Book will help not only to help understand

WHAT TO DO, but also HOW TO DO and provide STIMULUS TO MAKE A START

The main claim of 'Author's Preface:

ALL ACHIEVEDMENT, ALL EARNED RICHES, HAVE THEIR BEGINING IN AN IDEA

Idea comes in two parts

1. If you are ready for secret, you already poses half of it. Eg already reading this book
2. You will recognize the other half as soon as you encounter it.

You will find the validation of all the examples given in Author's Preface in next post.