Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Part 4)

This is Part 4 of my book summary of Napoleon Hill's influential success classic, Think and Grow Rich.

Hill was able to personally meet the most powerful and successful people of the 20th century for over 25 years. Through his work, he was able to formulate a philosophy of achievement based on real stories of real people who had used those techniques to create their successes. In a nutshell, his book teaches how we can put ourselves into the same state of mind as those who have created great wealth.

Practice 7: Reach Decisions Promptly

One thing that the wealthy people interviewed by the author had in common was every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and changing these decisions slowly, if, and when they were changed. There are many people surrounding us that will try to influence our decisions with their own opinions but in the end, we are in control of what we ultimately choose. To acquire the habit of making prompt decisions, keep your eyes and ears wide open while keeping your mouth shut.

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

Practice 8: Have Persistence

The basis of persistence is the power of will. Persistence is knowing that failures are just temporary obstacles to success. Many people believe that material success is the result of favourable “breaks.” If that successful person was not persistent in achieving his goals, that opportunity or lucky “break” would not have presented itself. Persistence is habit that can be cultivated with the following 4 steps:

1. Have a definite purpose backed by a burning desire to achieve that goal
2. Have a definite plan to achieve that goal, expressed I continuous action
3. Do not be influenced by negative and discouraging influences and opinions of your surroundings
4. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you to follow through with your plan and purpose

Let's put this "lucky break" in context of a singing contest audition. If you were a judge and you had to make a 50/50 decision on whether or not one candidate can make it to the next round or not, you take more than his talent in consideration. How he behaves and acts will project an impression to you and influence your decision. As the gatekeeper for the contestant, you will want him to show the confidence that if you let him through to the next round, he is going to do better and not disappoint you. This example is to illustrate that the simple act of believing you are lucky will increase the chances of you receiving lucky opportunities, partly because others will hope some of your luck will rub off them. This is the biggest secret lucky people know to create their own luck.

Continued from Part 3

To be continued... Part 5

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Part 3)

This is Part 3 of my book summary of Napoleon Hill's influential success classic, Think and Grow Rich.
Hill was able to personally meet the most powerful and successful people of the 20th century for over 25 years. Through his work, he was able to formulate a philosophy of achievement based on real stories of real people who had used those techniques to create their successes. In a nutshell, his book teaches how we can put ourselves into the same state of mind as those who have created great wealth.

Practice 5: Unleash your Imagination
Imagination is like a muscle; it grows stronger with regular exercise and weakens through inaction. It is a creative workshop that is limited by Man himself. There are 2 types of imagination; synthetic and creative imagination. Synthetic imagination is the rearrangement of old concepts, ideas or plans into new combinations, which I would summarise as evolutionary ideas. Creative imagination is the creation of new concepts, ideas and plans, which I would summarise as revolutionary ideas. Both types of imagination can create wealth, but great leaders of business and arts are people who have developed their faculty of creative imagination. Revolutionary ideas are the products of creative imagination which only functions when the conscious mind is stimulated, or vibrating at an exceedingly rapid rate. The commentary section of the book then goes on to give practical examples of imagination with the likes of Coca-Cola, KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks, 3M, Wal-Mart, and many more.

Practice 6: Practise Organised Planning
Planning is the transition between ideas from the imagination into tangible products or services. Align yourself with people who can review and contribute to various aspects to your plans and if your first plan fails, try another till you succeed. Being one of the longest chapters in the book, I feel that this chapter in a way sways from it's main topic into discussing topics such as:

• The 11 Major Attributes of Leadership
• The 10 Major Causes of Failure in Leadership
• How to Write a Resume
• The QQS rating of Service
• The 31 Major Causes of Failure

In summary, this chapter emphasizes that in order to get something, you must clearly plan how to get it.

Continued from Part 2

To be continued... Part 4

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of my book summary of Napoleon Hill's influential success classic, Think and Grow Rich.
Hill was able to personally meet the most powerful and successful people of the 20th century for over 25 years. Through his work, he was able to formulate a philosophy of achievement based on real stories of real people who had used those techniques to create their successes. In a nutshell, his book teaches how we can put ourselves into the same state of mind as those who have created great wealth.

