History
In 1935, Napoleon Hill's second wife Florence filed for and received a divorce. In 1936, Napoleon met Rosa Lee Beeland when she attended one of his lectures. He proposed the next day and they were soon married. Unable to afford a place of their own, they moved in with Hill and Florence's son, Blair, in New York City. Following a few months of this living arrangement, Blair's wife, Vera, left due to Hill's harassment and abuse. Blair left shortly thereafter. Before leaving, however, Blair gave his father and Rosa a loan to continue work on their new book, Think and Grow Rich. [1]
Think and Grow Rich was published in 1937 and became a major commercial success. Beeland contributed substantially to the authoring and editing of Think and Grow Rich. [2] Hill and Beeland divorced in 1940, with the latter retaining the royalties from the book, given that they had been put in her name to protect them from any claims made by Hill's second wife, Florence, and her children. Hill and Beeland reportedly never repaid Blair for the $300 loan with Rosa taunting Blair about the matter. [1]
Summary
Think and Grow Rich is based on Hill's earlier work The Law of Success , claims to be the result of more than twenty years of study of many individuals who had amassed personal fortunes. Hill studied their habits and drew some 16 "laws" to be applied to achieve success. Think and Grow Rich condenses them, providing the reader with 14 principles in the form of a "Philosophy of Achievement". [3]
The main theme of the book is that anyone can achieve success and wealth by following a certain set of principles. Hill identified these principles as the "13 Steps to Riches," which included developing a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, taking action, and maintaining a strong belief in oneself and one's capabilities. The 13 "steps" were:
- 1. Desire: Start with a strong desire or burning ambition to achieve a specific goal or outcome.
- 2. Faith: Have unwavering faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal.
- 3. Autosuggestion: Use positive self-talk and affirmations to reinforce your beliefs and goals.
- 4. Specialized knowledge: Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goal.
- 5. Imagination: Use your imagination to visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it.
- 6. Organized planning: Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve your goal.
- 7. Decision: Make a firm decision to follow through on your plan and never give up.
- 8. Persistence: Keep working towards your goal, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
- 9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with like-minded people who support and encourage you.
- 10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Use the power of your sexual energy to fuel your desire and drive.
- 11. The Subconscious Mind: Tap into the power of your subconscious mind to help you achieve your goals.
- 12. The Brain: Use your brain to analyze and plan, and to make decisions and take action.
- 13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your intuition and inner guidance to help you make the right decisions and achieve your goals.
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