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The Masters Series Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill • Paul Martinelli & Roddy Galbraith EFTA01220520 EFTA01220521 EFTA01220522 一畏相三吣○号吧。￥郏刍。口毛瞄∑－丛雷曲 出。。ma 農日。Q 当喂由口。＝乇国◎晌。一⑩毛口。吧⑩吻霹曲 。 三工g 当 z q郦 工gH盅參。出° 。 z＜￥zH 工 H 的凹崭凹叻叩粕~易s肅~占啦 EFTA01220523  Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Companion Text Stickman productions 2300 North Dixie Highway West Palm Beach FL 33407 Phone Email 2014 EFTA01220524 EFTA01220525 Contents Author's Preface 9 1 Introduction 17 2 Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement 33 The First Step toward Riches 3 Faith Visualization of, and Belief in Attainment of Desire 55 The Second Step toward Riches 4 Auto-Suggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind 77 The Third Step toward Riches 5 Specialized Knowledge, Personal Experience or Observations 85 The Fourth Step toward Riches 6 Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind 101 The Fifth Step toward Riches 7 Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire into Action 117 The Sixth Step toward Riches 8 Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination 163 The Seventh Step toward Riches 9 Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith 177 The Eighth Step toward Riches 10 Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force 195 The Ninth Step toward Riches 11 The Mystery of Sex: Transmutation 203 The Tenth Step toward Riches 12 The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link 227 The Eleventh Step toward Riches 13 The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought 237 The Twelfth Step toward Riches 14 The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom 245 The Thirteenth Step toward Riches Epilogue 257 How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear EFTA01220526 EFTA01220527  AUTHOR'S PREFACE 9 Author's Preface 1 IN EVERY chapter of this book, mention has been made of the money-making 2 secret which has made fortunes for more than five hundred exceedingly wealthy 3 men whom I have carefully analyzed over a long period of years. 4 The secret was brought to my attention by Andrew Carnegie, more than a 5 quarter of a century ago. The canny, lovable old Scotsman carelessly tossed it 6 into my mind, when I was but a boy. Then he sat back in his chair, with a merry 7 twinkle in his eyes, and watched carefully to see if I had brains enough to 8 understand the full significance of what he had said to me. 9 When he saw that I had grasped the idea, he asked if I would be willing to spend twenty years or more, preparing myself to take it to the world, to men and 11 women who, without the secret, might go through life as failures. I said I would, 12 and with Mr. Carnegie's cooperation, I have kept my promise. 13 This book contains the secret, after having been put to a practical test by 14 thousands of people, in almost every walk of life. It was Mr. Carnegie's idea that 15 the magic formula, which gave him a stupendous fortune, ought to be placed 16 within reach of people who do not have time to investigate how men make 17 money, and it was his hope that I might test and demonstrate the soundness of 18 the formula through the experience of men and women in every calling. 19 He believed the formula should be taught in all public schools and colleges, and 20 expressed the opinion that if it were properly taught it would so revolutionize the 21 entire educational system that the time spent in school could be reduced to less 22 than half. 23 His experience with Charles M. Schwab, and other young men of Mr. Schwab's 24 type, convinced Mr. Carnegie that much of that which is taught in the schools is 25 of no value whatsoever in connection with the business of earning a living or 26 accumulating riches. He had arrived at this decision, because he had taken into 27 his business one young man after another, many of them with but little 28 schooling, and by coaching them in the use of this formula, developed in them Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220528  10 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 29 rare leadership. Moreover, his coaching made fortunes for every one of them 3o who followed his instructions. In the chapter on Faith, you will read the 31 astounding story of the organization of the giant United States Steel Corporation, 32 as it was conceived and carried out by one of the young men through whom Mr. 33 Carnegie proved that his formula will work for all who are ready for it. 34 This single application of the secret, by that young man — Charles M. Schwab — 35 made him a huge fortune in both money and OPPORTUNITY. Roughly 36 speaking, this particular application of the formula was worth six hundred 37 million dollars. These facts-and they are facts well known to almost everyone 38 who knew Mr. Carnegie-give you a fa idea of what the reading of this book may 39 bring to you, provided you KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT. 40 Even before it had undergone twenty years of practical testing, the secret was 41 passed on to more than one hundred thousand men and women who have used 42 it for their personal benefit, as Mr. Carnegie planned that they should. Some 43 have made fortunes with it. Others have used it successfully in creating harmony 44 in their homes. A clergyman used it so effectively that it brought him an income 45 of upwards of $75,000.00 a year. 46 Arthur Nash, a Cincinnati tailor, used his near-bankrupt business as a "guinea 47 pig" on which to test the formula. The business came to life and made a fortune 48 for its owners. It is still thriving, although Mr. Nash has gone. The experiment 49 was so unique that newspapers and magazines, gave it more than a million 5o dollars' worth of laudatory publicity. 