Complete Outline Of "Think And Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill with Chapter Summary

The Man Who “Thought His Way” into Partnership with Thomas A. Edison – Introduction

Truly, “Thoughts are things,” and powerful things at that, when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for the translation into riches, or other material objects.

This is the very first sentence of the book “Think And Grow Rich”. This first sentence succinctly and precisely lays out the foundation for the entire book. This one sentence contains Napoleon Hill’s entire philosophy of life and explains exactly the type of thoughts, emotions and feelings that will change your life.

Mr. Hill uses the story of Edwin C. Barnes, a man who had a burning desire to work with Thomas Edison. Mr. Barnes, while looking like a tramp obtained and audience with Mr. Edison but Mr. Edison could see the burning desire Mr. Barnes had written on his face and gave Mr. Barnes a lowly position that in time turned into a partnership with Mr. Edison selling Dictaphones.  Mr. Hill then tells the story of an R. U. Darby who bought a gold mine but when the gold vein disappeared, he sold the useless mine to a junk man for the equipment. The junk man discovered gold just three feet past where Mr. Darby stopped digging and made millions. Mr. Darby learned a valuable lesson about persistence that made him millions himself in the insurance business because he learned to never stop until successful.

One sound idea is all you need to create wealth and all wealth begins first in your mind. You are indeed the master of your own fate, but you must take control of your own mind first. As Mr. Hill wrote in that magical first sentence, there are three things you must instill inside yourself before you will be successful.

• Definiteness of purpose
• Persistence
• A Burning Desire

Chapter 2. DESIRE

The Starting Point of All Achievement– The First Step toward Riches

“Burning your bridges” behind you is one way to move forward towards your goals. When you leave yourself no possible way of retreat, you must either win or lose everything. There is a famous story of a warrior who upon landing with his army on a distant and hostile shore, he famously ordered his men to burn their ships and told them “We now have no choice–we win-or we perish!” 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.

These are the six ways to turn desires into gold.

1. Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.
2. Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such thing as “something for nothing.”)
3. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
4. Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
5. Write out a clean, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.
6. Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read, see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.
   There is a great poem that correctly states these principles:

“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening,
When I counted my scanty store.

“For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

“I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.”

Chapter 3. FAITH

Visualization of, and Belief in Attainment of Desire– The Second Step towards Riches

When Faith blended is with thought, the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence, as in the case of prayer. Faith is the eternal elixir which gives life, power and action to the impulse of thought! Faith is the starting point of all accumulation of riches.
How do you develop faith? Repetition of affirmation of orders to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary development of the emotion of faith. Faith is a state of mind which may be induced by Autosuggestion.

Self-Confidence Formula

First: I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life: therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second: I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.

Third: I know through the principle of autosuggestion and desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it: therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.

Fourth: I have clearly written down a description of my definite chief aim in life, and I will never stop trying, until I have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth: I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice: therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself. I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full faith that it will gradually influence my thoughts and actions so that I will become a self-reliant and successful person.

The subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between positive and negative impulses or thoughts. Autosuggestion can either lift you up or pull you down. Riches begin in the form of thought. The amount is limited only by the person in whose mind the thought is put into motion. Faith removes limitation.

Chapter 4. AUTOSUGGESTION

The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind– The Third Step towards Riches

Auto suggestion is self-suggestion. The subconscious mind takes any orders given it in a spirit of absolute faith and acts upon those orders although the orders often must be presented over and over again through repetition, before they are interpreted by the subconscious mind.

Here are the instructions to stimulate the subconscious mind:

First: Go into some quiet spot, preferably in bed at night, where you will not be disturbed, close your eyes and repeat aloud, so that you can hear your own words, the written statement of the amount of money you intend to accumulate, the time limit for its accumulation and a description of the service or merchandise you intend to give in return for the money. As you carry out these instructions, see yourself already in possession of the money.
For example: “By the first day of January 20.., I will have in my possession $50,000 which will come to me in various amounts from time to time during the interim.
“In return for this money I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the fullest possible quantity, and the best possible quality of service in the capacity of salesman of…………..(describe the service or merchandise you intend to sell)
“I believe that I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me at the time, and in the proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it. I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money and I will follow that plan when it is received.

Second: Repeat this program night and morning until you can see in your imagination the money you intend to accumulate.

Third: Place a written copy of your statement where you can see it night and morning and read it just before retiring and upon arising until it has been memorized.

Skepticism is common in all people, but if you follow the instructions outlined, your skepticism will soon be replaced by belief and this in turn will soon become crystallized into absolute faith.

