REVIEW

Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich

"The day of the go-getter has passed. He has been supplanted by the go-giver. There will never be the need to put the lid back on, because, in the future, business will be conducted by methods that will require no pressure," said Napoleon Hill. "The business depression marked the death of one age, and the birth of another. This changed world requires practical dreamers who can, and will put their dreams into action. The practical dreamers have always been, and always will be the pattern-makers of civilization."

Believe to Achieve

Hill, perhaps the original guru of North American capitalism, wrote the above words in Think and Grow Rich, a self-help book penned in the wake of the Great Depression. And they've certainly aced the test of time. Much of this book was inspired by the words and works of downtrodden Scottish immigrant cum billionaire steel magnate and global philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who had a great impact on Hill when he was a young man.

Hill's writings are considered by many to be the gospel of 20th century American Capitalism: work hard, have a firm handshake, get ahead by doing quality work, treat your customers with respect, find success by conquering personal weaknesses. These are some of the basic tenants of Hill's Philosophy of Achievement.

Carpe Diem!

At the foundation of much of his work, is Hill's belief that the source of all great accomplishment can be traced to -- and controlled by -- the integration of desire with the inner workings of the conscious and subconscious minds. The concept is much more simple than it sounds: Take control of your own destiny.

Many real estate entrepreneurs are so focused on their businesses that they may find there's little time left at the end of the day to devote to developing the mind set that will attract wealth. But by clearly defining goals, successfully implementing time-management techniques and using tools such as SalesTeamLive's Done-For-You Marketing Campaigns, even the most beleaguered entrepreneur can turn his or her real estate investment business into treasure.

Start at the Beginning

Hill's philosophy begins with defining your desires, finding faith in your ability to succeed, and learning the tricks of your trade. These essential steps help to develop a Definite Purpose that becomes the focus of your energy and creativity, and the driving force in the decisions you make. Without a clear vision of your goals, and an unrelenting action plan, staying motivated will always be a challenge, Hill believed.

Below are some inspirational excerpts from Hill's Thirteen Steps to Riches strategy for building wealth and attaining personal freedom:

• Desire: "Every human being who reaches the age of understanding of the purpose of money, wishes for it. Wishing will not bring riches. But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches."
  
• Faith: "Have Faith in yourself; faith in the Infinite. Faith is the 'eternal elixir' which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought."
• Specialized Knowledge: "Knowledge will not attract money, unless it is organized, and intelligently directed, through practical plans of action, to the definite end of accumulation of money. Lack of understanding of this fact has been the source of confusion to millions of people who falsely believe that 'knowledge is power.' It is nothing of the sort! Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.
• Imagination: "Man's only limitation, within reason, lies in his development and use of his imagination."
  
• Organized Planning: "Have a definite goal at which you are aiming, and a definite plan for its attainment."
  
• Decision Making: "Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer. Keep your eyes and ears wide open--and your mouth closed, if you wish to acquire the habit of prompt decision."
• Power of the Master Mind: "Power may be defined as 'organized and intelligently directed knowledge.' The 'Master Mind' may be defined as: 'Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose."
• The Subconscious Mind: "Is the connecting link: It receives, and files, sense impressions or thoughts, regardless of their nature. You may voluntarily plant in your subconscious mind any plan, thought, or purpose which you desire to translate into its physical or monetary equivalent."
• Conquer Fear: "Fear paralyzes the faculty of reason, destroys the faculty of imagination, kills off self-reliance, undermines enthusiasm, discourages initiative, leads to uncertainty of purpose, encourages procrastination, wipes out enthusiasm and makes self-control an impossibility."

One Idea Can Change your Life Though the final few chapters of the book explore the "sixth sense," using the sex drive ("transmuted sex energy") as a motivational tool and achieving greater physical and mental power with telepathy, this should not distract readers from the overall usefulness of Hill's work. Most of the material in this book is highly relevant to real estate entrepreneurs navigating the cusp of the 21st century business landscape.
What was true in 1937 when Hill wrote Think and Grow Rich remains a reality in 2008: "Ideas are the seedlings from which great fortunes have grown. One sound idea is all that one needs to achieve success."

SUMMARY
The original guru of 20th Century U.S. capitalism, Napoleon Hill, wrote Think and Grow Rich, a self-help book written the wake of the Great Depression. Much of this book was inspired by the words and works of self-made billionaire Andrew Carnegie. Even today, Hill's work is considered by many to be the entrepreneur's gospel. Hill's philosophy begins with defining your desires, finding faith in your ability to succeed, and learning the tricks of your trade. These essential steps help to develop a Definite Purpose that becomes the focus of your energy and creativity, and the driving force of the decisions you make. Without a clear vision of your goals, and an unrelenting action plan, staying motivated will always be a challenge. Many real estate entrepreneurs are so entrenched in their businesses, they may find there's little time left at the end of the day to devote to developing the mind-set that will attract wealth and happiness. But by clearly defining goals, successfully implementing time-management techniques and using tools such as SalesTeamLive's Done-For-You Marketing Campaigns, even the most beleaguered entrepreneur can turn his or her real estate investment business into treasure.

About the Author
Napoleon Hill was born in 1883, in modest, rural Virginia cabin. He began writing at age 13 as a reporter for small town newspapers and went on to write more than a dozen books in his lifetime. Hill's death in 1970 at age 87 ended his lengthy career writing, coaching and lecturing about his Principles of Success. His work is considered by many to be the cornerstone of the modern motivation movement.