51 The secret was passed on to Stuart Austin Wier, of Dallas, Texas. He was ready 52 for it — so ready that he gave up his profession and studied law. Did he succeed? 53 That story is told too. 54 I gave the secret to Jennings Randolph, the day he graduated from College, and 55 he has used it so successfully that he is now serving his third term as a Member 56 of Congress, with an excellent opportunity to keep on using it until it carries him 57 to the White House. EFTA01220529  AUTHOR'S PREFACE 11 58 While serving as Advertising Manager of the La-Salle Extension University, when 59 it was little more than a name, I had the privilege of seeing J. G. Chapline, 6o President of the University, use the formula so effectively that he has since made 6i the LaSalle one of the great extension schools of the country. 62 The secret to which I refer has been mentioned no fewer than a hundred times, 63 throughout this book. It has not been directly named, for it seems to work more 64 successfully when it is merely uncovered and left in sight, where THOSE WHO 65 ARE READY, and SEARCHING FOR IT, may pick it up. That is why Mr. 66 Carnegie tossed it to me so quietly, without giving me its specific name. 67 If you are READY to put it to use, you will recognize this secret at least once in 68 every chapter. I wish I might feel privileged to tell you how you will know if you 69 are ready, but that would deprive you of much of the benefit you will receive 70 when you make the discovery in your own way. While this book was being written, my own son, who was then finishing the last 72 year of his college work, picked up the manuscript of chapter two, read it, and 73 discovered the secret for himself. He used the information so effectively that he 74 went directly into a responsible position at a beginning salary greater than the 75 average man ever earns. His story has been briefly described in chapter two. 76 When you read it, perhaps you will dismiss any feeling you may have had at the 77 beginning of the book that it promised too much. And, too, if you have ever 78 been discouraged, if you have had difficulties to surmount which took the very 79 soul out of you, if you have tried and failed, if you were ever handicapped by 8o illness or physical affliction, this story of my son's discovery and use of the 8i Carnegie formula may prove to be the oasis in the Desert of Lost Hope, for 82 which you have been searching. 83 This secret was extensively used by President Woodrow Wilson, during the 84 World War. It was passed on to every soldier who fought in the war, carefully 85 wrapped in the training received before going to the front. President Wilson told 86 me it was a strong factor in raising the funds needed for the war. Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220530  12 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 87 More than twenty years ago, Hon. Manuel L Quezon (then Resident 88 Commissioner of the Philippine Islands), was inspired by the secret to gain 89 freedom for his people. He has gained freedom for the Philippines, and is the 90 first President of the free state. A peculiar thing about this secret is that those 91 who once acquire it and use it, find themselves literally swept on to success, with 92 but little effort, and they never again submit to failure! If you doubt this, study 93 the names of those who have used it, wherever they have been mentioned, check 94 their records for yourself, and be convinced. 95 There is no such thing as SOMETHING FOR NOTHING! 96 The secret to which I refer cannot be had without a price, although the price is 97 far less than its value. It cannot be had at any price by those who are not 98 intentionally searching for it. It cannot be given away, it cannot be purchased for 99 money, for the reason that it comes in two parts. One part is already in loo possession of those who are ready for it. The secret serves equally well, all who 101 are ready for it. 102 Education has nothing to do with it. Long before I was born, the secret had 103 found its way into the possession of Thomas A. Edison, and he used it so 104 intelligently that he became the world's leading inventor, although he had but 105 three months of schooling. The secret was passed on to a business associate of 106 Mr. Edison. He used it so effectively that, although he was then making only 107 $12,000 a year, he accumulated a great fortune, and retired from active business io8 while still a young man. You will find his story at the beginning of the first 109 chapter. It should convince you that riches are not beyond your reach, that you no can still be what you wish to be, that money, fame, recognition and happiness 111 can be had by all who are ready and determined to have these blessings. 112 How do I know these things? You should have the answer before you finish this 113 book. You may find it in the very first chapter, or on the last page. 114 While I was performing the twenty year task of research, which I had undertaken us at Mr. Carnegie's request, I analyzed hundreds of well-known men, many of EFTA01220531  AUTHOR'S PREFACE 13 116 whom admitted that they had accumulated their vast fortunes through the aid of 117 the Carnegie secret; among these men were: 118 HENRY FORD WILLIAM WRIGLEY JR. JOHN WANAMAKER 119 JAMES J. HILL GEORGE S. PARKER E. M. STATLER HENRY 120 L.DOHERTY CYRUS H. K. CURTIS GEORGE EASTMAN 121 THEODORE ROOSEVELT JOHN W. DAVIS ELBERT HUBBARD 122 WILBUR WRIGHT WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN DR. DMTID 123 STARR JORDAN J. ODGEN ARMOUR CHARLES M. SCHWAB 124 HARRIS F. WILLIAMS DR. FRANK GUNSAULUS DANIEL 125 WILLARD KING GILLETTE RALPH A. WEEKS JUDGE DANIEL 126 T. WRIGHT JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER THOMAS A. EDISON 127 FRANK A. VANDERLIP F. W. WOOLWORTH COL. ROBERTA. 