I just read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
A really powerful book on setting your intention and the power of your subconscious.
The key things from this book for me:
- When you really know what you want, set a plan to accomplish. Let nothing stop you and you will be successful.
- Pick a mentor group of your favorite people and if you are ever confused, imagine what they’d advise you to do.
- A positive mental attitude can solve all problems.
Here are you’ll get a brief summary, big takeways, and quotes from the book Think and Grow Rich:
When a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel, he is sure to win.
One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.
The better portion of all sales I have made were made after people had said NO.
A key principle of success, desire: knowing what one wants.
Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat.
Desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches.
To win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.
All who succeed in life get off to a bad start, and pass through many heartbreaking struggles before they “arrive.” The turning point comes at a moment of some crisis where the person is introduced to their “other selves.”
To gain confidence, concentrate your thoughts for 30 minutes / day upon thinking of the person you intend to become and create a clear mental picture. (Click to Tweet!)
The subconscious mind works with the material we feed it, through our thought impulses, constructive or destructive impulses…
Knowledge is only potential power, only if organized into definite plans of action and directed to a definite end.
Success and failure are largely a result of habits.
Most men fail because their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail. Temporary defeat is not permanent failure.
A great leader when occasion demands to perform any sort of labor.
It is one thing to want money – everyone wants more – but it is something entirely different to be worth more!
Annual self-analysis is essential. Have I attained the goal which I established? Disclose a decrease in faults, and an increase in virtues.
Genuine wisdom is usually conspicuous through modesty and silence.
Don’t be easily influenced. Take in facts from others and reach your own decisions and follow them.
Do NOT look for a miracle, you will NOT find it. Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely, know what they want, and generally get it. (Click to Tweet!)
If you ask 100 people what they want in life, 98 will not be able to tell you. Riches respond to definite plans. (Click to Tweet!)
Great male leaders success can be traced directly to women who aroused the creative faculties of their minds and sexual stimulation. When men deviate from that is when things go south.
Go back to your yesterdays, bathe your mind in beautiful memories of past love. It will ease the influence of present worries. One who has loved truly, can never lose entirely. Worry will never bring it back.
Imagine the 9 people you truly respect and they are in a room guiding you. What would THEY suggest you do in a situation you are confused about?
Indecision is the seedling of fear. It germinates and grows without their presence being observed.
Kill the habit of worry, in all its forms, by reaching a general, blanket decision that nothing which life has to offer is worth the price of worry.
Life is a checkerboard, the other player is time. If you hesitate, you will be wiped off the board. You are a playing against a partner who will not tolerate indecision!
19 responses to “Think and Grow Rich: Quotes & Book Review”
thanks for sharing this https://www.laborn.org/2019/01/think-and-grow-rich-chapter-8.html
My father had me read that when I was a dumb teen and it didn’t resonate. Thanks for reminding me to pick it up again.
I’ve read this book at least 3 times but the last was the most profound. Reread it after you turn 40. I scoffed at his suggestion but he was right. There are some things you cannot grasp in your youth. Hint: his mastermind group wasn’t imaginary.
You know, I once attended a seminar for entrepreneurs but it turned out it was rather for wantrepreneurs ;).
The presenter was asking:
“How many people read this book from N. Hill?”
90% raised their hands.
“How many agree with his message?”
The hands stayed raised.
“How many of you believe that what he writes is true?”
The hands still stay raised.
“How many of you are doing what he suggest on page so and so, where he asks you to write down your definite purpose and reading it out loud every single day to yourself?”
Btw. There are 3 of those actions in the book.
Almost the entire audience took down their hands.
ARE YOU DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
Great book. An absolute classic. I’ve tried to not only apply to business but athletics. I coach a group of runners at teachtorun.com and try to implement a lot of the psychological tools to their training and my own and feel as though it works across the entire spectrum of endeavors that people wish to accomplish.
Ok Dork,
Everyone’s gonna give you their 2 cents on going to India, I could you give you mine, as I was there for 4 months, but I’ll give you one they probably wont.
India will change you, in a way you wont realize right away. 1 billion+ people, you will feel everyday you are there.
If you can, I encourage you to take a polaroid camera, and LOTS of polaroid film (theres even the mini Polaroid, that will do)
I say this cause its for all the people that do not have cameras, the kids, the poor, they are a curious bunch of lucky. They will cherish it.
Got it dork? Ok. Good.
Another quick read, The Science of Growing Rich (pre Think and Grow Rich) by Wallace Wattles. Amazing and inspiring.
Think and Grow Rich was great. I read it first and will still profoundly affected by Wattles.
Glad you’ve read it. This was one of the earliest books I read in the general motivation/success/business area. It is a classic for a reason. Every book I’ve read in modern times is just a varient of the theme in Think and Grow Rich. He’s basically nailed the key to success right there.
Ahoi Noah,
thanks for the post!
I’ve done the book yesterday too. It’s kind of awesome 🙂
– Vladislav
P.S.: The story with the 9 people is funny. Later they get an “own” life and Napoleon gets scarried 😀
Reading the classics I see.
The thing that I love about Napoleon Hill is that he wrote all this 80-90 years ago. His stuff is based on Clement Stone, Ben Franklin and Senica from way back.
You would think, given all that time, the ideas presented well and simply, the whole world would be enlightened, hard working, and see the value. Nope, still the 5% vs 95% as he describes in the book
Every time you hear someone complain about “the kids today don’t know how good/bad/hard it is” think about Napoleon Hill.
Thanks for sharing this, Noah. Napoleon Hill’s philosophy gave my life direction. I wish I’d found it in high school. I highly, highly recommend these 2 of his works: Your Right To Be Rich, an audio program, a set of speeches he gave in the early 1950’s in Chicago about his philosophy (he and the audience have a great time, this is one of the greatest recordings of all time (IMHO)); and Grow Rich With Peace Of Mind, written near the end of his life and is very interesting to compare with Think And Grow Rich.
Thank you for this inspiring words Noah! Reading this is a great way to start the day. Good morning!
Thank you Noah for the summary – it’s a useful reminder. I saw someone mention “Mastery” by Robert Greene, which I purchased recently and will begin reading over the weekend. I think it’s a book you’ll also enjoy at this stage of your life.
Appreciated man.
p.s.
I saw some SICK Appsumo deals coming up. Home Runs bro… Home runs!
Think & grow rich is truly an amazing book though I think the title is a bit misleading unless you realize that “rich” to Napoleon Hill meant a successful life (wealth, health, family & relationships).
Once you read it and start looking around, particularly at people you really admire, you start seeing that they are doing what N. Hill said. It’s so eerie that you figure they all must have read it.
The fact that it was also written almost 100 years ago yet is still remarkably relevant makes it even more impressive.
Nice summary by the way Noah!
That first quote you highlighted reminds me of a thought I had on willpower.
Is it just me or does relying on willpower to get things done seem like the dumbest sack of s*** idea ever? One day you’re all like “I’m not gonna stop working out till I look like a spartan” and then 3 days later you hate yourself eating a tub of ben’n’jerry’s watching Maury on daytime tv.
not that I’m speaking from experience, not at all. But I feel like blackmail is a much stronger tool. Like..what if I blackmailed myself? A deadline with consequences, something you can’t ditch out on? You could take it even farther. For me, I hate spiders. What if I did something like drop 4% body fat this month, or you have to let a tarantula sit on your fat bald head for 5 minutes.
the thought makes my skin crawl…I’d be ripped in no time.
But yea. My work ethic is great, my willpower is trash, especially when it comes to doing things for myself.. I only get things done when something like self preservation or grades are at stake.
this book is a really short read but every page had good wisdom.
@Susan Su I think you’d really enjoy the book I’ve mentioned at the top of this thread, “Mastery”. It’s funny, your point about “…the person who wins takes in all the clarity on the surrounding environment” is explained by Greene in the opening chapter. Check it out!
Inner certitude (without requiring ‘proof of concept’ first) is definitely the most powerful strategy for making change happen.
That message has become almost standard in business / entrepreneurship / success books (The Secret etc).
What’s interesting to me is that this same message, which we’re now completely familiar with even if the examples and stories are new, continues to drive us toward book after book…
For me, the “belief is reality” message isn’t so easy to internalize.
My own biggest barrier is focusing so much on finding an answer — how to solve whatever question with your business or your self — that I miss out on observing clarity in all the surrounding details.
Professional runners visualize the race, but the one who wins is taking in every detail — all the clarity on the surrounding environment — not just the finish line.
Many people have the obsessive desire (ie., focus on the finish), but still have no idea what to do about the race course.
So of course, the first step has to be to shatter the worry — it does nothing but suck away energy.
Then, to really “plan definite ways and means to acquire riches,” we have to broaden our visual field to take in all the clues of our surrounding terrain.
That book changed my life. Thanks for the post.