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by ayb |
When it comes to achieving your dreams, persistence is key. It is easy to quit – sometimes too easy. But quitters never win, right? Donald Trump says, “quitters are losers.”
Anthony Robbins says if you fail, you should try something else – but holding on to a goal, a dream, day after day can seem impossible at times. How can anyone pull through?
Napoleon Hill has an answer.
In Think and Grow Rich
Mr. Hill says that the art of persistence takes just four steps. A bit of time and effort, mind you, but he quickly points out that there is no minimum amount of education or intelligence level required.
According to Think and Grow Rich
- A definite purpose backed by burning desire for its fulfillment. In other words, you must first truly know what you want – and define your objective in detail – and then convince yourself that you want it so badly that there is simply no alternative.
- A definite plan, expressed in continuous action. You don’t need to know all of the steps – though it would certainly help if you did – but one key is to evaluate the project on a regular basis, assess its status, and decide on the next physical action step that should be done to help achieve the desired outcome.
- A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances. Many people wallow in their own misery; at times I am guilty of the same. However, even the world’s second richest man, Warren Buffett, has said that in order to be successful you must surround yourself with people that are better than you. Few fortunes have been made following the herd.
- A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose. Establishing your own network and collection of contacts is key in this regard. The more inspiring people you know, the more you’ll be inspired.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I`ve read the book more than ten times and don`t agree with much of the content and the way it is presented.
For instance, a mind closed against all negative and discouraging influences is a mind closed full stop.
A definite plan backed by definite purpose and a burning desire is also not necessarily needed, people acheive noteworthy things all the time without many or even any of these principles in the way he subscribes them.
He has formed a blueprint and stamped his name on it, but in the real world blueprints and brainwashing don`t work, intangibles do.
I appreciate your comments – but wholeheartedly disagree.
What Mr. Hill is saying in his book with regard to “a mind closed against all negative influences” has more to do with the little things that close friends and family say that can be discouraging.
When starting a new business, for example, most entrepreneurs get excited and work hard. Should their parents really tell them not to work too hard – especially when the financial future of a new business is at stake?
If someone wants to lose a substantial amount of weight, would it be a wise choice to spend every weekend with beer-and-wings bar buddies?
As someone that has defied the norm, quit his job, and started a new business, I think Napoleon Hill is spot on with this. Many people try to wallow in their misery – and want others to join them on some level.
It is difficult to rise above when someone you know is trying to pull you under – and that someone may not even realize it. Identifying bad influences and limiting exposure to them can increase your odds of success.
Of course when you frame it that way it is true, but my study of the book goes a lot deeper than face values. Why, because that is the way Hill intended it, I followed his teachings as best I could, he even states that a cursory read will be of little value.
Answer me this, if what Hill states is true why is it that you cannot actually grow wings and fly like a bird?.
Your brother is standing next to you at a very busy intersection, you see a big of money on the other side of the expressway, your brother says to you” do not cross the road it is too dangerous”, you make a run for the money as other bystanders all tell you to “go for it”.
You may make it, you may not, you also may be totally confident right up to the point you are squashed like a toad. Your belief in a thing can change at any instant.
Anthony Robbins says that when you set an outcome for yourself, you should set a goal that is achievable – and you should make it as easy as possible to succeed.
Saying your goal is to grow wings and fly like a bird is a bit extreme, at least as far as goals go – don’t you agree?
At the end of the day, the book is called “THINK and Grow Rich”. Becoming wealthy is the result of a series of decisions; often, you were right about at least one.
And risk is a part of every day life, too. Running across the street is a risky decision, and not for everyone.
But if you made it across and collected $100,000 in “free” money, wouldn’t you be on the front page of the paper as the “lucky” guy?
I believe in writing down goals and all that you said there, and I have done this and more and accomplished a lot but generally it was due to hard work and study.
I like some ideas TAGR teaches just not as a complete guide and I guess the way it is presented.