128 DOLLAR EDWARD A. FILENE EDWIN C. BARNES ARTHUR 129 BRISBANE WOODROW WILSON WIVI. HOWARD TAFT LUTHER 130 BURBANK EDWARD W. BOK FRANK A. MUNSEY ELBERT H. 131 GARY DR. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL JOHN H. PATTERSON 132 JULIUS ROSENWALD STUART AUSTIN WIER DR. FRANK 133 CRANE GEORGE M. ALEXANDER J. G. CHAPPLINE HON. 134 JENNINGS RANDOLPH ARTHUR NASH CLARENCE DARROW 135 These names represent but a small fraction of the hundreds of well-known 136 Americans whose achievements, financially and otherwise, prove that those who 137 understand and apply the Carnegie secret, reach high stations in life. I have never 138 known anyone who was inspired to use the secret, who did not achieve 139 noteworthy success in his chosen calling. I have never known any person to 140 distinguish himself, or to accumulate riches of any consequence, without 141 possession of the secret. 142 From these two facts I draw the conclusion that the secret is more important, as 143 a part of the knowledge essential for self-determination, than any which one 144 receives through what is popularly known as "education." Empowerment vlentoring Community EFTA01220532  14 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 145 What is EDUCATION, anyway? This has been answered in full detail. As far as 146 schooling is concerned, many of these men had very little. John Wanamaker 147 once told me that what little schooling he had, he acquired in very much the 148 same manner as a modem locomotive takes on water, by "scooping it up as it 149 runs." 150 Henry Ford never reached high school, let alone college. I am not attempting to 151 minimize the value of schooling, but I am trying to express my earnest belief that 152 those who master and apply the secret will reach high stations, accumulate riches, 153 and bargain with life on their own terms, even if their schooling has been 154 meager. 155 Somewhere, as you read, the secret to which I refer will jump from the page and 156 stand boldly before you, IF YOU ARE READY FOR IT! When it appears, you 157 will recognize it. Whether you receive the sign in the first or the last chapter, stop 158 for a moment when it presents itself, and turn down a glass, for that occasion 159 will mark the most important turning-point of your life. 160 We pass now, to Chapter One, and to the story of my very dear friend, who has 161 generously acknowledged having seen the mystic sign, and whose business 162 achievements are evidence enough that he turned down a glass. As you read his 163 story, and the others, remember that they deal with the important problems of 164 life, such as all men experience. The problems arising from one's endeavor to 165 earn a living, to find hope, courage, contentment and peace of mind; to 166 accumulate riches and to enjoy freedom of body and spirit. 167 Remember, too, as you go through the book, that it deals with facts and not with 168 fiction, its purpose being to convey a great universal truth through which all who 169 are READY may learn, not only WHAT TO DO, BUT ALSO HOW TO DO 170 IT! and receive, as well, THE NEEDED STIMULUS TO MAKE A START. 171 As a final word of preparation, before you begin the first chapter, may I offer 172 one brief suggestion which may provide a clue by which the Carnegie secret may 173 be recognized? It is this — ALL ACHIEVEMENT, ALL EARNED RICHES, 174 HAVE THEIR BEGINNING IN AN IDEA! EFTA01220533  AUTHOR'S PREFACE 15 175 If you are ready for the secret, you already possess one half of it, therefore, you 176 will readily recognize the other half the moment it reaches your mind. THE AUTHOR Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220534 16 THINK AND GROW RICH EFTA01220535  INTRODUCTION Introduction THE MAN WHO "THOUGHT" HIS WAY INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THOMAS A. EDISON 1 TRULY, "thoughts are things," and powerful things at that, when they are mixed 2 with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a BURNING DESIRE for their 3 translation into riches, or other material objects. 4 A little more than thirty years ago, Edwin C. Barnes discovered how true it is 5 that men really do THINK AND GROW RICH. His discovery did not come 6 about at one sitting. It came little by little, beginning with a BURNING DESIRE 7 to become a business associate of the great Edison. 8 One of the chief characteristics of Barnes' Desire was that it was definite. He 9 wanted to work with Edison, not for him. Observe, carefully, the description of to how he went about translating his DESIRE into reality, and you will have a ii better understanding of the thirteen principles which lead to riches. When this 12 DESIRE, or impulse of thought, first flashed into his mind he was in no position 13 to act upon it. Two difficulties stood in his way. He did not know Mr. Edison, 14 and he did not have enough money to pay his railroad fare to Orange, New 15 Jersey. These difficulties were sufficient to have discouraged the majority of men 16 from making any attempt to carry out the desire. 