Think & Grow Rich — James Jacob

Overview

A personal development and finance book that was the result of over 20 years of studying 500 of the wealthiest men of the time.

Napoleon Hill was inspired by Andrew Carnegie, a steel tycoon and philanthropist, who challenged him to interview the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell to distil their secrets of success.

The result is a down to earth guide that blends real life stories with practical tips to help you succeed financially and personally.

The teachings are structured around 13 core principles, each detailed in its own chapter. Napoleon Hill states at the very beginning that there is a hidden secret mentioned no less than 100 times between the lines, one that will only reveal itself if you're ready for it.

Major Lessons

Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement

Everything begins with a strong, burning desire. Having a definite goal and an intense longing to achieve it is the first step toward success.

Faith: Visualise It Already Done

Faith, a strong belief in yourself and your goals, is crucial. Visualise to enhance your level of belief in the attainment of what you desire.

Auto Suggestion: Reprogramme the Subconscious Mind

Autosuggestion involves feeding your subconscious mind with positive thoughts and affirmations, which in turn influence your actions and behaviours.

Specialized Knowledge: Don't Pursue Knowledge Without Direction

General knowledge is less valuable than specialised, actionable knowledge that can be directly applied to achieving your goals.

The Power of the Master Mind

Surrounding yourself with a group of supportive, like-minded individuals can provide valuable insights, support and encouragement.

Organised Planning: Crystalising Desire Into Action

Turning desires into reality requires getting organised and building a plan. Organised, actionable steps are essential for making progress.

The Subconscious Mind

The chemical laboratory in which all thought impulses are combined and made ready for translation into physical reality. It works with the material we feed it.

The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom

Referring to intuition, the gut feeling that helps you make decisions. It's considered a higher level of understanding that can be cultivated.

Practical Advice

What to start doing today.

Get clear on what you want

Within an area of interest, start to clearly define what you want through setting goals, and cultivate a passionate commitment to achieving it.

Protect and put your imagination to use

Be mindful about what you let in (turn off the news). Brainstorm ideas and solutions that can propel you forward.

Visualise what achieving those goals looks like

Practice affirmations and visualise your success regularly to reinforce your belief.

Seek like-minded people

Form a network of people who can offer advice, share resources, and help keep you motivated.

Summary

Napoleon Hill has succeeded in explaining how much power we all have within us, as well as setting out a plan of action to realise it.

The book encourages readers to define their goals clearly, believe in their ability to achieve them, and consistently work towards them with the support of a strong network and a persistent mindset. It also exposes how we have all been given the same faculties and potential, only a few utilise it fully.

Everyone has the ability and the mental faculties to live a more empowered life, all it takes is a commitment to cultivating a success-oriented mindset and taking deliberate action.

Power Passage

In every chapter of this book, mention has been made of the money-making secret which has made fortunes for more than five hundred exceedingly wealthy men whom I have carefully analysed over a long period of years.

The secret was brought to my attention by Andrew Carnegie, more than a quarter of a century ago. The canny, lovable old Scotsman carelessly tossed it into my mind, when I was but a boy. Then he sat back in his chair, with a merry twinkle in his eyes, and watched carefully to see if I had brains enough to understand the full significance of what he had said to me.

The secret to which I refer has been mentioned no fewer than a hundred times, throughout this book. It has not been directly named, for it seems to work more successfully when it is merely uncovered and left in sight, where those who are ready and searching for it may pick it up.

Somewhere, as you read, the secret to which I refer will jump from the page and stand boldly before you, if you are ready for it! When it appears, you will recognize it. Stop for a moment when it presents itself, for that occasion will mark the most important turning-point of your life.