Think and grow rich: a summary

By Enid Westerlund. 12 March 2023, 2:00PM

Think and Grow Rich (1937), written by Napoleon Hill is amongst the most popular books of all time. I’ve read some of it three months ago and then forgot about it. Today, I will give a summary for those who do not have the time to read it. 

Like my old man who says he won’t read it but happy to lend me his copy. The book is full of valuable trinkets for anyone who wants to succeed in life, especially those who want to be rich. There are some practical steps to take and it all begins with a single thought.

Desire is the starting point of all achievement: “A burning desire to be, to do and that starting point from which the dreamer must take off. Dreams are not born of indifference , laziness or lack of ambition. It is not wishful thinking. Remember that all who succeed in life have been disappointed, have undergone defeat and suffered loss. The turning point in the lives of those who succeed, usually comes at the moment of some crisis, through which they are introduced to their “other selves”. There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it. No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can acquire it. The state of mind must be belief, not mere hope or wish. Open-mindedness is essential for belief. Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage and belief”.

Faith, “the visualisation of, and belief in attainment of desire. Faith is the head chemist of the mind. When faith is blended with vibration of thought, the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translate it into spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to infinite intelligence, as in the case of prayer. Faith is the basis of all miracles and all mysteries which cannot be analysed by the rules of Science. Faith is the only known antidote for failure. It is the element, which when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence. It is a well known fact, that one comes, finally, to believe whatever one repeats to one’s self, whether the statement be true or false. If a man repeats a lie over and over, he will eventually accept the lie as truth. Every man is what he is, because of the dominating thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind. Thoughts which a man deliberately places in his own mind, and encourages with sympathy, and with which he mixes any one or more of the emotions, constitute the motivating forces, which direct and control his every moment, act and deed”.

“If you think you are beaten, you are if you think you dare not, you don’t if you think to win, but you think you can’t it is almost certain you won’t if you think you’ll lose, you’re lost for out of the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will It’s all in the state of mind If you think you are outclassed, you are You’ve got to think high to rise You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can."

Autosuggestion, the medium for influencing the subconscious mind. Autosuggestion applies to all suggestions which reach the mind through five senses. Through the dominating thoughts which we allow to remain in the conscious mind, whether these are negative or positive is immaterial. The principle of autosuggestion voluntarily reaches the subconscious mind and influences it with these thoughts. Plain, unemotional words do not influence the subconscious mind. You will get no appreciable results until you learn to reach your subconscious mind with thoughts, or spoken words which have been well emotionalised with belief. Your ability to use this step depends on your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that becomes a burning obsession.

Specialised knowledge, there are two types of knowledge, general and specialised. Whatever quantity of general knowledge one accumulates, this will not equate to success or riches. Knowledge will not attract money unless it was organised, intelligently directed, through practical plans of action, to the definite end of accumulation of money. Knowledge alone is not power. It is only potential power. Yikes and here we were in school reciting this over and over again?

Imagination, the workshop of the mind. Synthetic imagination arrange old concepts, ideas or plans into new combinations. This faculty creates nothing. Creative imagination is where all basic or new ideas are handed over to man.

Organised planning, the crystallisation of desire into action. This is when you begin to take all those thoughts with a plan and start doing.

These are some of the steps that are supposed to lead to financial success. It is an interesting book and I will share more next week. While we enjoy another peaceful Sunday Samoa, as christians we are advised not to love this world too much. That the world offers only craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. That all these things are temporary and we won’t take anything to the grave. Have a great week ahead!

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Education
By Enid Westerlund. 12 March 2023, 2:00PM
Samoa Observer

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