17 But his was no ordinary desire! He was so determined to find a way to carry out i8 his desire that he finally decided to travel by "blind baggage," rather than be 19 defeated. (To the uninitiated, this means that he went to East Orange on a 20 freight train). He presented himself at Mr. Edison's laboratory, and announced 21 he had come to go into business with the inventor. In speaking of the first 22 meeting between Barnes and Edison, years later, Mr. Edison said, "He stood 23 there before me, looking like an ordinary tramp, but there was something in the 24 expression of his face which conveyed the impression that he was determined to 25 get what he had come after. I had learned, from years of experience with men, 26 that when a man really DESIRES a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220536  18 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 27 entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win. I 28 gave him the opportunity he asked for, because I saw he had made up his mind 29 to stand by until he succeeded. Subsequent events proved that no mistake was 3o made." 31 Just what young Barnes said to Mr. Edison on that occasion was far less 32 important than that which he thought. Edison, himself, said so! It could not have 33 been the young man's appearance which got him his start in the Edison office, 34 for that was definitely against him. It was what he THOUGHT that counted. If 35 the significance of this statement could be conveyed to every person who reads 36 it, there would be no need for the remainder of this book. 37 Barnes did not get his partnership with Edison on his first interview. He did get 38 a chance to work in the Edison offices, at a very nominal wage, doing work that 39 was unimportant to Edison, but most important to Barnes, because it gave him 40 an opportunity to display his "merchandise" where his intended "partner" could 41 see it. Months went by. Apparently nothing happened to bring the coveted goal 42 which Barnes had set up in his mind as his DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE. But 43 something important was happening in Barnes' mind. He was constantly 44 intensifying his DESIRE to become the business associate of Edison. 45 Psychologists have correctly said that "when one is truly ready for a thing, it puts 46 in its appearance." Barnes was ready for a business association with Edison, 47 moreover, he was DETERMINED TO REMAIN READY UNTIL HE GOT 48 THAT WHICH HE WAS SEEKING. 49 He did not say to himself, "Ah well, what's the use? I guess I'll change my mind 5o and try for a salesman's job." But, he did say, "I came here to go into business 51 with Edison, and I'll accomplish this end if it takes the remainder of my life." He 52 meant it! What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt 53 a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become 54 an all-consuming obsession! EFTA01220537  INTRODUCTION 19 55 Maybe young Barnes did not know it at the time, but his bulldog determination, 56 his persistence in standing back of a single DESIRE, was destined to mow down 57 all opposition, and bring him the opportunity he was seeking. 58 When the opportunity came, it appeared in a different form, and from a different 59 direction than Barnes had expected. That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It 6o has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in 6i the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to 62 recognize opportunity. Mr. Edison had just perfected a new office device, known 63 at that time, as the Edison Dictating Machine (now the Ediphone). His salesmen 64 were not enthusiastic over the machine. They did not believe it could be sold 65 without great effort. Barnes saw his opportunity. It had crawled in quietly, 66 hidden in a queer looking machine which interested no one but Barnes and the 67 inventor. 68 Barnes knew he could sell the Edison Dictating Machine. He suggested this to 69 Edison, and promptly got his chance. He did sell the machine. In fact, he sold it 70 so successfully that Edison gave him a contract to distribute and market it all 71 over the nation. Out of that business association grew the slogan, "Made by 72 Edison and installed by Barnes." 73 The business alliance has been in operation for more than thirty years. Out of it 74 Barnes has made himself rich in money, but he has done something infinitely 75 greater, he has proved that one really may "Think and Grow Rich." 76 How much actual cash that original DESIRE of Barnes' has been worth to him, 77 I have no way of knowing. Perhaps it has brought him two or three million 78 dollars, but the amount, whatever it is, becomes insignificant when compared 79 with the greater asset he acquired in the form of definite knowledge that an 8o intangible impulse of thought can be transmuted into its physical counterpart by 81 the application of known principles. 82 Barnes literally thought himself into a partnership with the great Edison! He 83 thought himself into a fortune. He had nothing to start with, except the capacity 84 to KNOW WHAT HE WANTED, AND THE DETERMINATION TO Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220538  20 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 85 STAND BY THAT DESIRE UNTIL HE REALIZED IT. He had no money to 86 begin with. He had but little education. He had no influence. But he did have 87 initiative, faith, and the will to win. With these intangible forces he made himself 88 number one man with the greatest inventor who ever lived. 