Practice 3: Hypnotise Yourself with Auto-suggestion
The basic principle underlying auto-suggestion is closely related to hypnosis. Auto-suggestion is "tricking" your subconscious mind into believing something because you genuinely believe it. Once achieved, your subconscious mind will unleash powers your conscious mind (what you know), do not realise. To do this, you have to have a goal i.e. how much you intend to make, followed by how you plan to achieve this. Repeat this in your mind, including what you are willing to give in return for your goals. You can also surround yourself with books, pictures, mottoes and other suggestive devices that symbolise and reinforce achievement and self-reliance. Remember that you are the master of your own fate, and not a victim of your surroundings and background.

Practice 4: Acquire Specialised Knowledge
Knowledge is power, but is of little financial value unless it is organised and intelligently directed through practical plans of action, to the purpose of accumulation of money. If you plan to be an employee, it means acquiring the knowledge to carry out the tasks required of the employer. In business, it it means acquiring the knowledge to expand and improve your business. General knowledge is limitless and easily accessible through libraries and the internet, but most people lack the ambition to acquire the knowledge they can commercialise. You do not have to be the most knowledgeable person on the planet to make money, just specialised knowledge you can commercialise and opportunity with, with notable examples such as Bill Gates and Henry Ford.
Yes, rich men are lucky because:
LUCK = Labour Using Correct Knowledge

Continued from Part 1
To be Continued... Part 3

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (Part 1)

This is Part 1 of my book summary of Napoleon Hill's influential success classic, Think and Grow Rich.

Hill was able to personally meet the most powerful and successful people of the 20th century for over 25 years. Through his work, he was able to formulate a philosophy of achievement based on real stories of real people who had used those techniques to create their successes. In a nutshell, his book teaches how we can put ourselves into the same state of mind as those who have created great wealth.

Practice 1: Create a Burning Desire

Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. The example given was a great warrior burning his ships after landing in enemy territory where they were outnumbered, so failure was not an option for their men. Desiring riches with the correct state of mind that becomes an obsession , then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence that doesn't recognise failure, will bring riches.

Wanting to be rich and having a burning desire to be rich are 2 different things. To bring yourself into the correct state of mind, you have to be able to see, feel and believe that you have already achieved that goal. This is the same psychological exercise that forms the basis of hypnosis and auto-suggestion

Practice 2: Maintain Unshakable Faith

Faith is a state of mind which can be created by conscious repeated instructions to the subconscious mind. Faith, or belief, is a thought that you can control i.e. you are able to control what thoughts to put in your mind. This is a very important concept because what you put in your own mind, will affect your subconscious mind, which will affect the decisions you make, which will affect the actions that you take, which will affect the results that you get. Having a strong self belief and clearly defining what you plan to achieve will plant the seeds of faith that will influence your conscious attitudes and actions.

This concept was also discussed in my earlier article, The Mindset.

To be Continued... Part 2

How to Live Happily Part 2

"Having Lots of Money" was not mentioned in the earlier post on how to live happily. So here's financial advice brilliantly written from the greatest wealth creator of our time, Warren Buffet. (Copied off a forwarded email too - thanks to Mike Ho):

We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations. Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older. This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

Hard work: 

All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Laziness: 

A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

Earnings: 

Never depend on a single source of income. (At least make your Investments get you second earning)

Spending: 

If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

Savings: 

Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after

saving.

Borrowings: 

The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

Accounting: 

It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

Auditing: 

Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

Risk-taking: 

Never test the depth of the river with both feet. (Have an alternate plan ready)

Investment: 

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health. Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.

How to Live Happily

Something copied off a forwarded email:

Ten Keys to Happiness

What makes people truly happy? There are probably many answers, but here are some common themes. If you use these keys, you can let happiness fill your life!

1) Take Responsibility
Take full ownership of your actions, moods and feelings. If you can take responsibility for your life, you can change it. Blaming others for your circumstances only keeps you stuck.

2) Feel Your Feelings
Don't stuff your feelings until they become toxic or leak out. There are no wrong feelings. Acknowledge them, let yourself fully feel them when you are in private, and then you will be able to move on.

3) Practice Gratitude
Make a daily practice of asking yourself, "What am I grateful for?" Keep a gratitude journal and write down 10 things that are good in your life. Do this at bedtime and you will enjoy better sleep. Being grateful for what you have creates space for new energy to come into your life.

