Think And Grow Rich

This is, to me, what Tyler Cowen calls a 'quake book'. It shakes your ideas of the world and opens your eyes to a new way of thinking. In the opening chapter the author offers that the Carnegie secret to wealth can be uncovered by those ready to receive it. The secret is not easily described, and which the author named the 'master key'. I will not do you the injustice of paraphrasing my own short description. You will be better served to read it yourself, and God willing you receive the alluded understanding. You will have an awakening of desire and adopt (or further develop) a definite purpose. 

Everything in Think and Grow Rich is worth repeating, alas this post will not suffice. If your intention was to reproduce here all the useful knowledge contained, you would need to reproduce the entire book. Here are a few key indices and notes that you will want to be reminded of. These are not my summary, but rather ideas I highlighted.

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

1. Thoughts are Things

One sound idea is all that you need.

My mammy has to have that fifty cents!

Riches begin with a state of mind

2. Desire: The starting point to all achievement

p.17 - Six steps for branding desire in the subconscious (read your written statement aloud twice daily)

3. Faith: The belief in, and visualization of attainment

Have faith in yourself; faith in the Infinite. Before we begin, you should be reminded again that: Faith is the "eternal elixir" which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought!

Believe like Jocko

Self confidence is a choice

4. Autosuggestion: The medium for influencing the subconscious mind

Reread this chapter continuously. See and feel the money in your hands. Eyes closed. Fixate!

5. Specialized Knowledge

Knowledge != Power. This is a lie we've been fed. Knowledge has to be organized and developed into definite, practical plans of action

Understand where to get knowledge and how to organize it

Managers need character, intelligence and personality more than specialized knowledge. Those willing to study at home.

Embrace opportunity. Don't start at the bottom.

Both success and failure are largely the result of habit.

Choose associates who don't compromise when they're right.

6. Imagination (synthetic and creative)

Thoughts are intangible forces stronger than physical versions

Hard work and honesty won't be enough by themselves

One great idea is all you need. Synthesize and Create!!

7. Organized Planning / Leadership

A master mind group is essential. DO NOT NEGLECT THIS.

Words without works are useless

The Major Attributes of Leadership

QQS - Quality, Quantity, and Spirit of work

Self assessment (annual): https://www.success.com/napoleon-hills-28-self-analysis-questions/

8. Decision

Success requires no explanation. Failure permits no alibis

Keep your own counsel. Reach decisions and follow them. Don't allow others to make your decisions for you.

Genuine wisdom is often conspicuous through modesty and silence.

Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.

Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely, know what they want and generally get it. The leaders in every walk of life decide quickly, and firmly. That is the major reason why they are leaders. The world has a habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.

Decision and indecision are habits.

9. Persistence

You gotta want it.

Take stock of your personal inventory, and face the brutal facts. Work diligently to master your weaknesses.

Be. Do. Own.

Know why you fight. Most people can't answer a simple question of what they want out of life.

A definite purpose, a definite plan, a mind closed to discouragement and negative influence, and a friendly alliance.

10. The Master Mind Group

Brains are like batteries. They increase in utility with number and capacity of cells.

When 2 minds mix, they accidentally create a third mind.

11. Sex Transmutation

Happiness is found in doing, not merely in possessing.

Desires powered by emotion are stronger, and they more readily influence the subconscious. The strongest emotions are the best at influencing the subconscious. Do what you can to nurture the positive emotions, and guard against negative emotions.

The majority of men lower themselves, through misunderstanding and misuse of this great force, to the status of the lower animals.

Personal magnetism: essential for salesmen.

Men who accumulate great fortunes, attain to great heights of power and fame, do so, mainly, to satisfy their desire to please women. Take women out of their lives, and great wealth would be useless to most men. It is this inherent desire of man to please woman which gives woman the power to make or break a man.

12. The Subconscious Mind

You may voluntarily plant in your subconscious mind any plan, thought, or purpose which you desire to translate into its physical or monetary equivalent.

It, alone, is the medium through which prayer may be transmitted to the source capable of answering prayer.

Make your desires clear, reduce them to writing. Be persistent. Remember that the subconscious mind may be voluntarily directed only through habit. 

The subconscious will not remain idle. If you don't feed it, the world will feed it for you.

Your emotions will go to work for you. Use positive emotions for positive results.

13. The Brain

The brain is like a radio. You can transmit and receive. You can build that skill. The invisible forces are greater than the physical forces.

14. The Sixth Sense

Meditation, internal growth, and the use of the subconscious can hone your sixth sense. The sixth sense can warn you of impending hazards, and notify you of impending opportunities. Exercise your imagination, and use it to your advantage. Consider the author's 'Invisible Council'.

15. The Six Ghosts of Fear

The fear of poverty
The fear of criticism
The fear of ill health
The fear of loss of love of someone
The fear of old age
The fear of death

Take stock of your character and your thoughts. Take stock of which fears pervade your detection because you cannot see them. Realize that all people are susceptible to these fears. If you think you are fearless, you may be failing to notice a fear. Be brutally honest in your assessment of yourself. Face the brutal facts. Work hard at overcoming your weaknesses, and understanding your psyche. Set up habits for counteracting all 6 fears.

The alibis of 'old man IF'.

Disclaimer: image generated by a generative ai tool