Growth | Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill (1937)

Hi All,

This book is a classic in the fields of self-development and personal finance. Many successful business entrepreneurs, CEOs, and coaches, including Tony Robbins, Rhonda Byrne (author of 'The Secret'), Bob Proctor, and Vishen Lakhiani of Mind Valley, have recommended this book. However, it took me many years to finally pick it up and read it.

While I am a firm believer in the power of visualization and manifestation, I am also skeptical when it comes to books like 'The Secret' that promote a 'visualize and get rich quick' mentality. Recently, one of my mentors, who built a $300 million net worth empire and global franchises from a $1 million debt after a massive business failure just five years ago, recommended this book to me. So, I grudgingly picked it up and read it.

To my surprise, I was blown away by the book's content. I have read dozens of 'The Secret' type self-development and personal finance books, but no other book compares to this one. It provides a step-by-step process and framework for why 'The Secret' became the phenomenon that we talk about today.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

🐵 I. One-sentence summary:

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a personal development and self-help book that teaches the importance of mindset and action in achieving success and wealth.

1. Introduction

• The book is based on the author's 20 years of research on the success of over 500 wealthy individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford.
• The book aims to teach readers the principles of success and how to apply them in their own lives to achieve their goals and dreams.
• Hill emphasizes that the book is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but rather a guide to developing a mindset of success and taking action towards achieving it.
• He stresses the importance of having a burning desire for success and the belief that one can achieve it.
• He also emphasizes the power of the mind, including the subconscious mind, in influencing one's thoughts, actions, and outcomes.

2. Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement

• Desire is the starting point of all achievement. Without a strong desire for something, it is unlikely that we will take the necessary actions to achieve it.
• The desire for success must be intense and burning. It must be the focus of our thoughts and actions.
• We must also have a definite goal in mind, rather than a vague desire. This goal should be written down and reviewed regularly.
• Desire alone is not enough; we must also take action and persist in the face of obstacles.
  Examples of individuals who achieved great success through a burning desire include Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Alexander Graham Bell.
• In the chapter, Hill provides many examples of successful individuals who achieved their goals through a strong desire and determination. For instance, he discusses how Thomas Edison's intense desire to invent a practical electric light bulb led him to try thousands of different materials before finding one that worked. Similarly, Henry Ford's desire to create an affordable automobile for the masses led him to revolutionize the assembly line process, making cars more accessible to ordinary people. By focusing their desires and taking persistent action, these individuals were able to achieve great success.

3. Faith: Visualization of, and Belief in Attainment of Desire

• Faith is the visualization of, and belief in the attainment of our desires. It is an essential ingredient in achieving success and wealth.
• We must have faith in ourselves, in our abilities, and in the universe. We must believe that we can achieve our desires, even if we do not know how we will do it.
• Visualization is a powerful tool that can help us to develop faith. By picturing ourselves already having achieved our desires, we can create a strong belief that it is possible.
• Positive affirmations can also help to build faith. By repeating positive statements to ourselves, we can train our subconscious mind to believe in our abilities and our goals.
• Examples of individuals who achieved great success through faith and visualization include Henry Ford, who visualized himself as a successful automobile manufacturer before he had even built his first car, and boxer Gene Tunney, who used visualization to overcome a fear of being knocked out in the ring.
• In this chapter, Hill emphasizes the importance of faith and visualization in achieving success. By developing a strong belief in our abilities and our goals, and by using visualization and positive affirmations to reinforce that belief, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our desires.

4. Auto-Suggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind

• Auto-suggestion is the medium for influencing the subconscious mind. It involves repeating positive affirmations or suggestions to ourselves in order to train our subconscious mind to believe in our abilities and goals.
• Our subconscious mind is incredibly powerful and can have a profound impact on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By using auto-suggestion, we can harness the power of our subconscious mind to achieve our desires.
• The key to effective auto-suggestion is repetition. By repeating positive affirmations or suggestions to ourselves on a regular basis, we can train our subconscious mind to accept them as true.
• Auto-suggestion is most effective when it is accompanied by emotion. By infusing our suggestions with strong emotions like faith, love, and enthusiasm, we can make them even more powerful.
• Examples of individuals who have used auto-suggestion to achieve success include Napoleon Hill himself, who used positive affirmations to overcome a fear of public speaking, and boxer Jack Dempsey, who used visualization and auto-suggestion to become a champion fighter.
• In this chapter, Hill emphasizes the importance of auto-suggestion in training the subconscious mind. By repeating positive affirmations or suggestions to ourselves, accompanied by strong emotions, we can program our subconscious mind to help us achieve our goals.

