Think and Grow Rich - Part One

[JoeSorge]

Please allow this thread to serve as your official "two minute warning" to get started reading if you haven't already.

Think and Grow Rich. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936594412/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=kitctablcomp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936594412)

In part one we'll review chapters 1 through 4.

Chapter One: Intro / The Power of Thought

Chapter Two: Desire

Chapter Three: Faith

Chapter Four: Auto-Suggestion

[JoeSorge]

Chapter One: Intro / The Power of Thought.

Any book that starts with the words "what do you want most" is getting off on the right foot in my eyes.
Right off the bat you can't help but be taken aback by the testimonials of the incredible list of names that have endorsed the authors
body of work here, but the publisher allows Dr. Hill to get right into the meat of the concept of the "secret" that this book shall reveal.

One of the parts of the introduction that spoke to me is the concept of the power of a Mastermind Group.
I know I've had some of my own success surrounding myself with great and varied minds when it comes to creating business ideas, so this really spoke to me.
Plus, the concept basically lays the groundwork for our book club.
The goal being to tap in to new sources of knowledge in your own mind by virtue of the collection of many.

I also found my ears perking up at this phrase:
...provided you know what it is that you want I must have re-read it 5 times.
The concept of specificity in a plan for doing business regularly allows for you to more accurately measure your own progress. I'm really liking where this is going already.

Chapter One's main focus is on the power of thought. But it could also easily have been entitled persistence, or transmutation of desire into action.
I really liked the story of Mr. Barnes persistence and the lesson to be learned from three feet from gold, but can everyone really afford to wait patiently
for their opportunity to come along after placing themselves in the right circumstance? Not only does persistence like that of the stories told in this chapter require
significant commitment, but the willingness to "burn the ships" asks even more of an individual. Wow! that's commitment.

By the way, is anyone else blown away by the fact that this book was originally published in 1937?

So, what did you think of the Intro and Chapter One?
Did something jump out at you that didn't jump out at me?
Do you think you know the secret already?

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[JoeSorge]

Hey Margie, so you just read the book eh? Wanna share your thoughts on the 1st few chapters. I gave you some notes to speak to in the thread above.

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[suzannab]

Hello everyone --
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up -- if you don't already have a copy of Hill's book, you can get it for 99 cents on Amazon through Kindle.

If you don't have a Kindle, no worries. Just load the free Kindle app onto your Mac or PC, then you can buy and read anything on Kindle (except subscription stuff, which isn't available yet.)

See you shortly,
Suzanna Stinnett
@Brainmaker
#Kindlechat

[yocolombo]

Been meaning to read or re-read this one. Been using twitter as a sort of mastermind for certain work, but really looking at this concept and how to build it effectively. My experience is the most important aspect of cultivating higher intelligence is the connections you make inside of yourself.

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[margiec]

Fair enough.

I just wonder if he would have told the story if it had not worked out so well. So miraculously, in fact...it made me stop and think, that's for sure!



No. I thought he was trying to show that nothing becomes impossible until you think it is, and also how much more difficult it is to follow that belief when you're dealing with someone other than yourself. It must have been very, very hard, but it worked, so he did it right and taught his son something really important.

[JoeSorge]

Suzanna, thanks so much for sharing this.


Hello everyone --
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up -- if you don't already have a copy of Hill's book, you can get it for 99 cents on Amazon through Kindle.

If you don't have a Kindle, no worries. Just load the free Kindle app onto your Mac or PC, then you can buy and read anything on Kindle (except subscription stuff, which isn't available yet.)

[ryanbarton]

I for one was struck but the sheer focus on the intense desire for more and more money.

He writes of this principle without shame, where I in turn am not sure my motivation for new projects is strictly monetary.

Granted, if it is a financial liability, I'll avoid it at all costs, but my main motivation for work is my passion for it. Secondary is the compensation.

So I was rubbed the wrong way by this undeterred focus; to me it's nothing short of a manifestation of strong greed. And to me, that's just not attractive.

-----
www.twitter.com/ryanbarton
www.TheSmartMarketingBlog.com

[rsmithcrown]

I for one was struck but the sheer focus on the intense desire for more and more money.

He writes of this principle without shame, where I in turn am not sure my motivation for new projects is strictly monetary.

Granted, if it is a financial liability, I'll avoid it at all costs, but my main motivation for work is my passion for it. Secondary is the compensation.

So I was rubbed the wrong way by this undeterred focus; to me it's nothing short of a manifestation of strong greed. And to me, that's just not attractive.

-----
www.twitter.com/ryanbarton
www.TheSmartMarketingBlog.com

I believe he, myself and a lot of people have the desire for more money so we can give and help more people with it. I do agree with you that most people do rank passion first but money helps a lot more people than yourself.

