Napoleon Hill - The Wisdom of Napoleon Hill

THE
WISDOM OF
NAPOLEON HILL

All titles in this series

The Wisdom of James Allen

The Wisdom of Joseph Murphy

The Wisdom of Napoleon Hill

The Wisdom of Robert Collier

The Wisdom of Wallace D. Wattles

THE
WISDOM OF
NAPOLEON HILL

edited and introduced

by Mitch Horowitz

Published 2020 by Gildan Media LLC

aka G&D Media

www.GandDmedia.com

THE WISDOM OF NAPOLEON HILL. Introduction, Chapter Notes, Timeline and Epilogue, copyright 2020 by Mitch Horowitz

No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any manner whatsoever, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. No liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained within. Although every precaution has been taken, the author and publisher assume no liability for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

Front Cover design by David Rheinhardt of Pyrographx

Interior design by Meghan Day Healey of Story Horse, LLC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request

ISBN: 978-1-7225-0147-1

eISBN: 978-1-7225-2246-9

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

by Mitch Horowitz

I
Possessing a Definite Chief Aim

II
Reciprocity and the Golden Rule

III
Faith: Your Key to Courage and Confidence

IV
Procrastination and Fear

V
Leadership

VI
The Master Mind

VII
Sex Energy: Your Magic Elixir

VIII
Rebounding from Failure

IX
How Cosmic Law Helps You

X
Taking it All the Way

by Mitch Horowitz

The Philosopher of Success

INTRODUCTION BY MITCH HOROWITZ

F ew writers have made as deep an impact on the past century as Napoleon Hill (18831970). The Virginia-born journalist virtually defined the field of motivational literature in the first half of the twentieth century. His impact is reflected in the posterity of his work. Although you can find more hallowed books of metaphysics and therapeutic philosophy than Think and Grow Rich, The Law of Success, and others by Hill, few have attracted such sustained and varied readership. And few, I venture, will do more to improve your personal abilities and sense of purpose. This has been my experience.

With his first book, The Law of Success in 1928, Hill accomplished exactly what he set out to do, which was create a methodical philosophy of success. Over the years critics have complained that Hills notion of success is too single-minded or outwardly focused. (I challenge that, as Hills ethics run deeper than detected.) Others point to questionable aspects of his biography. (Like whether he really met and interviewed industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who never mentions Hill in his memoirs. Im agnostic on this point.). And still others note Hills tendency to favor the powerful while running down policies of social equity. (I join in this criticism.) But these critiques, while valid to varying degrees, are blunted by the remarkable effectiveness of Hills program.

In order to understand Napoleon Hill, you must have the experience of really working with his ideas. Ive met people who found themselves at a dead end in life only to immerse themselves in Think and Grow Rich and discover a new set of practical, actionable possibilitiesof transforming fallow prospects into abundant ones by working with Hills insights. It happened to me.

I write these words in 2020, about seven years from when I returned to Hills work with real commitment. Until then I had read dozens of self-help books (including Hills), had worked for years as a publisher in the field, and harbored something of a been there, done that attitude toward much of the genre. This kind of outlook is easy to fall into. However, in fall of 2013, feeling that my longtime job as a publishing executive might be in jeopardy, I revisited Think and Grow Rich with a new sense of vigor and urgency. For the first time, I did every exercise as though my life depended on it, which I often say is the magic formula for unlocking the works benefits. As I did this, my work as a writer, narrator, and lecturer began to dramatically expandwork that is now my fulltime vocation.

* * *

Starting around 1908, Hill, then a young journalist, reached the conviction that it is possible to codify principles of success, which are found, to greater or lesser measure, in the lives of exceptional people across every field, from industry and consumer products to diplomacy and the arts.

Hill said that steel magnate Andrew Carnegie urged him on in this task, a story that he told with greater drama and vividness as the years passed from the industrialists death in 1919. Whatever the source of Hills inspiration, it is evident that the writer spent about twenty years studying the lives of high achievers of all typesinventors, generals, diplomats, artists, statesmenand catalogued their common traits into a step-by-step program. Hill was certain (as are many of his readers) that he created a model of what great figures do when translating an idea from the conceptual to physical stage.

The purpose of this collection is to highlight what I consider Hills most important and practical insights, reached at varying points in his career. Although this anthology does not substitute for any of Hills books, The Wisdom of Napoleon Hill serves as a clarifier, refresher, instigator, and source of inspiration.

The book elucidates and expands on the most impactful themes of Hills program, which he never stopping developingand neither should you:

1. A Definite Chief Aim. If you take one just idea from Hills work, this is it. Nothing does more to positively reorder your life than possessing one obsessively felt, actionable aim to which all else is subordinated. To reach such an aim requires radical self-honesty and undivided commitment. Power comes from focus.

2. Reciprocity. Hills program is deeply ethical: he emphasizes transparency, plain dealing, non-prejudice, and delivering clear benefits to your end user, client, or employer. He stresses how gossip, trash-talk, and frivolous opining (i.e., blather) degrade you and deter your goals.

3. Applied Faith. I once defined faith as persistence; but Hills work has taught me that faith is persistence combined with mature and sustained confidence that you will succeed based on immutable laws of growth, which his program helps you tap into.

4. Overcoming Procrastination and Fear. These two traits are the same. Learning to control one controls the other. Begin your effort with overcoming procrastination, which is task-specific and thus easier to work on than fear in general.

5. Leadership. Hill defines leadership as initiativeas doing what needs to be done without being told. You cannot claim leadership or have it bestowed on you. It is a form of behavior that stems from accountability, foresight, and know-how. Those traits create the kind of leadership that no one can grant or take away.

6. The Master Mind. A Master Mind is a harmonious support group convened at least weekly to support each members wishes. Hill taught that such a group pools and heightens each participants insights, intuition, enthusiasm, and acumen. It is vital to his program.