I hated the book “Think and Grow Rich.”

So many people recommended the book to me that I attempted to read it at least four or five times.

Notice the word “attempted” in the previous sentence. There’s a reason for that. I was never able to get through the first few chapters.

I’d start reading it and then get turned off by its seemingly heavy focus on getting rich.

And you know what? It turned me off.

But it kept happening – people I know, trust and respect kept recommending it. And yes, it annoyed me.

Think and Grow
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Then while attending Cliff Ravenscraft's Free the Dream conference, it happened again.

Cliff got on the stage and boldly proclaimed – if you haven’t read the book “Think and Grow Rich,” you need to.

Fed up, I made a decision. I was going to power my way through the book regardless of how I felt (I listened to the Audible version).

That way – I could at least be able to point people to all the reasons why I hated the book.

There was only one problem. From the beginning of the book to the end, I found myself LOVING what it said.

It was at that point that I realized that I wasn’t receiving the value of the book because I wasn’t ready.

I needed a huge mindset shift. And that’s precisely what has happened. My mindset has shifted as a result of my experiences in business.

Also, a lot of this has to do with my mastermind group who challenge me to think bigger.

I want to share with you the major lessons I drew from the book. Lessons that WILL change your life (and business) if you take them seriously.

Side note: I HIGHLY recommend for you to listen to the episode. I share much more of my full journey through this process.

Listen to Episode

It’s ALL about Mindset – THINK and Grow Rich

This was my first revelation. My mindset issues were so significant that it caused me to repel the book. I hated the book without even knowing what it stood for.

Success Mindset
To be successful, you have to have a success mindset.

The first few pages challenged my previously-held beliefs, and that made me uncomfortable.

Thank God I decided to go at it again.

And in the book, Dr. Hill relayed the idea that one of the most significant powers we have is the ability to control our thoughts.

If you control what you think, you will control what happens to you. To be successful, you have to have a success mindset. And once your mindset is right, other things fall into place.

Does that sound a bit woo-woo? Well, I’ll take it even further.

The laws that govern success are as immutable as the laws that govern nature.

If you drop something from the top of a building, it will fall. Why? Because the law of gravity never fails. That law doesn’t change.

Likewise, if you leave a garden untouched for a long time, weeds WILL grow. The beautiful flowers that were once there will die.

There will be various changes that will result in a not-so-beautiful used-to-be garden.

These processes are natural and are governed by the laws of nature.

What many people don’t realize is that success is the natural result of having a success mindset. If you change your mindset, you change your outcome.

There are laws that govern success. If we apply those laws to our lives and focus our minds on those laws, success is inevitable.

The Importance of a Definite Major Purpose

Too many people wander around in life letting life happen to them. They are passive in their pursuit of happiness/success.

Definite major purpose
Decide on a definite major purpose.

They work at a job because it’s the job they have, not because it’s in alignment with what they feel called to do.

Unfortunately, success hardly ever happens this way.

If you want to increase your chances of success, decide on a definite major purpose. The following four questions will help you define your definite major purpose:

  • What do you want to achieve in life?
  • By when do you want to achieve it?
  • How exactly do you plan on accomplishing it?
  • What are you willing to give in exchange for making that goal a reality?

Once you’ve determined your definite major purpose, write it down and read it at least twice daily. Once when you wake up and once before going to bed.

Success is the result of the little things

One of the problems I’ve had in life is that I’m quick to pursue big goals. Yes, I know – that doesn’t sound like a problem. Well, not directly.

The indirect result is that I’m not as consistent with the little things. Also, because the goals are so big, and often so far off, I tend to get distracted and move on to something else.

little things success
It’s the little things you do everyday that result in success.

Take for example when I made the huge announcement last September. I was going to grow my YouTube channel to 100K subscribers in a year. I went at it hard for a month and then fell off.

But what I know now is that it’s the little things that result in success. The things you do each and every day.