[JimRaffel]

I've read this book no fewer then 10 times from cover to cover. Joe, since first reading it in my early twenties I have always been blown away by the fact it was written in 1937. One of the things I love is that this is more than a book. Much like our friend Sally Hogshead and her book "Fascinate" it's a work of research. It's not just the thoughts and ideas of one individual. Napoleon Hill went out and researched what makes successful people successful. There's a whole lot in this book that we can all learn from and then integrate into our being.

[JoeSorge]

Chapter Two - Desire

The story of Edwin C Barnes and Thomas Edison was one that I heard loud and clear. And I really bought into it the idea.
The reason that I bought into the idea so deeply is that I've personally seen desire work exactly this way. I've even
employed the tactic myself with success.
Here's a phrase that summed up the power and the foundation of Barnes' desire nicely for me.

He WAS the partner of Edison every minute of the time, from the very first day he went to work there.I also enjoyed the discussion of what he did NOT say.
How he did NOT give up and pushed through the dip of time that most could/would not.

Does that grab you? Are you familiar with that feeling. I was also struck by the idea of how little it mattered that from the outside Barnes
appeared to be just another cog in the Edison machine. But that the big difference was in his own mind. How HE thought of his position.

I'd heard about the concept of "burning the ships" before and always wondered where it originated. Personally, it scares me, but I know
where I've got my own work to do.

The steps to transmuting desire seemed reasonable enough, but I struggle with the daily affirmation style of the last steps.
You?

I know there's been some discussion already about the story of The Author's son, but I can't help but find it to be inspirational.
If nothing else it does prove the idea mentioned in this chapter :
Desire can outwit Mother Nature

[mattclark]

I for one was struck but the sheer focus on the intense desire for more and more money.

He writes of this principle without shame, where I in turn am not sure my motivation for new projects is strictly monetary.

Granted, if it is a financial liability, I'll avoid it at all costs, but my main motivation for work is my passion for it. Secondary is the compensation.

So I was rubbed the wrong way by this undeterred focus; to me it's nothing short of a manifestation of strong greed. And to me, that's just not attractive.

-----
www.twitter.com/ryanbarton
www.TheSmartMarketingBlog.com

Hey Ryan,

I think he focuses on money because it is a concept that everyone gets. However, my take on it is that money is the idea. And, like ideas it can be anything you set your mind to. Like his son's hearing impairment.

I am guessing you are reading a second or later edition . It was edited to take out the spiritual side of the story, and shifts the focus to something that a larger group can relate to, money.

If you like, let me know and I can send you the ebook of the first edition, and I also have the study guide should anyone want it just let me know.

Make it great,
Matt Clark
http://twitter.com/itstrue

[interactive_218]

I finally started reading the book this weekend , and I'm loving it!
I liked of the part of the Three Feet from Gold, and what caught my attention, and made me think was:

One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat. Every person is guilty of this mistake at one time or another
Determination, right? You never fail, when you can not fail, when you don't have choice.

...riches come only to those who work hard and long
Sometimes we think that the life is hard just for us, and that others didn't have to work hard!

Failure comes to those who indifferently allow themselves to become failure concious.
I think I know more people "failure concious" than "success concious", and for me the power is exactly here.
It is unbelievable that the book was originally published in 1937!

[ryanbarton]

The spiritual side of the story sounds interesting.

Since my initial post, I've continued reading, gotten over my initial money concerns and am enjoying his take.

I appreciated the anecdote with his son. Everybody can relate to a desire for more money...but the desire to accomplish that which everybody else has dismissed is what fires me up.



Hey Ryan,

I think he focuses on money because it is a concept that everyone gets. However, my take on it is that money is the idea. And, like ideas it can be anything you set your mind to. Like his son's hearing impairment.

I am guessing you are reading a second or later edition . It was edited to take out the spiritual side of the story, and shifts the focus to something that a larger group can relate to, money.

If you like, let me know and I can send you the ebook of the first edition, and I also have the study guide should anyone want it just let me know.

Make it great,
Matt Clark
http://twitter.com/itstrue

[margiec]

I understand your feeling of being rubbed the wrong way by the "Money money that's what I want" tonality of the first few chapters. I didn't really let that deter me, first of all because the name of the book is Think and Get Rich, but also because I just automatically went to whatever I would desire that much.

The book does get a lot better, and I agree with everyone here that the story of Barnes and Edison was extremely interesting.

Just to play devil's advocate though, I must say that through a lot of those squishy parts, I was thinking, "Yeah, but sometimes that magical opportunity never comes. Sometimes it comes and you happen to be in the bath tub. What a bummer." My 21st century cynicism got in the way.

Also, I'll just toss this out there, but it would be AWESOME to see someone take Hill's work and apply it to leading women in business. What made them successful? What was their journey like? I think it would be a fascinating sequel :)




The spiritual side of the story sounds interesting.

Since my initial post, I've continued reading, gotten over my initial money concerns and am enjoying his take.

I appreciated the anecdote with his son. Everybody can relate to a desire for more money...but the desire to accomplish that which everybody else has dismissed is what fires me up.

[Unregistered]

Just to play devil's advocate though, I must say that through a lot of those squishy parts, I was thinking, "Yeah, but sometimes that magical opportunity never comes. Sometimes it comes and you happen to be in the bath tub. What a bummer." My 21st century cynicism got in the way.

This seems to be the sort of book that tells you not to do that though. You could accidentally put more emotion and time into thinking about not getting what you want and that's what you'll really be asking for. You'll form a habit of that and spend your life almost having it all.

I think if I'm in the tub, there's a reason for that and I've escaped taking a wrong turn. Thinking that way can't hurt. And it'll keep enthusiasm alive longer. What do you think?

[margiec]

Ah, so you're saying I need to move over to a fatalistic point of view. I can see your point there, but in my own experience, fatalism can also leave you with crushing "what ifs." Especially when bad things happen, which, let's face it, is a part of life.

"What if I had left my house 2 seconds earlier?"

I guess I would have liked to see a shot of realism in the book. Sometimes you can hope all you want, do everything right, and still end up a cog in the wheel. Saying that you are in a tight pinch just because you didn't think hard enough about being positive doesn't ring true to me. But maybe I'm just an incurable cynic. And hey, I'm not rich :)




This seems to be the sort of book that tells you not to do that though. You could accidentally put more emotion and time into thinking about not getting what you want and that's what you'll really be asking for. You'll form a habit of that and spend your life almost having it all.

I think if I'm in the tub, there's a reason for that and I've escaped taking a wrong turn. Thinking that way can't hurt. And it'll keep enthusiasm alive longer. What do you think?

[JimRaffel]

The steps to transmuting desire seemed reasonable enough, but I struggle with the daily affirmation style of the last steps.
You? :

I do not struggle with it Sir, no I do not. Actually, I have a daily (sometimes multiple times a day) daily affirmation I've been saying for going on two years now. You've known me the better part of those two years - upward spiral at rocket-ship speeds!

[JoeSorge]

Chapters 3 and 4 - Faith and Auto - Suggestion.

I must admit that I was feeling very motivated by the first two chapters, but when I came upon these two I struggled a bit.
I fully grasp the concept of both chapters, but find after completing the entire book that these are the chapters with which I struggle most personally.
What I mean is, I find the actual doing of auto suggestion to be difficult, but only the out-loud part. I feel that can can accomplish the task within my own mind.

But this was one of the more memorable passages of these two chapters for me on auto-suggestion and faith:


When men first come into contact with crime, they abhor it. If they remain in contact with crime for a time, they become accustomed to it, and endure it.
If they remain in contact with it long enough, they finally embrace it, and become influenced by it."

I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the mixing/blending of emotion with thoughts to permeate the subconscious, I can entirely see and feel how this works.
Another great passage ends with the phrase:
But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.
The whole of the verse helped me to gain a better perspective one the two chapters as a whole.

But still I find myself challenged to meet the demands of auto-suggestion. somehow it still just feels silly to me.
I'm hoping that some of you might help to convince me otherwise if you personally feel it is truly valid.

In the end, these chapters, just like the first two essentially reinforce the concept of convincing yourself that you can do anything you are willing
to put your mind to. And so far it's what I think the central message of "think and grow rich" really is.

[ryanbarton]

Joe, I too loved at criminologist quote too (I wrote about it here actually: http://ow.ly/1ss11u).

In think that example can be related to a lot of industries--for me, it was the product adoption narrative I was seeking.




Chapters 3 and 4 - Faith and Auto - Suggestion.

I must admit that I was feeling very motivated by the first two chapters, but when I came upon these two I struggled a bit.
I fully grasp the concept of both chapters, but find after completing the entire book that these are the chapters with which I struggle most personally.
What I mean is, I find the actual doing of auto suggestion to be difficult, but only the out-loud part. I feel that can can accomplish the task within my own mind.

But this was one of the more memorable passages of these two chapters for me on auto-suggestion and faith:



I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the mixing/blending of emotion with thoughts to permeate the subconscious, I can entirely see and feel how this works.
Another great passage ends with the phrase:
The whole of the verse helped me to gain a better perspective one the two chapters as a whole.

But still I find myself challenged to meet the demands of auto-suggestion. somehow it still just feels silly to me.
I'm hoping that some of you might help to convince me otherwise if you personally feel it is truly valid.

In the end, these chapters, just like the first two essentially reinforce the concept of convincing yourself that you can do anything you are willing
to put your mind to. And so far it's what I think the central message of "think and grow rich" really is.

[marnimum]

In the end, these chapters, just like the first two essentially reinforce the concept of convincing yourself that you can do anything you are willing
to put your mind to. And so far it's what I think the central message of "think and grow rich" really is.

Just joining, and trying to remember the book though I just read it for the first time only months ago. Obviously I need to go back to it again; had intended to, but didn't think I'd need to do it so soon!

It's funny, but at the beginning Hill mentions the "secret" that lies in the book's contents - that if we're ready we'll recognise it. This make me wonder if the secret wasn't the first trip around of the Law of Attraction. I also wondered: What if I don't get it? What if I'm one of those people just not ready to see it? (Geez, what does that say about my level of self-confidence?!) Did you think about the overall message of the book as you read? I believe the message is similar to many of the books I've read such as Jack Canfield's Success Principles and Martha Beck's Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live, it's about realizing what you were meant to do, what you love to do, then going for it with all you've got, because if you believe in your dream/goal/purpose (whatever you choose to call it) and you go after it without giving up (that's the key) then you cannot fail. Whatdya' think?

[the kitchenologist]

To be honest, I have only finished the first chapter, but I thought I should just post my thoughts and any comments from others posts as I go along...even if I am trailing a bit behind.

My first impression is that I am intrigued by the first chapter and its reference to the notion that being successful (whether it be riches, independence, or for other, even altruistic reasons) is a state of mind.

I am an addict of non-fiction and haven't read a novel in over a dozen years. I can't seem to avoid it, so I've read many other books like this which span the spectrum of self-help, to spirituality, to sales and marketing.

One common thread that I often see throughout my readings is that our positive (or negative) attitude towards what we want to achieve has more impact than any other force that we are faced with.

There was a book that was written some years ago about a woman who actually was pronounced dead but miraculously revived and wrote a book to document what her experience was while her body was physically dead. (find it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553565915/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1564149722&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0TH6JVKXY7P1FW8NCTA1)

Whether you believe in the after life or not, one of the most interesting things that she said that she learned through this experience was that positive thinking goes alot further than we give it credit for, and that we as people and a society need to practice this positive attitude more.

From the first chapter of "Think and Grow Rich" this idea is what I am understanding will be a major crux of his examination in becoming successful.

If this is true, then it is an exciting premise because it would mean that we are all on equal playing field to begin with, because we all have the ability to change our own attitudes towards our endeavors.

[interactive_218]

There's a whole lot in this book that we can all learn from and then integrate into our being.

I agree with that, there are several things we can learn and integrate in our business and life. In chapter 2 - Desire, among others what caught my attention was:


If the thing you wish to do is right, and you believe in it, go ahead and do it! Put your dreams across, and never mind what "they" say if you meet with temporary defeat, for "they", perhaps, do not know that every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success.

First we need to "desire", then build from there, learning with the process and results.

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[interactive_218]

But if you harbor doubt, say one thing and think another, you'll get what you think EVERY TIME.

It is related with the affirmations that we tell ourselves, right?
This reminds me the children's story "The Little Engine That Could".
If I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I will be able to do it.

[arinehartdc]

I've rereard Think and Grow Rich around 3-4 times and it's a quick, motivating read to just set you back on the right path. It's interesting each time because different aspects appeal to you at different times of your life. I think the criticism comes when people read business/prosperity books wanting the tips, tactics and strategies, and feeling let down when they just find principles/attitudes/general "rules of thumb".

True entrepreneurship is about setting an intention that solves a problem, and then working hard develop those tips, tactics and strategies in a unique way to bring your ideas into reality. The power of the human mind to rationalize through this process, when it seems undoable, is the essence of being "human"...

Hill went right to the root of the whole process and that's why this is a classic.

[mintcamp]

'Burning the ship'- example in this book is the tipping point.

[interactive_218]

I have to confess it was a little difficult to go until the end of the chapter 3 with that long story of the dinner speech, but for me one very important thing was:


FAITH is the only known antidote to FAILURE!

Just having faith and learning with mistakes we can avoid failure.

And in chapter 4:


Where failure is experienced, it is the individual, not the method, which has failed. If you try and fail, make another effort, and still another, until you succeed.