Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich,” published in 1937, remains one of the most influential success books ever written. Based on over 20 years of studying successful individuals, including extensive interviews with Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other leading figures of his time, Hill distilled the universal principles of success into a comprehensive philosophy. As he stated, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
The Power of Thought
At the core of Hill’s philosophy lies the understanding that thoughts are things—seeds that, when planted in the fertile soil of purpose and persistence, grow into physical reality. As he emphasizes: “Thoughts are things – and powerful things at that, when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches or other material objects.”
The 13 Principles of Success
- Desire: The Starting Point of All Achievement
Everything begins with a burning desire. Not a mere wish or hope, but an intense, unwavering desire that becomes an obsession. This desire must be specific and accompanied by a definite plan for its attainment. Hill teaches that you must determine exactly what you want and be willing to burn all bridges behind you. - Faith: Visualization and Belief in the Attainment of Desire
Faith is the head chemist of the mind. It’s the element that transforms ordinary thoughts into their physical equivalent. Hill explains that faith is a state of mind that can be induced through self-suggestion. By repeatedly telling yourself that you can achieve your goals, you gradually transform this thought into belief. - Auto-suggestion: The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind
This principle involves the constant repetition of positive affirmations and visualization of your goals. The key is to combine emotional intensity with your thoughts and words, as Hill notes: “Your subconscious mind recognizes and acts only upon thoughts which have been well-mixed with emotion or feeling.” - Specialized Knowledge: Personal Experience or Observations
Success requires specific knowledge related to your goal. However, Hill makes an important distinction: knowledge itself isn’t power—it becomes power only when organized and applied toward a definite purpose. - Imagination: The Workshop of the Mind
Hill identifies two forms of imagination: synthetic (rearranging existing ideas into new concepts) and creative (original ideas). Both are crucial for success. Through imagination, you can see your goals as already accomplished and create plans for their attainment. - Organized Planning: The Crystallization of Desire into Action
Success requires organized planning. Hill emphasizes that no plan is perfect at first—you must be ready to create new plans when old ones fail. “Just as a master chef adds a pinch of this and that to improve the flavor of a dish, you must be prepared to adjust and revise your plans until they work.” - Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination
Successful people make decisions quickly and change them slowly, if at all. Failure to decide leads to procrastination and missed opportunities. Hill observed that the most successful individuals he studied were known for their quick decision-making abilities. - Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith
Perhaps the most important principle after desire, persistence is what transforms failure into success. Hill notes: “Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.” It’s the quality that enables people to continue despite repeated temporary defeats. - Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force
This principle involves surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your vision and can contribute knowledge, experience, and influence. Hill defines the Master Mind as “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” - The Mystery of Sex Transmutation
Hill discusses how sexual energy can be redirected into creative pursuits. This powerful force, when channeled properly, can enhance creativity, personal magnetism, and drive. - The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link
The subconscious mind is where all thoughts that have been emotionalized (given feeling) and mixed with faith begin their transformation into physical reality. Hill teaches that you can voluntarily direct your subconscious mind through the previous principles. - The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station
Hill was ahead of his time in understanding the brain as an electromagnetic instrument capable of picking up and transmitting thought vibrations. He believed that concentrated thought combined with purpose and persistence could influence others and attract opportunities. - The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom
The culmination of applying the other twelve principles leads to the development of the “sixth sense”—the faculty of creative imagination through which ideas, hunches, and inspirations flash into the mind.
Practical Application
Hill emphasizes that these principles must be applied together as a complete system. Here’s how to begin:
Define Your Purpose
Write down exactly what you want to achieve and by when. Be specific about the steps you’ll take to achieve it.
Create a Burning Desire
Emotionalize your goal. Feel the excitement of achievement before it happens. Review your written goals twice daily with intense emotion.
Develop Unwavering Faith
Begin building your faith through small achievements. Use auto-suggestion to strengthen your belief in your ability to succeed.
Take Persistent Action
Create detailed plans and take daily action toward your goals. When plans fail, create new ones without losing enthusiasm.
Modern Relevance
While written in the early 20th century, Hill’s principles remain remarkably relevant today:
- The emphasis on mindset aligns with modern psychology
- The power of networking (Master Mind) is even more important in our connected world
- The focus on specialized knowledge fits our information economy
- The importance of persistence applies in any era
Success Formula
Hill provides a clear formula for success:
- Fix in your mind exactly what you want
- Determine what you will give in return
- Establish a definite date
- Create a definite plan
- Write it all down
- Read your written statement twice daily
The path to success, according to Hill, is available to anyone willing to understand and apply these principles with persistence and faith. As he concludes: “Success comes to those who become success conscious. Failure comes to those who indifferently allow themselves to become failure conscious.”