89 Now, let us look at a different situation, and study a man who had plenty of 90 tangible evidence of riches, but lost it, because he stopped three feet short of the 91 goal he was seeking. THREE FEET FROM GOLD 92 One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is 93 overtaken by temporary defeat. Every person is guilty of this mistake at one time 94 or another. An uncle of R. U. Darby was caught by the "gold fever" in the gold- 95 rush days, and went west to DIG AND GROW RICH. He had never heard that 96 more gold has been mined from the brains of men than has ever been taken 97 from the earth. He staked a claim and went to work with pick and shovel. The 98 going was hard, but his lust for gold was definite. 99 After weeks of labor, he was rewarded by the discovery of the shining ore. He wo needed machinery to bring the ore to the surface. Quietly, he covered up the 101 mine, retraced his footsteps to his home in Williamsburg, Maryland, told his 102 relatives and a few neighbors of the "strike." They got together money for the 103 needed machinery, had it shipped. The uncle and Darby went back to work the 104 mine. 105 The first car of ore was mined, and shipped to a smelter. The returns proved 106 they had one of the richest mines in Colorado! A few more cars of that ore 107 would clear the debts. Then would come the big killing in profits. io8 Down went the drills! Up went the hopes of Darby and Uncle! Then something 109 happened! The vein of gold ore disappeared! They had come to the end of the EFTA01220539  INTRODUCTION 21 110 rainbow, and the pot of gold was no longer there! They drilled on, desperately 111 trying to pick up the vein again-all to no avail. 112 Finally, they decided to QUIT. They sold the machinery to a junk man for a few 113 hundred dollars, and took the train back home. Some "junk" men are dumb, but 114 not this one! He called in a mining engineer to look at the mine and do a little 115 calculating. The engineer advised that the project had failed, because the owners 116 were not familiar with "fault lines." His calculations showed that the vein would 117 be found JUST THREE FEET FROM WHERE THE DARBYS HAD 118 STOPPED DRILLING! That is exactly where it was found! 119 The "Junk" man took millions of dollars in ore from the mine, because he knew 120 enough to seek expert counsel before giving up. Most of the money which went 121 into the machinery was procured through the efforts of R. U. Darby, who was 122 then a very young man. The money came from his relatives and neighbors, be- 123 cause of their faith in him. He paid back every dollar of it, although he was years 124 in doing so. 125 Long afterward, Mr. Darby recouped his loss many times over, when he made 126 the discovery that DESIRE can be transmuted into gold. The discovery came 127 after he went into the business of selling life insurance. 128 Remembering that he lost a huge fortune, because he STOPPED three feet from 129 gold, Darby profited by the experience in his chosen work, by the simple method 130 of saying to himself, "I stopped three feet from gold, but I will never stop 131 because men say no when I ask them to buy insurance." 132 Darby is one of a small group of fewer than fifty men who sell more than a 133 million dollars in life insurance annually. He owes his "stick-ability" to the lesson 134 he learned from his "quit-ability" in the gold mining business. 135 Before success comes in any man's life, he is sure to meet with much temporary 136 defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and 137 most logical thing to do is to QUIT. That is exactly what the majority of men do. Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220540  22 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 138 More than five hundred of the most successful men this country has ever 139 known, told the author their greatest success came just one step beyond the 140 point at which defeat had overtaken them. Failure is a trickster with a keen sense 141 of irony and cunning. 142 It takes great delight in tripping one when success is almost within reach. A FIFTY-CENT LESSON IN PERSISTENCE 143 Shortly after Mr. Darby received his degree from the "University of Hard 144 Knocks, " and had decided to profit by his experience in the gold mining 145 business, he had the good fortune to be present on an occasion that proved to 146 him that "No" does not necessarily mean no. 147 One afternoon he was helping his uncle grind wheat in an old fashioned mill. 148 The uncle operated a large farm on which a number of colored sharecrop 149 farmers lived. Quietly, the door was opened, and a small colored child, the 150 daughter of a tenant, walked in and took her place near the door. 151 The uncle looked up, saw the child, and barked at her roughly, "what do you 152 want?" Meekly, the child replied, "My mammy say send her fifty cents." "I'll not 153 do it," the uncle retorted, "Now you run on home." "Yas-sah," the child replied. 154 But she did not move. The uncle went ahead with his work, so busily engaged 155 that he did not pay enough attention to the child to observe that she did not 156 leave. When he looked up and saw her still standing there, he yelled at her, "I 157 told you to go on home! Now go, or I'll take a switch to you." The little girl said 158 "yas-sah," but she did not budge an inch. The uncle dropped a sack of grain he 159 was about to pour into the mill hopper, picked up a barrel stave, and started 16o toward the child with an expression on his face that indicated trouble. 