The habits you develop. The stuff you read every day. The content you create every day. The morning routine you go through every day.

Over time these things add up. You will achieve your definite major purpose much quicker that way.

The Importance of Going the Extra Mile

This sounds obvious, but most people rarely ever do this. We go to our jobs and do what we have to do to get a paycheck.

Work hard
“Whatever you do, work with all your heart…”

We start a business, and there are certain things we know we have to get done. That's how we get paid by our clients or customers.

But do we go the extra mile? I’m reminded of a verse in the Bible:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance.” – Colossians 3:23

Is this how we approach what we do on a daily basis? Is this how we approach the little things? I can’t speak for you, but for me – this hasn’t been the case.

But now I see that if we live our lives this way, success is inevitable.

Success (and being rich) isn’t primarily about money

Yes, the thing that held me back from reading this book isn’t even what this book is focused on.

Yes, the focus is on becoming rich. But richness, as Dr. Hill defines it is way more than just about money.

Success and riches
Success isn't all about gaining more money.

In fact, here are the twelve great riches he addresses:

  1. A positive mental attitude
  2. Sound physical health
  3. Harmony in human relationships
  4. Freedom from fear
  5. The hope of achievement
  6. The capacity for faith
  7. Willingness to share one’s blessings
  8. A labor of love
  9. An open mind on all subjects
  10. Self-discipline
  11. The capacity to understand people
  12. Financial security

When I read this, I want to shout from the mountaintops – “YES, I WANT TO BE RICH.”

Because I know that when I’m rich in those twelve areas, I will have had a ridiculously awesome effect on the world.

In fact, I will have changed the world at a pretty tremendous level – and that’s my goal.

Also, please note where “financial security” is found on that list. It’s dead last. It doesn’t mean it’s not important, but it’s there for a reason.

It’s why we see so many examples of financially secure people being extremely depressed.

Money alone doesn’t bring fulfillment. But if you’re a rich person in the truest sense of the world, fulfillment is a natural byproduct.

My “Think and Grow Rich” Progression

This book has changed my life, and I’m only at the beginning stage. I loved it so much that I ended up listening to it four times in two weeks.

Besides that, I’m going through their home study course. Next is their online distance learning program and in-person Leader Certification Class.

My goal is to become a certified Napoleon Hill Foundation Leader. Why?

Because:

  1. I want these principles to be engrained in my mind at a deep level.
  2. I want to be able to guide you through embracing a success mindset.
  3. I want these principles to guide the content I create so that I’m able to help you increase your chances of success.

You will see and experience the changes in my content.

Yes, I will continue to teach you how to blog. But I will focus much more on the mindset issues that need to be overcome to be successful at it.

That will be a core aspect of what I teach going forward, and I look forward to growing with you.

What it Means for my Coaching Club

This is the part that I’m most excited about. If you’re a part of my coaching club, you will see the most significant changes.

Why? Because I interact with you on a near-daily basis. I will be pushing you like never before.

I want you to embrace the mindset changes that will increase your chances of success. Mindset will be a core part of the new training.

I will be doing an entire module on mindset. As I answer your questions via video in the Facebook group, you will notice a bigger focus on mindset.

You’ve decided to invest in your success, and I’m going the extra mile to deliver the highest level of value ever.

Click here to find out more about the coaching club

Resources Mentioned

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Major Lessons Drawn from Think and Grow Rich
Major Lessons Drawn from Think and Grow Rich

About the Author Leslie Samuel


Leslie Samuel a business coach for high-performing entrepreneurs. As the host of the Leslie Samuel Show, he teaches how to build an online business. "Changing the world one post at a time” is the mission he strives towards. As a former university professor, he has a passion for education. He's the founder of Interactive Biology, a blog and YouTube channel dedicated to making biology fun for students and teachers. As the head of training for the Social Media Marketing Society, he helps social media marketers get the training they need to stay on the leading edge of social media.

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