5. Specialized Knowledge: Personal Experience or Observations

• Specialized knowledge is knowledge that is specific to a particular field or industry. It is essential for achieving success and wealth.
• Personal experience and observations are a key source of specialized knowledge. By immersing ourselves in our field or industry, we can gain valuable insights and knowledge that others may not have.
• We should always be seeking to expand our specialized knowledge, through reading, study, and personal experience. The more knowledge we have, the more valuable we are to ourselves and others.
• Examples of individuals who achieved great success through specialized knowledge include Thomas Edison, who became an expert in electrical engineering through personal experience and experimentation, and Henry Ford, who became an expert in automobile manufacturing through years of study and practical experience.
• Hill also emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with individuals who have specialized knowledge. By working with experts in our field or industry, we can learn from their experience and knowledge.
• In this chapter, Hill stresses the importance of specialized knowledge in achieving success. By immersing ourselves in our field or industry, seeking out new knowledge, and surrounding ourselves with experts, we can gain a competitive advantage and achieve our goals.

6. Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind

• Imagination is the workshop of the mind. It is the starting point for all great achievements and is essential for success.
• Imagination is the ability to create mental images of things that do not yet exist. By using our imagination, we can visualize our goals and desires, and bring them into reality.
• The key to effective use of the imagination is to use all of our senses to create a vivid mental image. By using our senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, we can create a detailed mental picture of our desires.
• Imagination is most effective when it is combined with emotion. By infusing our mental images with strong emotions like love, faith, and enthusiasm, we can make them even more powerful.
• Examples of individuals who used their imagination to achieve success include Andrew Carnegie, who used his imagination to envision a steel empire, and Henry Ford, who used his imagination to create the Model T and revolutionize the automobile industry.
• In this chapter, Hill emphasizes the importance of imagination in achieving success. By using our imagination to create vivid mental images of our goals and desires, we can bring them into reality. The key is to use all of our senses and infuse our mental images with strong emotions.

7. Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire into Action

• Organized planning is the process of turning our desires and goals into action. It is essential for achieving success.
• The first step in organized planning is to set a definite goal or desire. This goal should be clear, specific, and measurable.
• Once we have a clear goal, we must develop a plan of action to achieve it. This plan should be organized, detailed, and flexible.
• It is important to involve others in our organized planning process. By working with a team of like-minded individuals, we can pool our resources and expertise to achieve our goals.
• We should also be willing to adapt our plan as needed, based on feedback and results. Flexibility is key to achieving success.
• Examples of individuals who used organized planning to achieve success include Henry Ford, who used his assembly line process to revolutionize the automobile industry, and Thomas Edison, who used a team of experts to develop his inventions.
• In this chapter, Hill stresses the importance of organized planning in turning our desires and goals into action. By setting clear goals, developing a detailed plan, and working with others, we can achieve success. Flexibility is also important, as we may need to adapt our plan as we go along.

8. Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination

• Decision-making is a critical skill for achieving success. Successful people make decisions quickly and are willing to take risks.
• Procrastination is the opposite of decision-making. It is the act of putting off important decisions or actions, often out of fear or indecision.
• To overcome procrastination, we must develop the habit of making decisions quickly and definitively. We must also be willing to take risks and embrace failure as a necessary part of the learning process.
• Making decisions quickly and decisively is a habit that can be developed through practice. By starting with small decisions and gradually building up to larger ones, we can train our minds to make decisions quickly and confidently.
• Examples of successful individuals who mastered the art of decision-making include Andrew Carnegie, who made quick decisions and took calculated risks to build his empire, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who made bold decisions during his presidency to lead the country through difficult times.
• In this chapter, Hill emphasizes the importance of decision-making in achieving success. Procrastination is the enemy of decision-making, and we must develop the habit of making decisions quickly and confidently in order to overcome it. By embracing failure as a necessary part of the learning process and taking calculated risks, we can develop the habit of decisive decision-making.

9. Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith

• Persistence is the quality that separates those who succeed from those who do not. It is the sustained effort required to turn desire into reality.
• Success often requires many failures and setbacks along the way. Those who are persistent and refuse to give up in the face of adversity are the ones who ultimately succeed.
• Persistence requires a strong sense of purpose and a burning desire to achieve one's goals. It also requires the ability to overcome obstacles and setbacks, and the willingness to learn from failures and mistakes.
• Hill cites numerous examples of successful individuals who demonstrated persistence in the face of adversity, including Thomas Edison, who failed thousands of times before finally inventing the light bulb, and Abraham Lincoln, who faced numerous defeats before finally becoming president.
• Developing persistence is a matter of habit, and can be achieved through daily practice. By setting clear goals, creating a plan of action, and taking consistent, persistent action, anyone can develop the habit of persistence.
• In this chapter, Hill stresses the importance of persistence in achieving success. He argues that those who are persistent and refuse to give up in the face of adversity are the ones who ultimately succeed. Persistence requires a strong sense of purpose, the ability to overcome obstacles, and the willingness to learn from failures and mistakes. By developing persistence as a habit through daily practice, anyone can achieve their goals and turn their desires into reality.

10. Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force

• The power of the Master Mind is one of the most important principles for achieving success. A Master Mind is a group of individuals who work together to achieve a common goal.
• The Master Mind principle is based on the idea that two or more people working together can achieve much more than one person working alone. When people work together in harmony, they create a synergistic effect that amplifies their individual abilities.
• The success of a Master Mind group depends on the selection of the right members. The group should consist of individuals with different skills, knowledge, and experience who are willing to work together towards a common goal.
• Hill emphasizes that the Master Mind group should be organized in a spirit of harmony and cooperation, and that each member should contribute to the group to the best of their ability.
• Successful individuals throughout history have utilized the power of the Master Mind principle to achieve their goals, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Andrew Carnegie.
• In this chapter, Hill emphasizes the importance of the Master Mind principle for achieving success. He argues that working together in harmony with others who have different skills and abilities can amplify individual abilities and achieve much more than one person working alone. The success of a Master Mind group depends on the selection of the right members and the organization of the group in a spirit of harmony and cooperation. Hill cites numerous examples of successful individuals who utilized the power of the Master Mind principle to achieve their goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of this principle for achieving success.

11. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: The Tenth Step toward Riches

• Sex transmutation is the process of channeling sexual energy into creative pursuits, including the accumulation of wealth.
• Hill argues that sexual energy is the most powerful of all human desires and that it can be harnessed for creative purposes.
• Successful individuals throughout history have used sex transmutation to fuel their creativity and achieve success. Hill cites examples such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Edison.
• In order to practice sex transmutation, one must first learn to control their sexual impulses and direct their energy towards a specific goal or purpose.
  Hill also emphasizes the importance of the mind-body connection in sex transmutation. By maintaining a positive mental attitude and engaging in physical exercise, individuals can increase their vitality and energy levels, which can be channeled towards creative pursuits.
• Hill warns that sex transmutation should not be confused with promiscuity or illicit sexual behavior. Rather, it should be used as a means of increasing energy and creativity.
• In this chapter, Hill explores the concept of sex transmutation and its role in achieving success. He argues that sexual energy is the most powerful of all human desires and that it can be harnessed for creative purposes. Hill provides numerous examples of successful individuals throughout history who have utilized sex transmutation to achieve their goals, and emphasizes the importance of controlling sexual impulses and directing sexual energy towards a specific goal or purpose. He also stresses the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude and engaging in physical exercise to increase vitality and energy levels. Hill warns that sex transmutation should not be confused with promiscuity or illicit sexual behavior, but rather should be used as a means of increasing energy and creativity.