161 Darby held his breath. He was certain he was about to witness a murder. He 162 knew his uncle had a fierce temper. He knew that colored children were not 163 supposed to defy white people in that part of the country. EFTA01220541  INTRODUCTION 23 164 When the uncle reached the spot where the child was standing, she quickly 165 stepped forward one step, looked up into his eyes, and screamed at the top of 166 her shrill voice, "MY MAMMY'S GOTTA HAVE THAT FIFTY CENTS!" 167 The uncle stopped, looked at her for a minute, then slowly laid the barrel stave 168 on the floor, put his hand in his pocket, took out half a dollar, and gave it to her. 169 The child took the money and slowly backed toward the door, never taking her 170 eyes off the man whom she had just conquered. 171 After she had gone, the uncle sat down on a box and looked out the window into 172 space for more than ten minutes. He was pondering, with awe, over the 173 whipping he had just taken. Mr. Darby, too, was doing some thinking. That was 174 the first time in all his experience that he had seen a colored child deliberately 175 master an adult white person. How did she do it? What happened to his uncle 176 that caused him to lose his fierceness and become as docile as a lamb? What 177 strange power did this child use that made her master over her superior? These 178 and other similar questions flashed into Darby's mind, but he did not find the 179 answer until years later, when he told me the story. 18o Strangely, the story of this unusual experience was told to the author in the old 181 mill, on the very spot where the uncle took his whipping. Strangely, too, I had 182 devoted nearly a quarter of a century to the study of the power which enabled an 183 ignorant, illiterate colored child to conquer an intelligent man. 184 As we stood there in that musty old mill, Mr. Darby repeated the story of the 185 unusual conquest, and finished by asking, "What can you make of it? What 186 strange power did that child use, that so completely whipped my uncle?" 187 The answer to his question will be found in the principles described in this book. 188 The answer is full and complete. It contains details and instructions sufficient to 189 enable anyone to understand, and apply the same force which the little child 190 accidentally stumbled upon. 191 Keep your mind alert, and you will observe exactly what strange power came to 192 the rescue of the child, you will catch a glimpse of this power in the next chapter. Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220542  24 THINK AND GROW RICI-I 193 Somewhere in the book you will find an idea that will quicken your receptive 194 powers, and place at your command, for your own benefit, this same irresistible 195 power. The awareness of this power may come to you in the first chapter, or it 196 may flash into your mind in some subsequent chapter. It may come in the form 197 of a single idea. Or, it may come in the nature of a plan, or a purpose. Again, it 198 may cause you to go back into your past experiences of failure or defeat, and 199 bring to the surface some lesson by which you can regain all that you lost 200 through defeat. 201 After I had described to Mr. Darby the power unwittingly used by the little 202 colored child, he quickly retraced his thirty years of experience as a life insurance 203 salesman, and frankly acknowledged that his success in that field was due, in no 204 small degree, to the lesson he had learned from the child. 205 Mr. Darby pointed out: "every time a prospect tried to bow me out, without 206 buying, I saw that child standing there in the old mill, her big eyes glaring in 207 defiance, and I said to myself, "I've gotta make this sale.' The better portion of all 208 sales I have made, were made after people had said "NO'." 209 He recalled, too, his mistake in having stopped only three feet from gold, "but," 210 he said, "that experience was a blessing in disguise. It taught me to keep on 211 keeping on, no matter how hard the going may be, a lesson I needed to learn 212 before I could succeed in anything." 213 This story of Mr. Darby and his uncle, the colored child and the gold mine, 214 doubt- less will be read by hundreds of men who make their living by selling life 215 insurance, and to all of these, the author wishes to offer the suggestion that 216 Darby owes to these two experiences his ability to sell more than a million 217 dollars of life insurance every year. 218 Life is strange, and often imponderable! Both the successes and the failures have 219 their roots in simple experiences. Mr. Darby's experiences were commonplace 220 and simple enough, yet they held the answer to his destiny in life, therefore they 221 were as important (to him) as life itself. He profited by these two dramatic 222 experiences, because he analyzed them, and found the lesson they taught. But EFTA01220543  INTRODUCTION ?:5 223 what of the man who has neither the time, nor the inclination to study failure in 224 search of knowledge that may lead to success? 225 Where, and how is he to learn the art of converting defeat into stepping stones 226 to opportunity? 227 In answer to these questions, this book was written. The answer called for a 228 description of thirteen principles, but remember, as you read, the answer you 229 may be seeking, to the questions which have caused you to ponder over the 230 strangeness of life, maybe found in your own mind, through some idea, plan, or 231 purpose which may spring into your mind as you read. 232 One sound idea is all that one needs to achieve success. The principles described 233 in this book, contain the best, and the most practical of all that is known, 234 concerning ways and means of creating useful ideas. 235 Before we go any further in our approach to the description of these principles, 236 we believe you are entitled to receive this important suggestion.... WHEN 237 RICHES BEGIN TO COME THEY COME SO QUICKLY, IN SUCH 238 GREAT ABUNDANCE, THAT ONE WONDERS WHERE THEY HAVE 239 BEEN HIDING DURING ALL THOSE LEAN YEARS. 240 This is an astounding statement, and all the more so, when we take into 241 consideration the popular belief, that riches come only to those who work hard 242 and long. 243 When you begin to THINK AND GROW RICH, you will observe that riches 244 begin with a state of mind, with definiteness of purpose, with little or no hard 245 work. You, and every other person, ought to be interested in knowing how to 246 acquire that state of mind which will attract riches. I spent twenty-five years in 247 research, analyzing more than 25,000 people, because I, too, wanted to know 248 "how wealthy men become that way. 249 Without that research, this book could not have been written. Here take notice 250 of a very significant truth: Empowerment vlentoring Community EFTA01220544  26 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 251 The Business Depression started in 1929, and continued on to an all-time record 252 of economic destruction, until sometime after President Roosevelt entered 253 office. Then the Depression began to fade into nothingness. Just as an Usher in a 254 theatre raises the lights so gradually that darkness is transmuted into light before 255 you realize it, so did the spell of fear in the minds of the people gradually fade 256 away and become faith. 257 Observe very closely, as soon as you master the principles of this philosophy, 258 and begin to follow the instructions for applying those principles, your financial 259 status will begin to improve, and everything you touch will begin to transmute 26o itself into an asset for your benefit. Impossible? Not at all! 261 One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man's familiarity with the 262 word "impossible." He knows all the rules which will NOT work. He knows all 263 the things which CANNOT be done. This book was written for those who seek 264 the rules which have made others successful, and are willing to stake everything 265 on those rules. 266 A great many years ago I purchased a fine dictionary. The first thing I did with it 267 was to turn to the word "impossible," and neatly clip it out of the book. That 268 would not be an unwise thing for you to do. Success comes to those who 269 become SUCCESS CONSCIOUS. 27O Failure comes to those who indifferently allow themselves to become FAILURE 271 CONSCIOUS. 272 The object of this book is to help all who seek it, to learn the art of changing 273 their minds from FAILURE CONSCIOUSNESS to SUCCESS 274 CONSCIOUSNESS. 275 Another weakness found in altogether too many people, is the habit of 276 measuring everything, and everyone, by their own impressions and beliefs. Some 277 who will read this, will believe that no one can THINK AND GROW RICH. 278 They cannot think in terms of riches, because their thought habits have been 279 steeped in poverty, want, misery, failure, and defeat. EFTA01220545  INTRODUCTION 27 28o These unfortunate people remind me of a prominent Asian, who came to 281 America to be educated in American ways. He attended the University of 282 Chicago. One day President Harper met this young man on the campus, stopped 283 to chat with him for a few minutes, and asked what had impressed him as being 284 the most noticeable characteristic of the American people. 285 "Why," the student exclaimed, "your eyes!" What do we say about the Asians? 286 We refuse to believe that which we do not understand. We foolishly believe that 287 our own limitations are the proper measure of limitations. Sure, the other 288 fellow's eyes are "different," BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS 289 OUR OWN. 290 Millions of people look at the achievements of Henry Ford, after he has arrived, 291 and envy him, because of his good fortune, or luck, or genius, or whatever it is 292 that they credit for Ford's fortune. Perhaps one person in every hundred 293 thousand knows the secret of Ford's success, and those who do know are too 294 modest, or too reluctant, to speak of it, because of its simplicity. A single 295 transaction will illustrate the "secret" perfectly. 296 A few years back, Ford decided to produce his now famous V-8 motor. He 297 chose to build an engine with the entire eight cylinders cast in one block, and 298 instructed his engineers to produce a design for the engine. The design was 299 placed on paper, but the engineers agreed, to a man, that it was simply 3oo impossible to cast an eight- cylinder gas engine block in one piece. 301 Ford said, "Produce it anyway." "But," they replied, "it's impossible!" "Go 302 ahead," Ford commanded, "and stay on the job until you succeed no matter how 303 much time is required." 304 The engineers went ahead. There was nothing else for them to do, if they were to 305 remain on the Ford staff. Six months went by, nothing happened. Another six 306 months passed, and still nothing happened. The engineers tried every 307 conceivable plan to carry out the orders, but the thing seemed out of the 308 question; "impossible!" Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220546  28 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 309 At the end of the year Ford checked with his engineers, and again they informed 310 him they had found no way to carry out his orders. 311 "Go right ahead," said Ford, "I want it, and I'll have it." They went ahead, and 312 then, as if by a stroke of magic, the secret was discovered. 313 The Ford DETERMINATION had won once more! 314 This story may not be described with minute accuracy, but the sum and 315 substance of it is correct. Deduce from it, you who wish to THINK AND 316 GROW RICH, the secret of the Ford millions, if you can. You'll not have to 317 look very far. Henry Ford is a success, because he understands, and applies the 318 principles of success. One of these is DESIRE: knowing what one wants. 319 Remember this Ford story as you read, and pick out the lines in which the secret 32o of his stupendous achievement have been described. If you can do this, if you 321 can lay your finger on the particular group of principles which made Henry Ford 322 rich, you can equal his achievements in almost any calling for which you are 323 suited. 324 YOU ARE "THE MASTER OF YOUR FATE, THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR 325 SOUL" 326 When Henley wrote the prophetic lines, "I am the Master of my Fate, I am the 327 Captain of my Soul," he should have informed us that we are the Masters of our 328 Fate, the Captains of our Souls, because we have the power to control our 329 thoughts. 33o He should have told us that the ether in which this little earth floats, in which we 331 move and have our being, is a form of energy moving at an inconceivably high 332 rate of vibration, and that the ether is filled with a form of universal power which 333 ADAPTS itself to the nature of the thoughts we hold in our minds; and 334 INFLUENCES us, in natural ways, to transmute our thoughts into their physical 335 equivalent. EFTA01220547  INTRODUCTION 29 336 If the poet had told us of this great truth, we would know WHY IT IS that we 337 are the Masters of our Fate, the Captains of our Souls. He should have told us, 338 with great emphasis that this power makes no attempt to discriminate between 339 destructive thoughts and constructive thoughts, that it will urge us to translate 340 into physical reality thoughts of poverty, just as quickly as it will influence us to 341 act upon thoughts of riches. 342 He should have told us, too, that our brains become magnetized with the 343 dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds, and, by means with which no 344 man is familiar, these "magnets" attract to us the forces, the people, the 345 circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating 346 thoughts. 347 He should have told us, that before we can accumulate riches in great 348 abundance, we must magnetize our minds with intense DESIRE for riches, that 349 we must become "money conscious until the DESIRE for money drives us to 35o create definite plans for acquiring it. 351 But, being a poet, and not a philosopher, Henley contented himself by stating a 352 great truth in poetic form, leaving those who followed him to interpret the 353 philosophical meaning of his lines. 354 Little by little, the truth has unfolded itself, until it now appears certain that the 355 principles described in this book, hold the secret of mastery over our economic 356 fate. 357 We are now ready to examine the first of these principles. Maintain a spirit of 358 open-mindedness, and remember as you read, they are the invention of no one 359 man. The principles were gathered from the life experiences of more than 500 36o men who actually accumulated riches in huge amounts; men who began in 361 poverty, with but little education, without influence. The principles worked for 362 these men. You can put them to work for your own enduring benefit. 363 You will find it easy, not hard, to do. Empowerment Mentoring Community EFTA01220548  30 THINK AND GROW RIO-I 364 Before you read the next chapter, I want you to know that it conveys factual 365 information which might easily change your entire financial destiny, as it has so 366 definitely brought changes of stupendous proportions to two people described. 367 I want you to know, also, that the relationship between these two men and 368 myself, is such that I could have taken no liberties with the facts, even if I had 369 wished to do so. One of them has been my closest personal friend for almost 370 twenty-five years, the other is my own son. The unusual success of these two 371 men, success which they generously accredit to the principle described in the 372 next chapter, more than justifies this personal reference as a means of 373 emphasizing the far- flung power of this principle. 374 Almost fifteen years ago, I delivered the Commencement Address at Salem 375 College, Salem, West Virginia. I emphasized the principle described in the next 376 chapter, with so much intensity that one of the members of the graduating class 377 definitely appropriated it, and made it a part of his own philosophy. The young 378 man is now a Member of Congress, and an important factor in the present 379 administration. Just before this book went to the publisher, he wrote me a letter 38o in which he so clearly stated his opinion of the principle outlined in the next 381 chapter, that I have chosen to publish his letter as an introduction to that 382 chapter. It gives you an idea of the rewards to come. 383 "My dear Napoleon: 384 "My service as a Member of Congress having given me an insight into the 385 problems of men and women, I am writing