4) Live in the Now
Don't drag your past into your present. Don't try to live in the future. Be here now, this moment. When you fully engage in the present, there is no room for baggage from the past or fear of the future.

5) Control Your Gremlins
Gremlins are those nasty voices in your head that tear you down. You know, the ones that say, "You're not good enough" or "You'll never amount to anything". You wouldn't even say those things to your best friend. So find those gremlins and zap them. How? Ask yourself if you really want them to control you, and then change them into positive affirmations instead.

6) Practice Forgiveness
Forgive everyone even if it's just as a mental exercise. Otherwise those people and situations gain power over you and live in your head, rent free. And, of course, forgive yourself - you did the best you knew how at the time. Today is a new day. Letting go of anger and resentment will set you free.

7) Connect with Others
Let the negative, whining people in your life find someone else to complain with. You don't have time for it. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. Don't know any people like that? Put a smile on your face and go find them!

8) Manage Your Energy
Learn to say no to tasks and people who drain your energy. Learning to say no can be difficult, but once you do it, you will experience a new level of personal power and well-being. Say yes to activities that give you energy. Make a list of these activities and plan to do a few of them daily.

9) Give Back
Feel good by volunteering to help, mentor or spend time with others who don't enjoy your level of abundance. Give out positive energy and it will come back to you many times.

10) Change!
Change is good. Be flexible. Life is always throwing new stuff at you. Go with the flow and shape your life the way you want it to be. Keep learning, adapting and embracing the new and wonderful things that will show up in your life!


By Gretchen Sunderland

Business Concept 2: The Mindset

One of the most interesting concepts I've read from Anthony Robin's book is this little idea:

Beliefs > Decisions > Actions > Results

Your beliefs influence the decisions you make, which in turn, influences the actions you take, producing the results of your actions.

Simple idea, almost common sense, but what implications does it have? Before dissing this concept as useless, ask yourself, are you satisfied in a situation where you are NOW?

Most people in this world are not. They complain that life isn't as good as it should be and do nothing about it. Rather than complaining about the government, your family background, economy, etc, have a moment and reflect on yourself...

Where you are today is the result of your actions, decisions and beliefs made in the past. For example, if you're not happy with your job at the moment, it's because you acted and applied for it in the first place. What made you make that decision to commit to that job is influenced by your own beliefs. Maybe at that point in time, you thought you were not good enough to apply for that dream job of yours or there are no jobs that suit you?

It all starts from your beliefs. If you're not where you want to be now, maybe it's time to change your beliefs because doing the same thing and expecting a different result is called insanity. The reason I can still remember this concept by heart from Robin's book is because I think it is such a simple, yet powerful tool to better your own life. If doesn't cover just your financial goals, but your health, social and general aspects of your life.

For example, if you're not at the health level you want to be at, reflect on yourself why is that so? Maybe you're not healthy because you have not exercised (action), because you have a nap as soon as you go home (decision), and there is no time to exercise (belief). To change the situation you are now, you have to start by changing you belief that "there is no time to exercise".

Same goes if you're not happy in life, or if business is not doing well...

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

I read this classic book 2 years ago, so I'm making a summary so I don't forget. The title is self explanatory and it deals with a broad spectrum from social to business etiquette.

Part 1: Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

• Don't critisize, condemn or complain
• Give honest and sincere appreciation
• Arouse in the other person an eager want

Part 2: Six Ways to Make People Like You

• Become genuinely interested in the other people
• Smile
• Remember peoples' names
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
• Talk in terms of the other person's interests
• Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely

Part 3: How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

• The only way to get tge best if an argument is to avoid it
• Show respect for te other person's opinions. Never Say "You're wrong"
• If you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically
• Begin in a friendly way
• Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately
• Let the other person do a great deal of the talking
• Let the other person feel that the idea is his/hers
• Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view
• Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires
• Appeal to the nobler motives
• Dramatize your ideas
• Throw down a challenge

Part 4: How to Change People Without Giving Offence or Arousing Resentment 

• Begin with raise and honest appreciation
• Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly
• Talk about your own mistakes before critisizing the other person
• Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
• Let the other person save face
• Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise"
• Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to
• Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct
• Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest