Think and Grow Rich

I used to swear by these types of books, the Law of Attraction etc. You can think and imagine all day long that you desire wealth but if you do not sit your butt down on the chair and work, just your imagination won't get you anywhere. And if you work that hard indeed you won't even have time to be thinking about imaginary riches, you will just be focusing on work and success.

What do you think?

Lol, I have read all these books and you are right. The bottom line is you have to put in the work, sitting and meditating for 5 hours about money and repeating money mantras will not get the job done. You need to put some real work behind that. The books does teach you the ability to focus which in returns help when you are actually doing the work. But reading alone will not get the job done.

I agree for most of what I think you mean. However I find myself often working hard and competing with peers into a direction I am not quite sure that I wanted to go. Imagination is a good tool to set a direction / goal. But just as we forget dreams, we will also forget this or get sidetracked, so I am a fan of writing things down. More specifically, I have this white wall in front of me, where I write a list of what I want to prioritize in life (in big letters and few words). Helps me set my head straight more than imagination could do and yields very often a different result than my ambition makes me work for....

deppo said:

I used to swear by these types of books, the Law of Attraction etc. You can think and imagine all day long that you desire wealth but if you do not sit your butt down on the chair and work, just your imagination won't get you anywhere. And if you work that hard indeed you won't even have time to be thinking about imaginary riches, you will just be focusing on work and success.

What do you think?

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I agree. Only straight work is what's going to get you what you want. Sitting around hoping for things will get you no where. Just put in the hours.

Everything is about balanced, different methods and each of them work differently for everyone, work hard, dream never stop, so sometimes is just luck or not, but all those stories are not always happy.

People love the idea that if they just think something will happen it will, it takes all the effort and work required to do it. It's just a great selling point for a book imo and not grounded in reality

Most important thing it's "DISCIPLINE"

The people who genuinely believe that sitting down and closing your eyes/imagining something over and over again is going to bring it into your life without any action are silly. So in that sense the law of attraction is snake oil.

The only 'point' about law of attraction that's valid is that you have to be kind of obsessed with something to become highly successful in your field. But that involves real hard work AND in the process you'll be thinking about it too (not because you're practicing law of attraction, but rather because you are actually obsessed with it).

I agree, i think what these books dont touch on is when you've hit rock bottom, how do you pick yourself back up.

Life kicks you hardest when you're already down, and getting back up can be tricky to say the least. I personally don't lack the work ethic, but i struggle to get my mindset right when things aren't going my way.

Usually things work out in the end, but as I'm currently as the lowest ebb i've been at, I wondered if anyone had any words of wisdom to pick up ol' perspective ?

Buying those books or reading them wont bring you millions.. You have to work for it.

Its like sitting and praying to god to pass in exams without entering exam hall.

Run for it, Sweat for it. Chase it like a Cheetah.

A lot of people think that Napoleon Hill was a charlatan and a fraud.

There's no shortage of research and articles exposing Napoleon Hill.

Be that as it may, whatever the factual background of Napoleon Hill may be along with his stories in his classic Think and Grow Rich, one thing cannot be denied.

When people actually implement the principles in Think and Grow Rich, they can achieve a measure of success.

Again, it varies from person to person.

Different people are willing to put in different levels of effort.

Different people have different levels of pain tolerance.

You have to understand that according to Angela Duckworth and her pioneering research on success summarized in her book Grit, the main difference between successful people and less successful people has little to do with intelligence.

It has little to do with their starting advantages.

It has little to do with starting capital. Instead, it has everything to do with a person's willingness to keep going despite setbacks, failures, discouragements, and opposition.

If I've learned anything from Napoleon Hill, his main focus is adopting the right mindset that enables people to find motivation when they are going through the process of learning what they need to learn to get to where they need to go.

Unfortunately, a lot of people focus entirely on the money that is at the end of the tunnel.

They don't focus on navigating the tunnel.

They don't focus on exploring the sides of the tunnel, imagining different alternative paths as well as different decorations and routes through the tunnel.

I could go on and on.

The key is really the power of faith.

Do you trust yourself? Do you trust yourself enough to change your behavior?

Do you trust yourself to find the willpower to keep going despite what you're seeing?

If you're seeing discouragement, opposition, embarrassment, humiliation, and hate from others, it's very easy to shrink back.

It's very easy to just give up.

According to Professor Duckworth's book, this willingness to just zero in, lock in, and focus on doing what it takes, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year to make your dreams come true, is what separates people who make it to the top and those who end up with more mediocre lives.

I know it's not a popular thing to say, but your future is in your hands.

There's nobody else to blame.

No one can save you, at least in a nonspiritual way, except yourself.

So, please!

If you think that Think and Grow Rich is real, then read it, actually put it into practice, and let it change your mindset.

And then once you get on that journey, allow the journey to change you.

I remember when I was in middle school, I went to buy this book and was laughed at by an aunt.

This is a book that is on my to-read list.

Unfortunately, that list is growing every day .

Yes and you know what else is snake oil? Making money on the internet for those who don't make money on the internet.

Everyone can spin something to what they perceive it by. Yes wishful thinking alone wont make you wealthy. But focusing on those things, and taking action, and putting it into your realm of world by being persistent will help you attain anything. You could read that book once and only get a few good ideas from it, or you can read it 10 times and get tons of "aha" moments. You are just looking for someone to confirm it's bullshit so that you don't have to take any of the action or ideas in the book. Even the not so popular books out there that are decently rated will change your life, as long as you put work into it.