12. The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link

• The subconscious mind is the connecting link between the finite mind of a person and the infinite intelligence of the universe.
• The subconscious mind is the seat of all emotions, desires, and imagination.
• The subconscious mind never sleeps and is always working, even when a person is unaware of it.
• To influence the subconscious mind, a person must communicate with it in a language that it understands, such as through emotions and repetition of positive affirmations.
• The subconscious mind can be programmed with positive or negative thoughts and beliefs, which can affect a person's actions and outcomes in life.
• The subconscious mind can be influenced through autosuggestion, meditation, and hypnosis.
• The conscious mind acts as a gatekeeper, allowing or disallowing thoughts and beliefs to enter the subconscious mind.
• The conscious mind can be trained to control and direct the subconscious mind towards desired outcomes. i.e. can be trained to filter out negative thoughts and beliefs that may hinder a person's success. By consciously focusing on positive thoughts and beliefs, a person can direct their subconscious mind towards achieving their goals.

13. The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought

• The brain acts as both a broadcasting and receiving station for thought.
• Every thought we have sends out vibrations into the universe.
• Our brains are capable of receiving and interpreting the vibrations of other people's thoughts, as well as cosmic forces beyond our understanding.
• Our thoughts can be positive or negative, and the vibrations we send out will attract similar vibrations back to us.
• It is important to control our thoughts and only allow positive thoughts into our minds, in order to attract positive results into our lives.
• We can use autosuggestion and affirmations to program our subconscious minds with positive thoughts and beliefs.
• We can also use creative imagination to visualize our desired outcomes and manifest them into reality.
• Our ability to control our thoughts and direct them towards our goals is essential to achieving success in life.

14. The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom

• The Sixth Sense is the gateway to the subconscious mind, and it allows us to tap into a higher level of consciousness beyond our five senses.
• The Sixth Sense can be developed through meditation, introspection, and deep concentration.
• The Sixth Sense is a combination of the other five senses, along with our intuition, imagination, and creative faculties.
• The Sixth Sense is the source of inspiration and creativity, and it allows us to receive insights and solutions to problems that cannot be solved through logical thinking alone.
• The Sixth Sense can also give us access to infinite intelligence, and it allows us to connect with the universe and tap into its power.
• The Sixth Sense is a muscle that can be strengthened through practice and exercise, and it can lead to extraordinary results in all areas of life.
• To develop our Sixth Sense, we must cultivate a deep sense of faith, belief, and expectancy, and we must be open to receiving guidance from the universe.
• The Sixth Sense is the key to unlocking the door to the temple of wisdom, and it can lead us to the attainment of our greatest desires and dreams.
• Overall, chapter 14 emphasizes the importance of tapping into our intuition and accessing a higher level of consciousness in order to achieve success and fulfillment in life. By developing our Sixth Sense, we can unlock the door to infinite possibilities and unlock our full potential.

15. How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear

• Fear is one of the biggest obstacles to success and can manifest in many different ways.
• The six most common fears are poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death.
• To overcome these fears, it's important to recognize them and understand their root causes.
• One effective way to combat fear is to develop self-confidence and a positive mental attitude.
• Other techniques for overcoming fear include setting clear goals, taking action towards those goals, and seeking out the support of like-minded individuals.
• It's also important to avoid negative influences and maintain a focus on positive thoughts and actions. By taking these steps, you can outwit the six ghosts of fear and achieve the success you desire.

💯 II. Key takeaways:

1. The power of desire: The starting point of all achievement is a strong desire. You need to have a burning desire to achieve your goals and dreams.

2. The importance of faith: To achieve your goals, you must believe in yourself and in the possibility of achieving those goals. Visualize yourself already having achieved your goals.

3. The power of the subconscious mind: Your subconscious mind plays a significant role in your success. You need to control your thoughts and feed your mind with positive thoughts and beliefs.

4. The significance of specialized knowledge: You need to have specialized knowledge in your field to achieve success. Continuously educate yourself and acquire new skills.

5. The power of persistence: Success requires persistence and the ability to overcome failures and setbacks. You need to develop a "never give up" attitude and keep pushing forward towards your goals.

🛰️ III. Other recommended references:

Napoleon Hill - Mastermind Principle