Chapter 5. SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE

Personal Experiences or Observations– The Fourth Step towards Riches

There are two types of knowledge. General and specialized. General knowledge, no matter how great in quantity or variety it may be, is of but little use in the accumulation of money. Universities have practically every form of general knowledge but most of the professors have little money. Knowledge must be organized and directed through practical plans of action with a definite purpose in order to attract wealth.
The accumulation of great fortunes calls for power, and power is acquired through highly organized and intelligently directed specialized knowledge, but that knowledge does not always have to be in the possession of the man who accumulates the fortune. Specialized knowledge can be obtained cheaply from other people and organized for a definite purpose and used to build a fortune.

Chapter 6. IMAGINATION

The Workshop of The Mind– The Fifth Step towards Riches

Man can create anything that he can imagine. Man’s only limitation, within reason, lies in his development and use of this imagination. There are two types of imagination, Synthetic and Creative.
Synthetic imagination is the more common type that arranges old concepts, ideas or plans into new combinations. This type creates nothing, it only works with the experience, education and observations that it is fed. Creative imagination is where hunches and inspirations are received from Infinite Intelligence. This is where all new ideas spring.

Synthetic Imagination is like a muscle that can be strengthened over time. Creative imagination works automatically but becomes more alert the more synthetic imagination is used. Put your imagination to work on the building of a plan or plans for the transformation of your desire into money. Detailed instructions have already been given on how to do that in previous chapters. Carry out the instruction best suited to your needs, reduce your plan to writing if you have not already done so. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire.

Chapter 7. ORGANIZED PLANNING

The Crystallization of Desire into Action– The Sixth Step towards Riches

Intelligent planning is essential for success. There are followers and leaders in the world. To be an effective leader you must have unwavering courage so that others will see your self-confidence and follow you. Leaders need self-control, a keen sense of justice, decisiveness, the ability to create definite plans, the habit of doing more than expected, a pleasing personality, sympathy and understanding, attention to detail, willingness to assume full responsibility, and the ability to cooperate with others.

Follow the QSS formula. Give excellent Quality of Service, a large Quantity of Service and aggregable Spirit of Service.

There are 31 Major causes of failure.

1. Unfavorable hereditary background
2. Lack of a well-defined purpose in life
3. Lack of ambition
4. Insufficient education
5. Lack of self-discipline
6. Ill health
7. Unfavorable childhood
8. Procrastination
9. Lack of persistence
10. Negative personality
11. Lack of controlled sexual urge
12. Desire of something for nothing
13. Lack of ability to decide
14. Six basic fears which will be covered in a later chapter.
15. Wrong selection of a mate in marriage
16. Over-caution
17. Wrong selection of business associates
18. Superstition or prejudice
19. Wrong selection of a vocation
20. Lack of concentration of effort
21. Indiscriminate spending
22. Lack of enthusiasm
23. Intolerance
24. Intemperance
25. Inability to cooperate with others
26. Possession of power that was not acquired through self-effort
27. Intentional dishonesty
28. Egotism and vanity
29. Guessing instead of thinking
30. Lack of capital
31. Anything else you find holding you back

Take an inventory of yourself against this list and see where you have failed in the past. Go over this list with someone who knows you well because others can see us better than we can see ourselves.

Chapter 8. DECISION

The Mastery of Procrastination– The Seventh Step towards Riches

After studying over 25000 people it was found that lack of decision is the major cause of failure. Procrastination is the result of not having the ability to make firm decisions. Successful people reach decisions promptly and change those decisions slowly. Unsuccessful people have the habit of reaching decisions very slowly, if at all and of changing these decisions quickly and often. They also are easily influenced by the opinions of others. They permit the newspapers and others to do their thinking for them. If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no desire of your own. People who reach decision promptly and definitely know what they want and generally get it.

Chapter 9. PERSISTENCE

The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith– The Eighth Step towards Riches

Lack of persistence is a leading cause of failure. A good test of your persistence is how you follow the six steps in chapter two. If you don’t change your daily routine, nothing else will change. If you find yourself lacking in persistence you are most likely lacking in desire. Go back to chapter two and follow the six steps outlined. You will find additional instructions for the development of persistence in the chapters on autosuggestion and the subconscious mind. Take an honest inventory of your level of persistence
There are four simple steps which lead to the habit of persistence:

1. A definite purpose backed by burning desire for its fulfillment.
2. A definite plan expressed in continuous action.
3. A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
4. A friendly alliance with one or more people who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.