Here I'll let chatgpt write the rest for me, I just took what I said above and let it say what it wanted

ChatGPT said:​

You're absolutely right in emphasizing that simply reading or thinking about something won’t lead to results—it’s the combination of focus, action, and persistence that produces success. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is one of the most influential personal development books of all time, and it aligns with much of what you’re saying. Here are some key ideas from the book that add weight to your argument:

1. Desire is the starting point: In Hill’s book, everything begins with a "burning desire" to achieve a specific goal. He insists that wishing alone won't make you rich, but a deeply ingrained, all-consuming desire will push you to take the necessary actions. Without desire, even the best ideas fall flat.
2. Faith and belief in yourself: Hill talks about the importance of "faith" in achieving wealth—not in a religious sense, but in the belief in your ability to succeed. If you doubt yourself or your ideas, your actions will reflect that uncertainty. Having faith in your ability and your goal empowers you to act with more certainty and purpose.
3. Specialized knowledge: It's not about knowing everything, but about gaining specific knowledge in your field that will give you an edge. As Hill explains, you don't need to be a master of all trades, just competent in the areas that will move you closer to your goal.
4. Persistence: Like you mentioned, persistence is key. Hill highlights persistence as one of the major qualities of all successful people. Most people give up when they hit a roadblock, but those who persist despite setbacks and failures eventually break through to success.
5. The power of the Mastermind: Hill is famous for introducing the concept of the "mastermind," a group of like-minded individuals who share ideas, knowledge, and resources to achieve mutual success. Surrounding yourself with people who support your goals can multiply your own efforts.
6. Decision and taking action: Hill stresses the importance of quick decision-making and immediate action. Opportunities won't wait forever, and those who hesitate lose out. This echoes your idea that you have to take action, not just dream or plan endlessly.
7. The subconscious mind: Hill also talks about programming your subconscious mind with positive, goal-oriented thoughts. While this might sound like "wishful thinking" to some, it's actually about conditioning your brain to stay focused and motivated, pushing you towards opportunities and actions that align with your goals.
8. Overcoming fear and procrastination: Hill identifies fear as one of the biggest roadblocks to success. Fear of failure, fear of criticism, and fear of making mistakes can paralyze you. The solution? Acting in spite of fear and not letting it control your decisions.

You're right that reading the book once might not give someone the full depth of its wisdom. It’s a book filled with principles that often only "click" after multiple readings and real-life applications. Like any self-development book, it works when you work—when you take the ideas, apply them, and stick with them. The power isn't just in the book, but in what you do with the knowledge it provides."

saadaaaqq said:

I remember when I was in middle school, I went to buy this book and was laughed at by an aunt.

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I told my drinking buddy about 15 years ago I read such books and he laughed at me for reading "self-help" books.

This is probably why many productivity gurus recommend you not tell your goals/dreams to others, since most people will just try to discourage you. "Crab mentality" is a real thing, and most of your so-called friends will just hold you back.

cammixer said:

I told my drinking buddy about 15 years ago I read such books and he laughed at me for reading "self-help" books.

This is probably why many productivity gurus recommend you not tell your goals/dreams to others, since most people will just try to discourage you. "Crab mentality" is a real thing, and most of your so-called friends will just hold you back.

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yes you are right

There's a reason TAGR is still one of the best-selling books for almost 90 years now (first published in 1937).

Having a positive mental attitude is critical for achieving success. It's easier than ever to become a millionaire these days. There's opportunity everywhere, but there's also more distractions than ever.

Also, no surprise the book has so many detractors. Anything popular will have people trying to tear it down. It's easier to try to destroy, rather than build something spectacular.

I think wealth is a delusion. Broke fishermen living off the coast of iceland never complain about money. They complain about fish. And that makes them happy.

At some point along the way, I got old. Got to see a steady stream of people forge corporations, build WallStreet careers, get lucky with investments, get famous, get popular, get filthy stinking rich. The pattern I have noticed spring up again and again, after every single one of these events stretching back over fifty years... is that no one ever considers the day after.

(You win the lottery, now what?)

1) Buy a house!

(now what?)

2) Give money to good people who I want to see succeed.

(now what?)

3) Travel the world and visit everything!

(now what?)

4) Start a company!

(now what?)

5) Grow the company!

(now what?)

6) Have sex with a lot of young girls!

(now what?)

7) Start a charity for orphaned kittens!

(now what?)

8) Buy a new house!

(now what?)

9) Produce a film!

(now what?)

(now what?)(now what?)(now what?)(now what?)(now what?)(now what?)(now what?)

After the first six months, you will stop and realize I just described the most obnoxious person in the world. You will have nothing to show for it, just a bunch of pictures of foreign attractions on your overpriced iphone, two houses you need housekeepers for (and probably don't want to live in at this point), cars that need constant maintenance because they are "Bleeding edge" technology and were never intended to be functional. Former friends who won't stop begging you for loans. Vile women who want you to support their cocaine habit. A charity that is being investigated by the IRS because you forgot to file the "correct paperwork". People who received money from you, wasted it and are now up to their eyeballs in legal problems because of it. And a film that sucks.

(now what?)

Well now, hopefully, you will sit down and ask yourself what you ACTUALY want to do with your life. And with a little luck, you will have realized that money is a means to an end but not an end within itself.

What makes you happy?

deppo said:

just your imagination won't get you anywhere

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Words are powerful.

Agree and disagree of course if you don’t sit you ass on the chair and start working you won’t got any future, but those type of books helps to think better and gives you more fantasy (wich is also very important) to grow your business

Also it helps on Self improvement as well

I think reading is in general important, mostly for the new generation. Most people probably never touched a book in their life outside of school.