Chapter 10. POWER OF THE MASTERMIND

The Driving Force– The Ninth Step towards Riches

A MasterMind is a group of people who coordinate their knowledge and effort in a spirit of harmony for the attainment of a definite purpose. When a group of people share their knowledge and experience it creates an invisible intangible force which may be likened to a third mind. Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony.

Chapter 11. THE MYSTERY OF SEX TRANSMUTATION

The Tenth Step towards Riches

Sex transmutation is the switching of the mind from thoughts of physical expression to thoughts of some other nature. Sex desire is the most powerful of human desires. When driven by this desire men develop keenness of imagination, courage, willpower, persistence and creative ability unknown to them at other times. When this energy is harnessed and directed along other lines, this motivating force may be used as a powerful creative force for the accumulation of riches.
The human mind responds most freely to the following ten stimuli:

1. The desire for sex expression
2. Love
3. A burning desire for fame, power, or financial gain.
4. Music
5. Friendship between either those of the same sex, or those of the opposite sex.
6. A MasterMind alliance based upon the harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement.
7. Mutual suffering such as that experienced by people who are persecuted.
8. Auto suggestion
9. Fear
10. Narcotics and alcohol

Sexual energy is the most powerful of these stimuli. Highly sexed people make the best salespeople because they always have a plentiful supply of magnetism. This energy may be communicated to others through:

• The handshake
• The tone of voice
• Posture and carriage of the body
• The vibrations of thought
  Body adornment

Chapter 12. THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND

The Connecting Link – The Eleventh Step towards Riches

The subconscious mind works day and night. You cannot entirely control your subconscious mind, but you can voluntarily hand over to it any plan, desire, or purpose which you wish transformed into concrete form. Read again the instructions given on Auto Suggestion. The subconscious mind is the intermediary through which one may draw upon the forces of Infinite Intelligence at will.
You must make the positive emotions of desire, faith, love, sex, enthusiasm, romance and hope work for you. You must avoid the negative emotions of fear, jealousy, hatred, revenge, greed, superstition and anger. Positive and negative emotions can occupy the mind at the same time. It is your responsibility to make sure that the positive emotions constitute the dominating influence of your mind.

Chapter 13. THE BRAIN

The Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought– The Twelfth Step towards Riches

The brain is both a broadcasting and receiving station for the vibration of thought. The creative imagination is the receiving set of the brain which receives thoughts released by the brains of others and Infinite Intelligence. The subconscious mind is the sending station of the brain, through which vibrations of thought are broadcast. When a MasterMind meets and discusses a problem and each person contributes whatever thoughts may occur, it places each participant in communication with unknown sources of knowledge definitely outside his own experience.

Chapter 14. THE SIXTH SENSE

The Door to The Temple of Wisdom – The Thirteenth Step towards Riches

By mastering the previous twelve principles described in this book you will become aware of a sixth sense through which Infinite Intelligence may and will communicate voluntarily, without any effort from or demands by the individual. Through the development of the sixth sense a “guardian angel” who will open to you at all times the door to the temple of wisdom. Through the aid of the sixth sense, you will be warned of impending dangers in time to avoid them and notified of opportunities in time to embrace them. The sixth sense is not something that one can take off and put on at will. The ability to use this great power comes slowly, through application of the other principles outlined in this book. You can profit by it without understanding it.

Chapter 15. THE SIX GHOSTS OF FEAR

Take Inventory of Yourself as You Read This Closing Chapter and Find Out How Many of the “Ghosts” Are Standing in Your Way
There are three enemies that must be cleared from the mind; indecision, doubt and fear. Indecision is the seedling of fear. Indecision crystallizes into doubt, the two blend together and become fear.

The six basic fears are:

1. The fear of poverty
2. The fear of criticism
3. The fear of ill health
4. The fear of loss of love of someone
5. The fear of old age
6. The fear of death

The seventh evil is the susceptibility to negative influences.

The book then has a long series of questions for self-inquiry.

The book ends with the idea that man has absolute control over one thing, their thoughts. If you fail to control your mind you will be sure to control nothing else. Mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit. You either control your mind or it controls you. This summary is the original copyrighted work of the website Success4Today.com. If this is on some other website it is stolen. The most practical of all methods for controlling the mind is the habit of keeping it busy with a definite purpose, backed by a definite plan. Study the record of any man who achieves noteworthy success, and you will observe that he has control over his own mind, moreover, that he exercises that control and direct it toward the attainment of definite objective. Without this control, success is not possible.